Considering Your Jewelry Clasp
June 11, 2005 by Tammy Powley
Filed under Basics - Getting Started
A crucial item to remember when determining the final length of a piece of jewelry such as a bracelet, anklet, or necklace, is to include the measurement of the clasp that you will later attach. Normally, a clasp can add at least one to even two inches to the final length, and if you dont include this extra length in your measurements before hand (no matter if youre making beaded, wire wrapped, or soldered jewelry), then the results can be disastrous.
Here are a few ways to make sure this doesnt happen:
1) If beading with a bead board, arrange both sides of the clasp on the board on either side of the piece just as you would a bead. The measured markings on the board can help give you a final measurement, clasp included.
2) Know ahead of time what clasp you plan to use, and then, of course, use a ruler to measure both sides. Write this down and include it when you are calculating the total length.
3) If you goof and the clasp adds too much length, look for a smaller clasp. For example, an eye type hook (pictured above) could be replaced with a jump ring.
4) Become familiar with the length of the average clasp you use. If you make petite jewelry, most of your clasps might just add an inch, but if you like bolder pieces, then they might add much more than this.
5) For bead stringing, go ahead and string on your beads without finishing either end with either a bead tip or crimp bead. Then measure the piece, measure the clasp, and add these together. If everything is okay, then finish the ends, if not, you can adjust your beads to shorten or lengthen as necessary.
The way I figure out what type of clasp I am going to add to my work is what type of design I am making. For example: A design that includes butterflies, I use a butterfly shape clasp. I have cat ones, flower, dragonflies. You can pretty much get them of different shapes, sizes or sometimes if it is going to be a plain, cheap piece I will just use the usual lobster claw or other type of hook but if I want to fancy it up I use one of the other ones I have in my collection. That way if for some reason your necklace gets turned around people think that your clasp is actually part of the necklace (maybe even a pendant piece), I get alot of compliments on my pieces so obviously it works.