Evaluate how well Charms and Pendants meets your needs and compares to competing products
If you've completed step one you've identified what you need in a charm or pendant and you've learned about the different features of charms or pendants. While you were doing your research, you probably started the process of determining which features - and thus which type of charm or pendant - will best meet your needs. Now you are going to continue that process, but in greater detail.
In this step you will
evaluate the choices available on the market to determine how well they meet your personal needs and establish, by a process of elimination, an initial short-list of contenders. Then you will compare these short-listed charms or pendants to find out which ones stand out from the competition.
Evaluate how well Charms and Pendants meet your needs
Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available charms or pendants in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any options that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any charms or pendants that clearly exceed your price limit.
Charms date back to at least 400 BC when they were believed to hold special powers and were worn for protection. Today they are a great fashion accessory and make the perfect gift, as there is a charm to suit almost anyone. Picking the perfect charm is a lot like buying the perfect greeting card; while the greeting card can convey sentiments in a few words or phrases, the charm can speak volumes all its own. It can take some time to choose the perfect charm, so it is important to know a bit about them.
Firstly, charms can be worn on bracelets, commonly referred to as charm bracelets, or they can be worn on necklaces. If they are worn on the bracelet, there are several types of bracelets that you can choose from. There are the regular gold, silver, and platinum bracelets where you can attach your desired charms. These bracelets are usually thinner and have areas to clasp charms onto them.
There are also the Italian charm bracelets, which are extremely popular right now, even among men. Italian charm bracelets use charms as the links in the bracelet, much like links for a watchband. They range in styles from gemstones to numbers and letters, and people often create messages with them. They clasp directly onto the bracelet and do not dangle.
The Vertu charm bracelet is another type that varies from the conventional. This bracelet takes the idea of the glamour belt buckles (the ones that have big writing with gemstones on them) and condenses them into a bracelet. They are a bit larger and have more dramatic charms.
Tip: Consider the lifestyle of the person that the bracelet will be purchased for. If they are active, it may make more sense to purchase a cheaper, more conventional bracelet for practicality purposes. If you're purchasing for someone who is more into style and fashion, a Vertu may be a more attractive option.
There are many charms available today; whatever the interest, there is a charm for it. Some types of charms include: animal and pet charms, birthstone charms, good luck charms, and zodiac charms. There are many more than this, so it is best to think of what charms you would like and search for those. Chances are that you will find them. Still, if you're curious, the most popular charms are: dolphins, butterflies, four-leaf clovers, and turtles.
Tip: If you are intending to make up someone's name from charms, it pays to plan ahead. Jewellers often run out of their stock of vowels and popular letters like L, S and M quickly and they will have plenty of X and Z charms - which may not be much help to you if you want to spell out 'Lisa' or 'Melanie'. Make sure you put an order in at least a month before you need the charms to avoid disappointment.
The important thing to remember is that charms usually have meaning to people. When searching for charms, it is best to keep life events and achievements in mind. Someone having a baby may want baby charms opposed to someone getting married who may want love and marriage charms.
Since charms can also be worn on necklaces, it's a good idea to discuss pendants as well. Pendants tend to be in the form of diamonds, jade, or other gemstones. Occasionally, a pendant will be a bit larger and consist of more intricate detailing. Diamonds are a fairly popular choice, as are pearls, hearts, crucifixes and letters.
Pendants and charms are worn around the neck on chains, so it's important to consider the type of chain you will attach it to. Like all other aspects of jewelry, chains come in a multitude of types and lengths. There is the 16-inch (41cm) choker. This length rests just above the collarbone and accentuates the neckline. This is usually worn with more high-rise and button up shirts. There is also the 18-inch (46cm) princess length, which is the most common chain length worn. It hangs over the collarbone and is a little looser around the neck. The third most common length is the 24-inch (61cm) opera length. This will hang over a blouse or dress and tends to be more dramatic.
When considering a pendant or charm for a necklace, it is a good idea to also know the chain preference. Some examples of chains include snake and rope, though there are several more options available. Take into account which chains may work best with the pendant or charm you choose.
When it comes to price range, there are three major categories. The first is the most inexpensive range and this will include your basic sterling silver pendants and charms. The middle range includes added gemstones and some detailing to the items. Then in the top of the range, there are higher-end pieces with intricate detailing and natural gemstones. Unless you absolutely want to wear these higher-end pieces, you may want to stay within the lower ranges. Price doesn't always directly relate to quality when it comes to jewelry, so budget wisely. Having a genuine stone versus a natural stone can save you tons of money, and the only difference is that genuine stones are altered to look smoother and brighter.
Tip: Pendants and charms can be purchased for bargain prices online, but you always need to be careful - read the fine print.
Most warranties for jewelry run about the same, but you will find variances from jeweler to jeweler. It is also important to look through the available warranty options and any complimentary services that they may offer you. Typical warranties cover things like manufacturing defects, loose or unmounted gemstones, refinishing, prong-retipping, and stone tightening. Some things that are not covered under warranty include wear and tear, lost or stolen pieces, and neglect or abuse.
When you were considering your requirements in a charm or pendant it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as size, style, color and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price.
Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various charms or pendants meet your personal needs:
Features Checklist
Target Customers
Different Charms
- Animal and pet charms
- Baby charms
- Bath and beauty charms
- Birthstone charms
- Boating and nautical charms
- Clothing and accessories charms
- Engravable charms
- Food and drink charms
- Friend charms
- Good luck charms
- Graduation charms
- Heart charms
- Hobby charms
- Holiday charms
- Locket charms
- Love and marriage charms
- Male/female symbol charms
- Music and dance charms
- Nature charms
- Phone charms
- Symbol charms
- Travel charms
- Zodiac charms
Types of Pendants
- Diamond (fairly popular)
- Jade
- Pearl
- Other gemstones
- Decorative dog tags
- Symbols
- Letters
Most popular charms
- Dolphins
- Butterflies
- Helms
- Anchors
- Flowers
- Penguins
- Baseball caps
- Guitars
- Horse shoes
- Four-leaf clovers
- Crosses
- Turtles
Bracelet Types
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
- White gold
- Italian
- Vertu
Chain Types
- Bead
- Byzantine
- Cable
- Mesh
- Rolo
- Rope
- Snake
- Venetian/box
- Wheat
Length of chains
- 16-inch (41cm) choker - rests just above the collarbone and accentuates the neckline.
- 18-inch (46cm) princess length - hangs over the collarbone and is the most common length.
- 24-inch (61cm) opera length - hangs over the blouse or dress and is a pretty dramatic length.
Clasps
- Spring clasp - with the lever that slides back on a ring.
- Lobster claw clasp - works similar to the spring, but looks like a lobster claw so it is usually easier to use.
- Box clasp - wedged-shaped piece of metal that opens when the exterior lever is pushed down. Sliding it back in place and snapping it shut will close it.
- Toggle clasp - this is where there is an open circle on one end and a thick bar on the other. Inserting the bar through the circle clasps the jewelry; however this is the least secure clasp.
- Hidden clasp - this is usually a box clasp that blends into the jewelry so that other designs and gemstones are noticed.
Warranties
- Defects in manufacturing
- Loose, unmounted gemstones
- Refinishing
- Prong-retipping
- Stone tightening
- Does not cover: excessive wear and tear, lost or stolen pieces, neglect or abuse
There are a lot of features listed here, and some of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require.
Once you have finished evaluating the charms or pendants available for sale in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the charms or pendants one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out.
Evaluate how well Charms and Pendants compare with competing Charms and Pendants
Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best product we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of charms or pendants that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list that stand out from the crowd.
Questions to ask yourself:
Which charm or pendant on my short-list can compliment my other jewelry?
Which of these has the best style?
Which is the easiest to care for?
Which appears to be of the highest quality?
Which has the design I want?
Which charm or pendant do I like the best?
By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating charms or pendants that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short-listed products measure up in the following areas: Physical Quality, Warranty Conditions and Accessories & Extras.
Physical Quality
Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the charm or pendant, you need to find an opportunity to examine the product to evaluate how well it is made, and to check that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the materials, and how well the item is put together. Check the assembly - is the item well made? It's also important to examine the charm or pendant from the perspective of ease of use. How easily is the item prepared for cleaning and maintenance? Make sure the item suits you physically - some charms and pendants look great in the shop, but unexpected problems will show up when you finally get to wear them.
Physical Inspection Checklist:
- Materials - quality, appearance
- Assembly - all parts held together securely, good quality fittings
- Solidly constructed - stable, no loose components
- Proper fit of removable parts - easy to remove and replace, fit snugly
- Size - appropriate for outfit and purpose - fits correctly
- Appearance - well finished, appropriate color, neat fittings etc
- Easy and comfortable to wear
Warranty Conditions
Similar products may be available with significantly different terms and conditions, and you want to get the best deal you can. Parts and labor are often covered under separate warranties, for different time periods; sometimes there can be a significant difference in the warranty offered with one item compared to others. It is particularly important to investigate any conditions that might void a warranty, such as accidental damage.
Warranty Checklist:
- Duration - check the specifics
- Parts, Labor
- Exactly what is covered
- Exactly what is excluded
- Conditions or actions that may void the warranty
Accessories and Extras
When evaluating similar products, it is a good idea to include accessories in your assessment. You need to be clear about exactly what accessories are really necessary, and whether these can be included with the purchase. What else is required - do you need a jewelry case, for instance?
Accessories Checklist:
- Accessories - included or extra cost?
- Compatibility issues - will it work with your existing wardrobe?
- What else will you need to get the most out of your charm or pendant?
Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of charms and pendants that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:HistoryHistory of sterling silver charmsCharms and charm bracelets - their history