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Posted by darksapphire on 20-Jul-2009 14:10 Report
HELP with genuine Pandora Beads
I have bought a shipment of "sterling silver" stamped beads also hallmarked ALE! Now I have read and re read every forum on this topic, and I am still lost. They dont look sterling silver to me. I also have pandora bracelets that look like every other pandora bracelet around, that when you open are stamped sterling silver and in a little square box are hall marked ale. I am worried if I list them, and they are not genuine I will cop the flack! I have been holding onto them for over 3 months working through the problem in my head, and now I am just frustrated. I also have the murano glass that are stamped sterling silver, and have "pandora" stamped on the core. I just dont need the fall out if theyre not the real deal. Can anyone help??? I also have another question, I know I am feeling lucky at this point, lol. So double cores and single core murano stamped sterling silver beads.Is it true that only single core stamped sterling silver murano glass beads are REAL sterling silver, and double core ones are FAKES, that are sterling silver plated? Any and all help, deeply appreciated. Many thanks, Noel (noeleen)
 
Replied by kelstarr on 20-Jul-2009 14:19 (Ref 1839608) Report
Hi Noleen,
Maybe take them to a jeweller to assist with their authenticity.
Goodluck with it.
Replied by thecrustyone on 20-Jul-2009 14:38 (Ref 1839626) Report
I'm pretty sure if they're Pandora they are stamped Pandora.
And I'm also pretty sure you can only buy them from Jewellers that are authorised to carry them, and not online.
Replied by milliemco on 20-Jul-2009 15:05 (Ref 1839653) Report
Hi Pandora beads are usually given the vintage look, heavily oxidised and can look like quite "blackish".
To do a quick test at home, get some soda bicarb an old aluminium pot, heat some water (250 ml) in the pot and put in two spoon fulls of soda bicarb and and let it dissolve, if the charms are oxidised silver a gentle chemical reaction will take place.

If they are silver  or silver coated the black is silver sulfide nearly in soluble, the soda bicarb dissolves part of your aluminium pot and goes into solution as an alkaline complex. Any silver salts present will be reduced back to silver by a natural action, you do not lose silver.

If they are heavily plated silver the same result.

To establish if they are solid silver, you can use a silver test solution ( potassium bichromate in dilute nitric acid) and a touch stone ( looks like an old fashioned honing stone for sharpening knives or chisels) Rub a corner of your charm on the stone, this cuts through the silver plate put a tiny drop of test solution on the stone where you rubbed or the charm where you rubbed and watch the colour.

crimson red fine silver,
slightly duller 925 silver
brown  800 -500 silver
Green nickle silver

Test solution can be bought from any good jewellery tool supplier. Wash your hands and items after testing.

George.
Replied by milliemco on 20-Jul-2009 15:13 (Ref 1839661) Report
Hi crusty, that used to be the case, there are items now coming from Thailand with all the markings, some are silver some are base metal plated.

George
Replied by thecrustyone on 20-Jul-2009 15:17 (Ref 1839667) Report
Hi George,
Not surprised, they copy everything else these days, but I think it's still the case that you can only buy genuine Pandora from authorised jewellers.
Replied by auscharm on 20-Jul-2009 15:18 (Ref 1839670) Report
If you have any that don't say pandora then just sell them as 'fit pandora, biagi etc'.  Pandora is just one brand and you can get sterling silver and gold charms much cheaper than the original Pandora simply because it doesn't carry their name.  It is not a 'fake' pandora it is simply a bead that fits that style of bracelet.  If however it is stamped with 'pandora' and you got it online then it is more than likely a fake because Pandora are very pedantic about who sells their product and only use a registered seller to provide their product to. 

Not sure about the whole single/ double core thing, I'm sure someone can help but whatever does not have pandora on it you can certainly sell as one that fits that and similar brands.  If it has Pandora on it then I would want to be sure of its authenticity before I sold it.

Good luck
Donna
Replied by darksapphire on 20-Jul-2009 15:48 (Ref 1839698) Report
George, they do have the blackened really heavy iodised look, which is why I didnt think they were real! I am used to sterling silver being shiny silver, not a dark blackened look. The guy I got them off is pretty reputable, he hasnt sold me dodgy goods yet! I did the test on the murano glass beads, I have been in the forum before after answers. The test showed the murano double cores as being solid sterling silver. But I had a customer that bought 1, and she was happy. She went to a market 2 weeks later and saw similiar beads. I then got some nasty messages from her, telling me they were fake...I was dishonest...because a lady at the market had told her that ONLY single core murano glass beads are solid sterling silver, and double core stamped sterling silver are all fakes! So thats why I am looking for answers before I list any other beads. The murano glass sterling silver cores I got from the U.S, from shops that I have bought from for over 10 years and never had a problem. But I am not into selling items that I just dont know about, it has really made me question alot of things. I didnt know you could change feedback once it was left either, lol. I have never listed anything as Pandora, I wouldnt dare. Not when you can get into so much trouble for copy wright laws. Everything is listed as Pandora style or type. I would never pressume to say pandora. That would be really wrong! Many thanks for everyones time and patience. I dont come into the forums unless I need help, and you have certainly been very helpful. Have a lovely day and take care, Noel
Replied by kidsstuff on 20-Jul-2009 16:17 (Ref 1839731) Report
If you look on the Pandora website all the beads are listed with pictures so you could see if any are the same.
Replied by darksapphire on 20-Jul-2009 16:32 (Ref 1839750) Report
Thats actually a really good and simple idea! And I trully wish that after all these weeks...I had thought of it. Your a gem, thanks for that. Noel
Replied by bijoux on 22-Jul-2009 16:38 (Ref 1842985) Report
Crusty  an  acquaintance of mine  imports jewellery and has some "pandora beads"  that she sells at markets  and they're  not genuine (although  she says  the are )  ..I've seen the genuine ones, and hers  are definitely not , nor her prices.  I don't  know if they're even 925 s/ silver, altho they're all stamped  too...........................so the fakes are definitley out there.
Replied by darksapphire on 23-Jul-2009 12:20 (Ref 1844092) Report
Ohh great! Well I will keep the ones stamped "pandora" to myself and give them away to family. Because if I dont know, then I wont list them. I dont like taking the risk! Its not worth it to me at the end of the day. I am still lost at to the double core versus single core stamped sterling silver murano beads tho. No one can agree! I know that other people in oztion are selling exactly the same beads as me, and some for a more elevated price. Can we all be wrong?? I am happy if I make back $0.50 on what I pay for the beads after I have bought them and imported them from the U.S. So I will definatly not be listed anything stamped "pandora" and will stick to listing the stamped murano beads, and hope to god that the people I am buying them off are being honest with me I guess. I have never had one tarnish, flake, loose its core, go black, never a complaint. Not until I got the message that only single cores are meant to be real, according to a market stall owner, whom told a customer that. Which is what started the quest for the truth. Many thanks everyone your help is deeply appreciated, Noel
Replied by jennajayen on 14-Aug-2009 11:18 (Ref 1874969) Report
I recently got some bracelets, stamped 'Pandora' 925 ale. I took them into a jeweller that deals in pandora and she couldn't tell the difference between them and the ones that she was selling. The genuine charms and spacers on the other hand don't have any stamps on them (I was told this by the jeweller).

The way she explained it was that they were either 'Hot' (which they wouldn't have made it through customs if that was the case) or they had been returned to a jeweller because the clasp was loose (the jeweller would have fixed it and gone on to sell it again) or they were extra's from the factory that had been made and not bought by a dealer.

So, as far as I have been able to find out, they are genuine Pandora if they are stamped 'Pandora' with 925, ale on the inside..
Replied by darksapphire on 14-Aug-2009 11:57 (Ref 1875007) Report
Dam wish I could have known that before! I havent listed them because I kept getting told "they would be fakes"! Thanks for the reply, maybe I will list them after all. I too have taken them to a jeweller that sells the pandora bracelets, and he couldnt tell the difference either. But I wanted others opinions on it. Many thanks for you time, and the effort it took to answer. Every opinion is deeply appreciated! Have a lovely weekend and take care, Noel
Replied by Ditas-Odds-n-Ends on 25-Aug-2009 23:27 (Ref 1889170) Report
Hi. Don't know if this will help but I  recently spoke to a lady that had just returned from Thailand. I complemented her on her bracelet and she told us she'd bought it at the Factory , set up by Pandora ( Originals come from Denmark ) to make a cheaper but none the less beautiful version . Don't know markings used. Not into them myself but remembered that bracelet when reading this forum, Must add she's a business person. Not sure if anyone could buy at this factory.
Cheers, Dita.
Replied by darksapphire on 27-Aug-2009 11:34 (Ref 1890501) Report
Thanks Dita, all help is deeply appreciated!
Replied by jennajayen on 27-Aug-2009 15:32 (Ref 1890737) Report
If you visit this site http://www.pandora-jewelry.com/AU/About%20Pandora/History.aspx, it explains about the history of the Pandora Bracelet. I have just had a problem with a buyer trying to tell me that the bracelet she bought from me is a fake, even though I have had it checked by a Jeweller and stated as genuine. Seems like they are the now, older, style that has been semi retired as the new bracelets have been produced that have a crown over the 'O' in P andora on the clasp

Also, this site - http://gilletts.com.au/blog/pandora/authentic-pandora-jewelry-3-ways-to-know-if-your-pandora-beads-are-genuine/ - explains about how to tell a real bracelet from a fake.

I just thought that this might be a bit helpful for you.
Replied by darksapphire on 27-Aug-2009 16:07 (Ref 1890821) Report
Ohh my god! I wish I had of had this reply before today. I just sent a genuine hallmarked ale 925 pandora bracelet off to a customer today for $8.50 thinking it was an imitation, so I have been selling them like silver plated normal chains. Thanks for the website, I think I will go and have a moment to myself for a minute and contemplate the meaning of life! Many thanks, at least I know the rest are real!! Take care, Noel
Replied by jennajayen on 27-Aug-2009 17:10 (Ref 1890904) Report
Just be very very careful.

The person who bought my bracelet has just started a Item Not As Described Refund Suit via PayPal with me, because she doesn't believe that it is genuine.

I would get them checked with a Jeweller first before selling them too.
Replied by darksapphire on 27-Aug-2009 17:17 (Ref 1890912) Report
Well I did that, I actually work for a few jewellers near me. I do alot of theyre bridal and end of year jewellery for them. I also sell them the glass stamped sterling silver murano beads, they cant be bothered looking for themselves! So I took them into to 3 of the jewellers, and they looked at them, compared them to ones that they already had and couldnt see a diference. Its why I was so stuck on what to do. The jewellers couldnt tell the difference, so I thought maybe someone else knew of a way. But I went to the website you gave me, and read all the info, looked at the pictures and theyre the real deal. My american seller came through for me, and I doubted them because of a customer that I had, complained about a glass sterling silver bead. Thanks for all your help, and good luck with your problem customer. I just had one of those, it seems to come with the territory sometimes. Many thanks, Noel
Replied by jennajayen on 27-Aug-2009 17:23 (Ref 1890917) Report
My god, you have just given me an answer to my problems!

Would I be able to use you as a reference in getting this sorted out? Without using your name or contact details though.
Replied by darksapphire on 27-Aug-2009 17:25 (Ref 1890920) Report
I dont see why not, you helped me out?? Let me know what you want me to do! Take care, Noel
Replied by jennajayen on 27-Aug-2009 17:37 (Ref 1890939) Report
I was actually wondering if it was possibly for your Jeweller's to write a brief statement saying that you bracelets appeared to be the genuine article and send me a copy of it with 'REFERENCE COPY' printed or stamped on it somewhere? And if you have a sample photo of your bracelet you could send me, again with 'REFERENCE COPY' on it so that I can have a comparison?
Replied by darksapphire on 27-Aug-2009 17:42 (Ref 1890952) Report
I dont mind doing it, but I dont know about the jewellers?? I wouldnt speak for them without asking them. Take care, Noel
Replied by cheap-azz on 28-Dec-2010 23:56 (Ref 2249972) Report
Hi

I can help you with the correct information you need. I can assure you it comes from a very good source.

If you do not purchase the bracelet or beads from a pandora dealer then they are NOT genuine pandora items. You can buy fake items from overseas and none of them are the genuine item even though they will tell you they are genuine. Yes it is hard to tell the difference but there is one difference they are fakes. They would be sterling silver, I am sure of this but they are not made in the factories for pandora no matter what anyone tells you. I import jewellery all the time and these fakes are offered on many sites.

It is also against the law to sell any fake trademark item saying they are the real product.
I think this would clear up any reason why you would want to sell  these on any auction site. If the authourities want to catch anyone selling these items then auction sites would make you an easy target.

At  least now you have the correct information.

I hope this has helped with your issue.

Regards
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