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.

Clasp Guide, Part 1

Toggle Clasps 

Toggle Clasps are a great choice for necklaces because the weight of the beads help keep the clasp shut.

They work best with heavier jewellery as tension is needed to keep the toggle closed. For use with bracelets toggle clasps work very well with heavy, chunky gemstones and ceramic beads.

Toggle clasps can be easily open and closed with one hand. They also come in a range of different designs including some really eye catching and quirky ones.

Here are a few of some of unique toggle designs on our website:

These toggles as well as some plainer styles are available to buy on our website.

Tube / Slide Lock Multi-strand Clasps

Tube / Slide lock multi-strand clasps are perfect If you're looking for a clasp that's a little more secure and in particular if your design includes multiple strands. These clasps consist of 2 tubes with slide in to another with a spring lock in the centre.

Best for light to medium weight jewellery, they are ideal for multi strand designs such as peyote stitch cuff bracelets.

Tube clasps come in different lengths from 2 to 7 strand. They also come in a variety of metallic colours so you can get the perfect  look for your jewellery design.

These image depicts the strands numbers and colours available: 

See them here.

Bolt Ring (or Spring Ring) Clasps

Bolt ring clasps are easy to operate, reliable and durable. They have a trigger mechanism which allows the clasp to spring closed once the trigger is let go.

Best used on light to medium weight jewellery designs. Bolt Rings are also available in many sizes and look great with almost any necklace, bracelet or anklet. 

Below are two types of Bolt rings, the bottom two are in the more traditional style while the ones at the top have an tag style ring component: 

See a selection of bolt rings here.