Closures and Clasps

At Cascade, I am currently creating designs using a number of different clasps styles, and on some jewelry, you can customize the kind of clasp you would like. Most bracelets come with a lobster claw clasp by default; it's aesthically pleasing, it works well, is secure, and allows for easy adjustability for fit.  But if you'd like to choose a specific type of clasp, even if it's not one mentioned below, please let me know in the "Special Requests" section of the order; I'll get in touch to figure out if we can accommodate it.

This is an overview of different types of clasps.

I spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to clasp my items.  They're the "functional" part of the bracelet and I sometimes like to do things with them to make them a secondary focal point.  With that in mind, here are some pros and cons of the various kinds of clasps we normally use.

Lobster Claw

The Lobster Claw clasp is the traditional clasp, and is secure and looks very good in many designs.  It essentially clips into a jump ring with a spring loaded trigger. When I build a bracelet, I add a short piece chain in the place of the jump ring so that the bracelet is adjustable as well.

The Lobster Claw is my favorite clasp in terms of look and functionality.  It can be a bit of a pain to use single-handedly, but I add a piece of chain between the claw and the beads to make it a bit easier to grip.  This helps a LOT.

Snap Clasp

The Snap Clasp is my second favorite, and moves in and out of first place for me.  It's basically a ball and socket that you can pinch together like a snap on a jacket.  It holds well; I've never had one undo on me.  It looks very good too, a bit more earthy than the Lobster Claw, but it's a good look.

It's super easy to put on and take off, even by yourself. I'd say the only flaw is that it's not inherently adjustable, but when I send you a bracelet, I include a small piece of chain so that you can adjust it yourself.

Magnetic Clasps

Magnetic clasps are amazing for ease-of-use.  I like them a lot for this reason, but they're not especially good looking.  That's ok in some cases, and you can certainly request them on most designs.

Note that there are a lot of magnetic jewelry clasps that just stink. The magnet is very weak, and the bracelet can come undone with the slightest bump.  When I was testing magnetic clasps, I was trying one of these crappy ones, bumped my wrist on the open window sill on my car, and lost my bracelet onto the street on 50 mph.  Feh.

However, I take great pains to source very high-quality neodymium magnets for my clasps.  These are excellent and require a fair amount of pull to separate them.  I've never had one fail through normal use.

The problem with magnetic clasps is that they stick to iron.  Duh.  But my stair rail is  iron, so when I'm walking up to my office, it sticks.  Something in my laptop sticks.  I pickup tools accidentally.  A bracelet with magnets also sticks to other bracelets with magnets.  It's only a minor annoyance, and if ease-of-use is your goal, these cannot be beat!

Stretch Bracelets

Stretch bracelets don't need a clasp. They're strung on stretch material made of polyester and polyurethane.  They're great for resizability.  They're also great for aesthetic, because essentially, they're invisible!

The drawback to stretch bracelets is that they can break.  Sometimes it's due to mechanical stress, sometimes they just fail over time.  Lava beads, for example, are rough and can sometimes ruin the material.  And when a stretch bracelet breaks, it's pretty dramatic;  beads fly everywhere!

I take great pains with my stretch bracelets to ensure this doesn't happen.  I double up the thread to handle some additional stress, and tie very tight knots.  Each knot is then dabbed with adhesive to help prevent it from unraveling.

There are other types of clasps out there that I just don't currently use in production.  If you'd like one added to your bracelet though, by all means contact me, and I'll see what I can do!