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BEADSELLER
Making
Friends, One Bead At A Time
"No act of kindness, no matter how
small, is ever wasted." ~Aesop
FREE
JEWELRY MAKING LESSONS
Introduction
to Jewelry Clasps and Connectors
Once you string up a bracelet or
necklace, you need some way to connect both ends together. That’s when
findings such as clasps and jump rings come in very handy. Following are
descriptions of a few of the more popular jewelry clasps and connectors.
Jump
Rings
| A jump ring is
a circular ring of metal. It can come unsoldered (as pictured)
or soldered closed. They are actually relatively easy
to make but you can also buy them from most jewelry
suppliers. They come in different diameters and different types
of metals. Most often a jump ring is used as a way to connect
one component to another. They are really versatile.
Don’t feel limited to using them only for connections.
Try using them as decorative elements in your chandeliers and
more. |
Split
Ring
| When you buy
these, the rings will be closer together as pictured. A split
ring is similar to a jump ring, but instead of either being
soldered closed or a slit being left in the ring, they continue
around, sort of like a spring. They come in all kinds of
different metals. These are most often used as a way to easily
connect a pendant or a charm to a piece of jewelry. They can be
tricky to use, and there are even split ring pliers available
just for this purpose. |
Spring
ring Clasp
| Probably just
about the most common of clasps, this spring ring clasps are
used on beaded items like necklaces and bracelets. There is
actually a little spring inside of the round part of the clasp
that allows it to open and close. These come in silver, gold,
gold-filled, and base metals. Spring ring clasps are available
in different diameters. |
Lobster
Claw Clasps
| Lobster claw
clasps kind of look like the claw of a lobster, and they are one
of the most secure of clasps. So, if you have an extra heavy
piece of jewelry, they are your best bet. They come in silver,
gold, gold-filled, and base metals. They are also available in
lots of different sizes. |
Hook
and Eye Clasp
| Make
your own hook and eye clasp with a little wire or buy
them pre-made. This type of clasp is made up of a simple hook on
one side and an “eye,” shaped like a figure “8” for the
other side |
Toggle
Clasp
| A toggle
clasps has two sections: the “T” part and the “O” part.
The “T” is inserted into the “O” when connecting the two
ends of a piece of jewelry together. Just like most findings,
there is a huge variety of designs and metals available for
toggle clasps |
S
HOOK CLASP WITH RINGS
| An S Hook
Clasp is a S shaped hook and eye clasp. They generally
come in a variety of designs and metals and most have two
rings. These are great to use with bracelets and
necklaces. |
Decorative
Links
| Links are used
to add decorative sections in bracelets or necklaces. They
generally have loops on either end for easy connecting.
Links come in a variety of designs and metals. |
DECORATIVE
SPACER BARS
| If you are
making multiple strand beaded pieces, then separator bars are
really helpful. They keep the strands straight, and therefore,
from draping across each other. Separator bars come in all kinds
of designs, from the plain that will blend into a beaded piece
to the ornate that will add a little pizzazz. They come in base
metal and precious metal and different sizes anywhere from 2
holes on up, though usually 4 or 5 holes is the maximum. |
CLAMP
ONS
| Clamp Ons are made up of two connected metal cups
that have a hole between them and a hook. Also know as clam
shells (because the two cups face each other like the shell of a
clam), these are used to hold onto the knot at the end of a
strung piece of jewelry, such as a beaded necklace. Then the
hook is used to wrap around a clasp or jump ring. Clamp Ons are
available in base metal, sterling, gold-filled, and gold. |
HEAD
PIN
EYE
PIN
PADDLE PIN
Bead
Cap
CRIMP
BEADS
| These come in
the shape of a tube (in silver, gold, or gold-filled) or a
sphere (base metal), and are literally little beads. They are
used most often with beading wire to finish the ends of a beaded
piece of jewelry. While you can use flat-nosed pliers to close
crimp beads around beading wire, there are also special crimping
pliers available to get a more finished look. |
CRIMP BEAD COVERS
| Not everyone
likes the look of crimps after they have been attached to a
piece of beaded jewelry. Now, you don’t need to see these any
more if you use a crimp cover, which is basically a bead slit on
one side. You use crimping pliers to wrap these around the
crimps and thus make them look more like a rounded bead.
Step
by Step Pictorial |
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