All About Jewelry Clasps

A Visual Dictionary of Jewelry Clasps

CLASP: A small device, typically metal, to hold jewelry pieces securely closed when being worn.

Vintage Clasp Samples Card

BOX CLASPS

Box Clasps aka Tab Insert Clasps aka Tongue and Groove Clasps

Decorative box clasps can add so much to a necklace, especially if your hair is short or in an up-do.

   
Hattie Carnegie necklace, the clasp is a focal point

   
Hattie Carnegie

   
Miriam Haskell, the clasp is a focal point at the front of the necklace

   
Miriam Haskell bracelet, the clasp is a huge focal point

HOOK CLASPS

Hook clasps are often stamped with country of origin or designer's name

   
Wide Hook Clasp on Silver Bracelet from Mexico

FOLD-OVER CLASPS

 Fold-Over Clasps snap shut for added security

SPRING RING CLASPS

Spring Ring Clasps work with a tension mechanism is pulled back to open and released to close

This Napier spring ring clasp has a bar running across the inside with the Napier hallmark stamped on it

Spring ring clasp marked gold filled

   
The patented Miriam Haskell clasp is a type of spring ring clasp

LOBSTER CLAW CLASPS

Lobster Claw Clasps are variations of Spring Ring Clasps

   
Smaller lobster claws, with round levers date to the 1970s and the larger ones with the flat levers are newer

TOGGLE CLASPS

Toggle Clasps are simple designs; the bar fits into the ring and piece closes

SISTER CLASPS

Sister Clasps work by threading both parts over a jump ring

PIN CLASPS

Pin Clasps aka Pin & Groove Clasps aka Slide Clasps
Pin Clasps work with a bar that slides into grooves on both sides of the jewelry

BARREL CLASP

Barrel clasps are sometimes called Torpedo Clasps, they are barrel shaped when screwed close

FIBULA CLASPS

Found in ancient jewelry; rarely seen today

C-CLASPS

This c-clasp from the early 20th century, has a safety lever

 SAFETY CLASPS

TROMBONE CLASPS

Trombone clasps work by pulling the pin from the barrel and inserting the pin stem before closing shut

FISH HOOK CLASPS

Fish Hook Clasps or Box and Hook Clasps can be confusing. The hook fits into and around a small bar and then twists and locks into place when pushing inward

      
This fish hook is for a triple strand necklace
 

PADLOCK CLASPS

Padlocks work either with a tension bar or a key

   
Two Walter Lampl padlocks; they open with a tension mechanism in the handle

   
Two padlocks which need a key to open

PIN AND BARREL CLASPS

Pin and Barrel Clasps, when the pin is pushed into the barrel, it locks in place

COILED CLASPS

Coiled clasps work like key-rings, you thread one end through the coil until the piece is fully closed

SNAP CLASPS

Snap Clasp aren't very common in jewelry, but they can be found. They simply clasp closed

   

MAGNETIC CLASPS

THANK YOU: Sandy Campbell, Colleen Abbott , Yolanda Dewijk, Melissa Hatfield and Cindy Deeter for providing photos for this blog article

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