Bracelets are a beautiful fashion accessory that you can add to your dressing. If you want to make a DIY bracelet from home and decide what bracelet style you wish to make, it’s easy to forget about the clasp. While a beautiful bracelet design would draw people’s attention, a clasp must hold it all together.
Common Clasps For Your Bracelet
A clasp is a hook holding two parts of your bracelet together. Except you’re wearing a bangle, most bracelet types require that you have a clasp on them. There are various options to choose from when selecting a clasp type for your bracelet; some options are explored below.
1. Bead Clasp
If you’re looking for a clasp that complements your single-strand beaded bracelet, a bead clasp is a perfect choice. Bead clasps are a great way to add personality to your pearl bracelet without dominating the beads.
A bead clasp consists of a spring tongue and a slot in the bead that allows the clasp to shut. You need only pinch the tongue of the clasp to separate it from the bead. Bead clasps often weigh little, especially when no stones are put in them, making them affordable.
Bead clasps are available in a wide array of sizes. The wise size range means you can use this clasp if your bead sizes are raided from large to tiny, and you want to increase the sizes from top to bottom smoothly. Alternatively, you can produce elegant designs where the beads and clasp are the same widths.
Bead clasps have a spring tongue that clicks into a slot
2. Box Clasp
A box clasp has a wedge-shaped piece of metal that contracts when you insert it into the opposite box and clicks into place. You can release the metal wedge by pushing the lever that releases the clasp.
Box clasps might cease working correctly if the wedge piece is broken since the wedge needs to fit precisely into the box. They are preferable for products you don’t use every day because frequent use might wear them out.
Box clasps are available in various designs, some of which permit you to wear strands of beads. One key benefit of the box clasp is that you can easily use it with one hand.
3. Fishhook Clasp
The fishhook clasp is a classic clasp type that you’ll find on older jewelry pieces. Fishhook clasps have two sides– one is a regular hook, and the other is an oval “fish” with pointed ends. You would place the hook into the casing through the side and press it downwards to lock it in.
Using fishhook clasps can initially seem a bit confusing. However, they guarantee optimum safety and can add a fancy look to your bracelet.
4. Ladder Clasp
The ladder clasp is another antique clasp that can be used on bracelets even if used more on wristwatches. One end of the ladder clasp looks like a two-spoke ladder, hence the name. The presence of these two steps makes it possible for you to adjust the length of your bracelet by locking any of the steps.
You would find the ladder clasp frequently used on women’s antique jewelry. One downside of the ladder clasp is that it’s not good at keeping heavy jewelry in place.
5. Lobster Claw Clasp
The Lobster claw clasp is one of the most popular clasps you’ll find on most necklaces and bracelets today. It is a spring-loaded clasp that opens when you press the lever with your thumb. Pulling the lever makes the bottom portion of the “claw” slide inward; releasing the lever closes the clasp automatically.
A variety of sizes and designs of lobster clasps are available. Swivel lobster clasps enable the clasp to spin 360 degrees without affecting the jewelry. Since bracelets and anklets move about a lot while you wear them, the swivel design is perfect for them.
Any bracelet of light to a medium weight that you wear daily should be secured with a lobster clasp.
6. Magnetic Clasp
Magnetic clasps have two magnets on opposite ends, which snap close when they’re brought close. Magnetic clasps are available in various sizes and forms, ranging from small oval and circular designs to bigger rectangular ones.
A magnetic clasp is ideal for people with limited dexterity as it is simple to put on and take off. However, the downside is that it can slip off just as easily. A firm tug might force the magnets to separate, leading to the loss of your jewelry.
7. Push Clasp
A push clasp is also known as a clip clasp because it resembles a paper clip. Pushing the one-way hinge from the outside opens the clasp, and a spring mechanism returns the hinge once you let go of it.
The primary benefit of this clasp is that it is simple to use with only one hand, making it ideal for bracelets. It isn’t exceptionally secure, though, since even a little external pressure can cause it to open.
8. S Hook Clasp
S Hook clasp has a ring on one side and an S-shaped hook on the other. The clasp works by sliding the hook into the ring. The S hook clasp is extremely simple to use and has a classy look; you must ensure that the hook is tight enough to latch onto the ring firmly without slipping off.
9. Slide Lock Clasp
This clasp style consists of a tube and a bar on either end. The clasp works by sliding the bar into the tube. Most slide lock clasps have several rings, making them perfect for bracelets with multiple strands. Using a slide lock clasp for jewelry with various strands would keep each strand from getting tangled.
Slide lock clasps are secure as long as the tube and bar aren’t worn out. However, there are varieties of slide lock clasps that use magnets for extra security. The major drawback of using a slide lock clasp on your bracelet is that using them with one hand can be difficult.
10. Snap Lock Clasp
These clasps feature a hinged clasp that works by folding and locking it in place. Snap lock clasps get their name from the quiet snap sound it makes when in place and is also called a fold-over clasp.
These fasteners are ideal for anyone who struggles with lobster claws or spring rings since you can efficiently operate them with one hand. They are pretty delicate, making them the perfect clasp for light bracelets.
11. Spring Ring Clasp
Along with the lobster clasp, this is the most common clasp you’ll find on bracelets nowadays, and they work similarly. The spring ring clasp has a spring mechanism that compresses when you pull the lever backward. Pulling the spring backward allows you to insert the ring on the other end, and the lever automatically returns when you leave it.
The spring ring clasp is a lightweight solution for your bracelet clasp. However, securing a spring ring clasp with one hand can be tricky.
12. Toggle Clasp
A toggle clasp consists of a t-shaped bar and a circular loop, and it works by inserting the bar into the loop. The bar is usually longer than the diameter of the loop, so that should keep it in place.
Toggle clasps are one of the easiest to operate with one hand and can be used as the centerpiece of your bracelet. The clasp is not ideal for loose bracelets as it requires a certain amount of tension for the clasp to stay in place.
Things To Consider When Selecting Clasp Type
When you look at the long list of clasps above, choosing the clap type to use on your next bracelet can be pretty confusing. It doesn’t need to be, though, as there are two main factors you should consider when selecting your bracelet clasp type– practicality and style.
Practicality
One thing to always have in mind is how practical the clasp is to use for a bracelet. The last thing you want is to make a bracelet that looks great and a clasp that’s a pain to use. Therefore, you should select clasps that are easier to use with one hand instead of those that require much attention to fix.
Also, when choosing a clasp type, you should consider how securely it would hold your bracelet. The last thing you want is to lose your bracelet because of a fragile clasp, so bracelets meant for daily use should only use very secure clasps.
Style
Style is just as important as practicality when choosing the clasp you want to use for your bracelet. This is especially true if you want to make a bracelet that isn’t meant for everyday use. For instance, while a toggle clasp isn’t the most secure type, it fits in perfectly on bracelets you want to add as part of your dinner attire.
Also, some clasp types are perfect for a particular type of bracelet because of how seamlessly they fit in with the design. A perfect example is using the bead clasp on a bead bracelet; while other clasps might work well, the bead clasp complements the design best.