Learn all you need to about lobster clasps. We break down their constructions, benefits, and tips for soldering near a clasp.
Lobster clasps are a popular choice among jewelers, and for good reason. They’re strong, last a long time, are simple to use, and come in a huge range of styles and materials. Keep reading for the lowdown on how they’re made and why you might want to use one.
As a jewelry maker, choosing the right size lobster clasp for your necklace design is crucial for functionality and aesthetics. But with so many sizes available, how do you know which lobster clasp is the best fit?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the key factors for determining the ideal lobster clasp size for your necklace. You’ll learn about clasp widths, weighing clasp size options, and attaching lobster clasps properly.
Let’s dive in!
Understanding Lobster Clasp Sizes
Lobster clasps come in a range of sizes, from 5mm mini clasps up to 20mm mega clasps. The size refers to the width of the clasp at its widest point.
Generally, you’ll find lobster clasps in even sizes from 6mm to 16mm. The most common sizes are 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm.
Larger lobster clasps have a more substantial feel and make more of a statement Smaller sizes have a delicate look and feel,
Make sure to choose a high-quality clasp, like stainless steel. Materials like brass or other metals can degrade and weaken over time.
How To Choose The Right Lobster Clasp Size
Choosing the best size lobster clasp for your necklace depends on
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Necklace weight – Heavy necklaces need larger, sturdier clasps. Delicate chains can use smaller clasps.
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Bead/pendant size – Chunky beads or large pendants do better with bigger clasps proportional to their size.
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Personal taste – Your own sense of style and aesthetics should guide size selection.
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Necklace length – Longer necklaces usually need larger clasps for security.
For most necklaces 16-20 inches long, an 11mm or 12mm lobster clasp is a nice average size. But use your own discretion based on your design.
If unsure, go slightly bigger rather than smaller. A lobster clasp too small for a necklace can break under pressure.
Measuring Necklace Size For Lobster Clasp
To find the right lobster clasp size, you’ll need to measure where the clasp will attach on your necklace. Here’s how:
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Lay your necklace flat untwisted with the clasp unhooked.
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At one end of the open necklace, measure from the outer tip of the chain to the outer tip where the lobster clasp will attach.
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Add 2-3mm to allow room for the clasp to hook securely.
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Round up to the nearest even lobster clasp size.
So if your measurement is 9mm, get a 10mm clasp. If it’s 11mm, get a 12mm clasp. This extra room prevents slippage.
Attaching Lobster Clasps To Necklaces
Once you’ve chosen the perfect lobster clasp size, it’s time to attach it. You’ll need:
- Lobster clasp
- Crimp beads
- Jump rings
- Beading wire
- Chain nose and flat nose pliers
Step 1: Cut beading wire to necklace length plus about 6 inches. String a crimp bead, then the lobster clasp.
Step 2: Feed wire back through crimp bead and tighten to secure clasp. Crimp the bead in place with pliers.
Step 3: String beads onto wire. Trim excess wire so end tucks under beads neatly.
Step 4: Repeat crimp bead process on other end with a jump ring instead of clasp.
Pro tips:
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Use crimp covers over crimps for smoother finish
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Open and close jump rings correctly to maintain shape
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Leave a little slack in beading wire so clasp can hook easily
Other Jewelry Size Considerations
Along with lobster clasp size, keep these size factors in mind for great jewelry making:
Standard necklace lengths:
- Choker – 14-16 inches
- Princess – 18-20 inches
- Matinee – 20-24 inches
- Opera – 28-34 inches
Choose length based on neck size, body type, face shape.
Ring sizes:
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Measure finger in evening when largest
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Dominant hand is slightly bigger
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Soft metals like gold can alter in size
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If unsure, size smaller – easier to size up
Choosing the right lobster clasp size is key for design and function. Use this guide to pick the perfect lobster clasp for your special necklace. Happy jewelry making!
Construction of a Lobster Clasp
We need to know how lobster clasps are made before we can talk about all the good things about them. We’ll talk about how the clasp is put together physically, as well as the magnet test, the assay, and how plating treatments might change your clasp.
Just like our other favorite clasp, the spring ring, lobster clasps are also constructed with a steel spring. They are made up of 3 parts – the spring, the trigger, and the body. In spring rings, the spring is inside a tube. The spring in a lobster clasp has a slightly different shape, with only one coil instead of many. When you pull the trigger, it pushes the spring against the body of the clasp. When you release the trigger, it springs back into a neutral position. For more information about spring rings, read our blog Spring Rings: All you Need to Know.
The main metal used to make lobster clasp bodies and triggers is usually sterling silver, 14k gold, or gold-filled. However, the spring is always made out of steel. In the pictures above of a lobster class that has been taken apart, you can see that the spring is made of a darker metal. Because of this, a precious metal spring would quickly lose its ability to pull apart after being used a lot, and it would stop working. Steel springs maintain this important tensile strength “springy” property for lifetime use. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates jewelry industry practices. They allow certain key jewelry components to contain steel mechanisms because of the necessity for tensile strength. On that list are clasp springs, hinge pins used in things like leverback earring findings, and the glass-face holding bezels for lockets or watches. The small steel parts in these findings may make them magnetic, even though the main body of these items is made of precious metal. You may notice a stronger magnetic pull on the findings when you are near the steel component.
The introduction of steel into a clasp will affect the piece’s assay. Assay is a lab test that tells you what your piece is made of so you can be sure it is pure precious metal. For example, sterling silver is 92. 5% fine silver, and 7. 5% copper. Adding the steel spring has made the piece heavier and less pure because it is made of a different material. But that steel spring is very important because, as we already said, silver and gold aren’t strong enough to be springs. Keep this in mind when you use your lobster clasp or any other clasp with a steel spring, like a spring ring: it can change the assessment. When you send your materials to a lab for quality control tests, you should always take off any clasps that have steel in them or let the lab tech know that your testing sample may have clasp springs that need to be taken out before it is analyzed.
Sterling Silver Lobster Claw Clasps
FAQ
How to measure a lobster claw clasp?
What is the best clasp for necklaces?
What size is a lobster clip?
What sizes do Lobster clasps come in?
Because lobster clasps are so popular, you can find them in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and beyond. Halstead offers lobster clasps from 4x7mm to 9×17.5mm and beyond in size. We also stock sterling silver, gold-filled, rose gold-filled, and solid 14k gold.
What is a lobster clasp?
Just like our other favorite clasp, the spring ring, lobster clasps are also constructed with a steel spring. They are made up of 3 parts – the spring, the trigger, and the body. Unlike spring rings, where the spring is fitted into a tube, lobster clasps have a slightly different shaped spring, with only one coil instead of many.
How do you open a lobster claw clasp?
Open and Close: To open lobster claw clasps, push down on the lever, which will draw the clasp inward, opening the mechanism. To close, simply release the lever and ensure the clasp springs back into its closed position. With spring ring clasps, pull back the lever to open, and release it to secure the clasp shut.
How do you choose a lobster clasp?
Certain lobster clasps feature a more rounded look mimicking the shape of a lobster claw, while others may have a flatter design. The choice of clasp type is influenced by the weight and style of the necklace or chain it is intended to secure, ensuring both safety and coherence in design.