Photos really don't do this justice but I will try...
The charm is silver coloured high gloss polished steel with genuine shards of mother-of-pearl and with the bling of 12 Swarovski Crystals.
It has a hoop on the back in the same way as any other button charm, so you just slide and twist on to the bracelet. As they are a snug fit twisting them on makes it easier - less friction and less chance of causing any damage to the bracelet, once on they stay put! Just twist off when you decide to change your design again.
I've styled my watch a few different ways since I got it but I kept coming back to the watch and heart on my black lambskin below.
I only popped into the shop I bought it from randomly on the off chance whilst I was passing... they had 3 more designs in stock at the time.
Story do offer a much wider range than these four designs - you can click on the link at the top of the post for a much more detailed look at the ones that were released to the UK market last year; the first two in the photo above were part of a much more recent collection.
Sadly though my story doesn't have a happy ending... buyer beware!
My battery ran out and needed replacing, as they do! As my normal watch battery had also run down I took both to a shop to buy some new batteries.
My battery was changed by the shop in both cases, but they were not impressed by the Story watch charm at all - as it was hard to get the back off, and almost impossible to put it back on again. They showed me what they were talking about so I could see for myself... I had to agree with them on that score but told them to go ahead and change it anyway as I really liked the watch. That was my mistake...
The design of the charm as a watch is, in my opinion, not great in terms of being able to change the battery, something that is fairly critical to owning a battery powered watch - my watch charm was in fact damaged when the back was eventually put back on - the face was cracked and it stopped working all together!
I took it back to the original shop I bought it from (well within the 12 months), as after talking to fellow Story fans I discovered I wasn't the only one who had been disappointed by the lack of a practical design - indeed others had returned theirs for a refund.
The original shop would not refund or issue a credit, as the battery had been changed by someone other than them, and they did not believe it was a bad design. Story would not refund or credit but would repair it (at my cost) after I'd paid for the charm to be sent back - but couldn't say how much it would cost until they'd seen it in person.
So given that I don't think the design is up to par for using it as a watch in a practical sense, I've decided to sadly write off my £69 - and not spend any further money posting it back to Story to get a quote for repair as I do feel I would be throwing good money after bad.
Ironically the original shop I bought it from, and everywhere else I shop in person or online for Story are also dropping the line. So although I could pick up another watch charm at a fraction of the price I paid originally - I'd still be left with nowhere to change the battery lest I void my warranty!
I've really debated writing this post at all as generally my jewellery brings me joy, and this whole episode has left me feeling both angry and upset in equal measure. However having enthused so much about the watch charms on the blog, I feel I should at least share my experience and leave you to make up your own minds - hopefully my experience is in the minority!
I've never had any quality issues with any of my other Story charms, I love the brand to bits and I'm really sad that so many shops in the UK are dropping the line; I do think it's the best of it's kind for that type of bracelet and charms!
It has a hoop on the back in the same way as any other button charm, so you just slide and twist on to the bracelet. As they are a snug fit twisting them on makes it easier - less friction and less chance of causing any damage to the bracelet, once on they stay put! Just twist off when you decide to change your design again.
I've styled my watch a few different ways since I got it but I kept coming back to the watch and heart on my black lambskin below.
I only popped into the shop I bought it from randomly on the off chance whilst I was passing... they had 3 more designs in stock at the time.
Story do offer a much wider range than these four designs - you can click on the link at the top of the post for a much more detailed look at the ones that were released to the UK market last year; the first two in the photo above were part of a much more recent collection.
Sadly though my story doesn't have a happy ending... buyer beware!
My battery ran out and needed replacing, as they do! As my normal watch battery had also run down I took both to a shop to buy some new batteries.
My battery was changed by the shop in both cases, but they were not impressed by the Story watch charm at all - as it was hard to get the back off, and almost impossible to put it back on again. They showed me what they were talking about so I could see for myself... I had to agree with them on that score but told them to go ahead and change it anyway as I really liked the watch. That was my mistake...
The design of the charm as a watch is, in my opinion, not great in terms of being able to change the battery, something that is fairly critical to owning a battery powered watch - my watch charm was in fact damaged when the back was eventually put back on - the face was cracked and it stopped working all together!
I took it back to the original shop I bought it from (well within the 12 months), as after talking to fellow Story fans I discovered I wasn't the only one who had been disappointed by the lack of a practical design - indeed others had returned theirs for a refund.
The original shop would not refund or issue a credit, as the battery had been changed by someone other than them, and they did not believe it was a bad design. Story would not refund or credit but would repair it (at my cost) after I'd paid for the charm to be sent back - but couldn't say how much it would cost until they'd seen it in person.
So given that I don't think the design is up to par for using it as a watch in a practical sense, I've decided to sadly write off my £69 - and not spend any further money posting it back to Story to get a quote for repair as I do feel I would be throwing good money after bad.
Ironically the original shop I bought it from, and everywhere else I shop in person or online for Story are also dropping the line. So although I could pick up another watch charm at a fraction of the price I paid originally - I'd still be left with nowhere to change the battery lest I void my warranty!
I've really debated writing this post at all as generally my jewellery brings me joy, and this whole episode has left me feeling both angry and upset in equal measure. However having enthused so much about the watch charms on the blog, I feel I should at least share my experience and leave you to make up your own minds - hopefully my experience is in the minority!
I've never had any quality issues with any of my other Story charms, I love the brand to bits and I'm really sad that so many shops in the UK are dropping the line; I do think it's the best of it's kind for that type of bracelet and charms!
But my advice to anyone who has bought a watch charm would be:
Make sure you take it back to the original shop you bought it from
when the battery needs changing - just in case!
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