Clasp Guide, Part 2

Magnetic Clasps

As magnetic clasps rely on magnets to keep them closed they are often easier to use than other types of clasps. This is particularly useful for people with arthritis or other hand problems.

Magnetic clasps work best when used for light to middle weight jewellery pieces.

Remember jewellery with magnetic clasps should never to be worn by anyone who has a pacemaker or other electric cardiac device.

Magnetic clasps come in large variety of different designs. Below is a few from our range:
Click here to buy.

Note the magnetic slider clasps, these are brilliant for mult-strand designs. Due the magnet in their centre these slider clasps hold much more securely in place than their non magnetic counterparts.

S-Hook Clasps

As their name suggests S-Hooks are shaped as a 'S'. They are opened by pulling on the arm of the 'S' and they are then closed by pushing it back.

S-Hooks have double ends, to attach your jewellery to this type of clasp jumprings are needed at each end of your design. 

S-Hooks aren't as strong as a lot of other clasps and shouldn't be used with heavy weight designs. S-Hook work best with light to medium weight designs. 

These are the S-Hooks available on our website:
Can be viewed online here.

Check out the adorable cat and rope design, a particular favourite of mine. 

Lobster Clasps

Lobster clasps are brilliant if you want your jewellery to be very securely closed. The reason these clasps are great for this is because they rely on a spring to tightly fasten the clasp shut.

Much like spring rings/bolt ring clasps they have a trigger mechanism which allows the clasp to spring closed after it is opened.

Lobster clasps are a very versatile and come in a variety of sizes. Larger clasps should be used in heavier design and small clasps in lighter designs. These type of clasps are a popular choice for necklaces, bracelets and anklets.

In the image below I've shown the traditional style of lobster clasps at the top and more unique designs below. The traditional style lobster clasp is available in a wide variety of sizes, finishes and colours.

Click here to view our large range of lobster clasps on our online shop.

Hook and Eye Clasps

Hook and eye clasps are composed of a hook at one end of the clasp and a loop at the other. The clasp is attached by hooking the hook into the loop. These clasps are very easy to hook and unhook being designed very similarly to hook and eye clasps commonly used in clothing.

Click here to buy the examples below.

Hook and eye clasps are also very easy to make yourself using Findings Forms and Artistic Wire. Making your own clasps is a good alternative is you want your clasps to be in a bright and unusual colour not common in most clasp readily available.

The video below demonstrates how to make an hook and eye clasp using a Finding Forms jig.