Various clasp options
Chain clasps are used to close, open, and secure chain necklaces around the neck; keeping your chain safe and secure is important. Chainnow.com offers a variation of clasping options to choose from. Clasps come in an array of metals including gold, silver, platinum titanium and plated metal. Some jewelers have even turned to a more contemporary fashion in creating clasps from gemstones like pearls to enhance the overall look and value of your chain.The three most popular clasps are barrel, lobster claw, and spring ring. The barrel clasp is a secure clasp that is constructed of a square-shaped wire that locks into a tube that appears to be the shape of a barrel.
The lobster claw clasp looks like a lobster claw and looks ornate on all types of gold chains. Inside the claps is a spring that hooks to a circle or tube at the other end of the chain.
The spring ring is a more convenient utilizing clasp; it’s a round clasp that opens by manipulating the coil spring. Magnetic clasps are also easy to secure and have become very popular with persons with joint problems and generally a more convenient method in securing a jewelry chain necklace. Magnetic clasps however, have weight limits since their magnetism are unable to properly secure heavier chains.
There is also the simple s-hook and eye style clasp that are popular for their ease of secure. Seeing as how they are easily unhooked, they are best suited for chains of lighter weight. There is the classic box clasp that is available with a variation of loops and is a more favored choice for multiple looped chains. Encrusted chains are best adorned with clamshell, crimp, and spacer bar clasps.
One of the more secure types of clasps is the folded metal wire hook clasp in diamond chains. These clasps are not as easy to secure unless you are being assisted when putting on your jewelry. For a better visual, the wire is bent into a loop while the other end is open and both sides are slid into one another to create a perfect friction. This style of clasp can be permanently attached to the other side with a hook soldered shut.
Generally, the spring ring and lobster claw clasps are used for most necklaces since the lobster claw has the most efficient amount of securing strength.
For clasp like this to work properly, the pendant will need a loop going the correct direction. Imagine that the cross pendant is placed flat on a table surface. The loop on the pendant should lay flat also. In other words, the front view of the pendant will show the 'looking through the hole' view of the loop on the pendant.
Some people opt for a combination of clasps to add a decorative effect. Adorning a necklace with multiple clasps on each side can create a visually appealing look that is unique and contemporary at usjewelryfactory.com. Consider that the hook style of clasps are visually appealing and work when in a decorative sense but are not as secure as the spring induced clasps such as the lobster claw. For the most visually appealing option it is best to go with the hook style for appearance sake.