I have not bought a new Pandora Disney bead in some time – not since last winter! – as the Spring/Summer collections have focused more heavily on Mickey and Minnie designs, of which I feel I have enough already. So I was delighted when the AW18 range proved to have such a heavy focus on other characters, bringing to life the more villainous side of Snow White and the wonderful world of Pinocchio.
My favourite from this collection was Pandora’s take on the adorable Jiminy Cricket, and I have indulged in just him from the collection, alongside a couple of regular Pandora Autumn 2018 pieces:
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Today I’ll be reviewing him, with some close-up shots and a demonstration of how I’m styling him!
Pandora Jiminy Cricket charm review
I think Pandora absolutely hit the nail on the head in terms of this charm’s design. The combination of the vibrant enamel umbrella charm with the dangling Jiminy is perfect. It’s true that some of the finer points of the detail are lost from a far – the silver is so shiny – but the bold umbrella and the overall shape of the design make it pretty instantly recognisable. The umbrella might not be the right colour, but the cheerful sky blue is delightful and I think probably stands out better than the wine-coloured version of the original.
The colour of the umbrella in person (although this might vary, I suppose – I didn’t get a chance to look in store) matches the stock image very closely – it’s perhaps a little less pastel in tone. In any case, it’s a very pretty blue – although this does limit what you choose to put Jiminy with. He works amazingly well with the black enamel of the Figaro charm, but probably less so if you’ve gone for traditional Disney reds.
The detailing of the little Cricket is absolutely adorable all round. By making him a dangle, Pandora have been able to reproduce his features without constraint or consideration for weighting. Every detail is in place, down to the folds of his gloves to his coattails (please do forgive the undignified angle of this photo!).
And, this is how I’ll be wearing him! I don’t really have a full Disney design, I prefer to slot my Disney beads more subtly in with other bracelets. This bracelet is my sky blue dreamy theme. I’ve mixed a few charms that represent important things to me – the car for passing my driving test, the I love Reading charm, the Graduate Owl, the silver Present – with sky-themed beads. The Up and Away Balloon, the adorable Dumbo, the Heart of Freedom and the Origami Crane. The idea is peace and tranquility, and freedom.
I find it a very soothing little bracelet design, and Jiminy fits in nicely with his sky-blue umbrella, and again the idea of the umbrella and the sky.
Conclusion
This is my favourite kind of Disney charm – the main part of the charm is perfectly and delightfully detailed in plain silver, but given a beautiful pop of colour thanks to the pastel enamel. I love this kind of pastel/soft enamel detailing and it’s the perfect lick of Disney colour to really finish the design. It contrives to feel both like a proper charm and a dangle, and I feel like it marries the best of both worlds.
Jiminy Cricket retails for £55 or $65 USD. If you’re in the UK, you can purchase him from the stellar authorised Pandora UK retailer John Greed here.
Did you get this charm, or is he perhaps on your wish list? What would you put him with?
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