There are five necklace clasps you will come across most often: the lobster clasp, the spring ring, the magnetic clasp, the toggle and the slider. The lobster clasp is the sturdiest choice for every day. A magnetic clasp is the easiest if small parts are tricky for you.
Yet the clasp is more than a tiny hook at the back of your neck. It decides how quickly you put on a necklace, how securely it stays on and even how you get a pendant onto your chain. In this blog you will read how each clasp is built and who it suits.
Why is the clasp so important?
The clasp is the only moving part of your necklace.
The weak spot of every necklace
The links are joined firmly together. The clasp opens and closes every single day. That is why this part wears first.
Sharon van het Hof, founder and creative director since 2014, visits the workshops in Italy, Bangkok and Hong Kong regularly. There she checks every detail, from the clasp to the setting of a stone. That says a lot about how important this small hook is.
Small Faceted Ball Chain Necklace
Ease and security go together
A clasp that opens easily sometimes also opens by itself. A very firm clasp, on the other hand, is harder with cold or rushed hands. So the right choice depends on your daily routine.
Which types of necklace clasps will you find?
Below you will read about the five best known clasps, from classic to modern.
The lobster clasp
This is the classic on most fine necklaces. A small spring keeps a lever closed. You push the lever inwards with your nail, hook in the small ring and let go.
The lobster clasp is sturdy and lasts a long time. That is why you choose it for necklaces you wear every day, also with a pendant on them.
The spring ring
This clasp is round and has a tiny slider. You pull the slider aside, the ring opens and a spring snaps it shut again. It is small and barely noticeable.
The downside is the size. The slider is tiny, so you need a bit of precision. Long nails make it easier.
The magnetic clasp
Two halves click together by themselves. That is ideal if your fingers are stiff or you want to put on your necklace quickly. Be careful with a heavy pendant, though, because a magnet lets go sooner than a lobster clasp when it gets a tug.
The toggle clasp
Here you slide a small bar through a ring and turn the bar sideways. The clasp is often large and visible, so it is also a decorative element. You mostly see it on chunkier link chains.
The slider clasp
With a slider clasp you slide a small bead along the chain. That way you set the length yourself. You often see this on very fine chains and on cords.
Beaded Necklace 2mm Tiger Eye 42cm +2cm
What does an extender chain at the clasp do?
Many necklaces have a short extra piece of chain right next to the clasp.
A few centimetres of room
That piece is called an extender chain. You hook the lobster clasp into one of the links and choose a slightly shorter or longer length. The 42 cm beaded necklaces, for example, have a 2 cm extender, so you wear them between 42 and 44 cm.
That comes in handy with a turtleneck or an open neckline. Not sure about the right length? Read first how to measure the length of a necklace.
Mind the weight
An extender chain is usually finer than the necklace itself. So do not hang a heavy pendant on it, because the weight then pulls on the thinnest part.
Which clasp suits your necklace?
The best clasp depends on the necklace and on you.
On a fine link chain
Choose a small lobster clasp or spring ring. It disappears at the back of your neck and suits a delicate look. The link chains in the necklaces collection are made of 925 sterling silver with a gold plated or rhodium plated finish, in lengths from 42 to 80 cm.
On a beaded necklace
A beaded necklace is heavier and thicker. A sturdy lobster clasp suits it best. The Beaded Necklace 2mm Tiger Eye is made of 925 sterling silver with gold filled, with 2 mm beads and an extender chain.
With little strength in your fingers
Then a magnetic clasp or a slightly larger lobster clasp is comfortable. The same question comes up with bracelets, so read which bracelet clasp is the sturdiest.
How do you keep a clasp running smoothly?
A few habits keep your clasp smooth for years.
Always open it at the clasp
Never pull a necklace over your head. That stretches the spring and the lever closes less well. So always open it neatly at the clasp.
Store it clean and dry
Skin oil, soap and hairspray creep into the mechanism. Wipe the clasp now and then with a soft, dry cloth. Store your necklace closed, then it also tangles less quickly.
Have a loose clasp checked
Does the lever feel slack, or does the clasp open by itself? Then take it to a jeweller. Sparkling Jewels has more than 500 affiliated jewellers in Europe, so there is often one near you.
Frequently asked questions about necklace clasps
I'm happy to answer a few frequently asked questions:
What is the strongest necklace clasp?
The lobster clasp. The spring keeps the lever firmly closed, so it does not simply open by itself.
Which clasp is the easiest to close yourself?
A magnetic clasp. The two halves find each other, so you do not have to aim.
Can you have a clasp replaced?
Yes. A jeweller attaches a different clasp with a new jump ring, for example a larger lobster clasp.
Why does my clasp keep turning to the front?
Usually the front is too light. A pendant or a slightly shorter length pulls the front down, so the clasp stays at the back of your neck.
What is the piece of chain at the clasp called?
That is an extender chain. It lets you adjust the length by a few centimetres.
Want to know more, or have questions? The experts at Sparkling Jewels are happy to help.
