There were carnations, lilies, snapdragons and daisies; in white, pink, fuchsia, purple and lavender. They hung from ceilings, adorned tables, incorporated in the spring-inspired dishes, on which nestled the filigreed jewelry and charms designed especially for moms. There was even a flower cart from which one could make a bouquet for Mom.
Pandora timed the launch of its Spring-Summer 2014 collection just a couple of weeks before Mother’s Day, which falls this year on May 11. It was held at Spices at Peninsula Hotel, which was transformed for the day into a veritable spring garden.
Mother’s Day is one of three events in the year when the Danish jewelry brand known for charm bracelets is most in-demand. Apart from Christmas and Valentine’s, Filipinos buy gifts the most for this occasion, according to Tricia Legarda, sales and marketing manager of Pandora Phils.
“Pandora is a big gifting brand, so we do very well on Mother’s Day,” Legarda said, as she showed the Mother’s Day collection,
consisting of lace-patterned rings, earrings and necklaces like the ones she was wearing. They were of sterling silver, as most of Pandora’s pieces. Select pieces have 14-karat yellow gold.
Apart from the delicate filigreed pieces, there were also pastel-hued rings and earrings coated with enamel, or cubic zirconia stones. Some charms have specially inscribed messages, like “Thank you” and “Sweet Mother.”
Pinks and lavenders are major colorways for Pandora’s spring collection. Flowers and butterflies are its main themes.
Long history
Charms have a long history that date back to ancient times. They were worn as amulets to ward off evil spirits or to please the gods.
It was in the time of England’s Queen Victoria that charms became a form of adornment among the nobles. Today, charms are widely gifted and collected to mark special occasions.
Pandora, according to Legarda, has 600 charms one can choose from, and some new ones from the Spring 2014 will become part of the permanent collection.
The bracelets come in leather and silk cords, as well as Sterling silver bangle and pliable bracelet. They come in several sizes, from 16 mm, typically for a child’s wrist, to 17 mm to 23 mm for adults. Charms retail from P1,920 to P4,500 apiece. Depending on the size of the bracelet, it can contain up to 20 charms.
Unlike other global jewelry brands, cleaning of the silver pieces is free in all Pandora branches in 70 countries, regardless where you bought it, Legarda said. If the store’s not busy, you can even get your jewelry back on the same day.
Pandora now has nine stores in the country, with two new ones at Century City Mall and SM Megamall Mega Fashion Hall.