[Caitlin]

My new favorite:

Ball and socket style locking clasp with a foldover once the ball is in the cage.

It looks like a little trailer ball hitch; just insert and snap it locked. Easy to use, hard to lose. by Hip Chicks Beads LINK

[Caitlin]

I opened the poll again,. Well, Play Again.

And add a photo if possible

Now how many of those listed clasps are actually fishhook clasps? I know the ball clasp is.

In clasp mechanisms, I am focused on how secure it is. Style is second.

[pattye]

Caitlin,

That is very interesting! I had not seen that kind before. Does it come in different sizes? Do you have the approx size?

[Caitlin]

Size and price are listed on the link- about 20X8mm ,sterling. Under $6 each. I haven't seen other sizes, but this looks great on my purple bracelet. It is easy to get on and off by myself.

[knotty panda]

FireMountain has one that's called a Ball & Socket based on the same principle, but it's like $20 bucks!

The favorite clasp I've designed with is the bow. This isn't THE pic, but it was my inspiration for the design which was a half strand of black & clear swarovski bi-cone pendants and a huge, cascading bow clasp which ran dramatically half way down her back and her waist length hair was in an up-do. For my niece for last year's prom.

[Caitlin]

Hi knotty.
Is that pic in your album? The open looking top on the clothing goes great with the necklace, which is very fashionable.

[knotty panda]

No, I don't think so. Do I have an album? Duh!

[Caitlin]

Sure you do. It's on your profile page. Very easy to add pictures to. You could put in both Terry's picture of your necklace and the one above. Did the one at Terry's sell? When can you make some followups?

[CLICLASP]

[quote=Pearl_dreams;24056]
What is a butterfly clasp? A bow? knot? A link? The others I know.
QUOTE]

me neither

And a basket ??
Can someone post pictures of ?

[gemologist]

I always try to go toggle for the medium ones, lobster claw for the cheaper ones and ball for the high end stuff.

[Caitlin]

I recently saw a gold Lobster claw of substantial size. It was heavy weight and unlikely to come open. I loved it!

[waimeamomi]

I use toggles on almost everything I make, including chain. I just like them, and I know how to attach them. I also think they're interesting to see, but simple and easy to use, and they come in every metal type.

[Nerida]

Cliclasp - can't wait for your new story.

I personally LOVE ball clasps - I use them in opera strands, bracelets and ropes to join strands together, and I often randomly place gold or white gold ball beads throughout the strands so as the clasps are disguised...

[Pearl_dreams]

The $2100 strand of CFWP at Tiffany's that I saw last week had an interesting clasp-- two rings (about 3/4" diameter) that interlock by clicking them together at a narrow point. It added artistry -- I loved the clasp.

As to toggles-- there are toggles and there are toggles! We visited Boston today and stopped in at Iridesse at Copley Place (Tiffany's pearl store)-- lovely strands! One was oval white CFWP separated by several small faceted multicolored tourmaline rondelles, and the clasp was a toggle -- the toggle was a stick pearl and the loop was formed from the thread and tourmalines. Very nice! I also see a lot of toggles on Tiffany's website.

[Caitlin]

Hi
What I have realized is the most kinds of clasps have a downside. Toggles are no good for klonks unless you add some small ones at the bar end. I have also had them come loose on long strands that weren't wrapped around the neck.

At first I loved the interlocking magnet clasps, but too often the glue holding the magnet in there comes unglued, though it stays stuck to the other magnet. Also too many people have complained that they pop open (especially on bracelets) at inconvenient times. My sis-in-law lost a large baroque pearl bracelet with that kind of clasp. Fortunately it was found.



Fishhook types of clasps are secure, but often too hard to get on by yourself. The little round balls are hard to get hold of let alone getting the hook into the ball correctly. I think that the butterflies and bows are fishhooks? They need to be large enough to grab hold of them

clasps with lockovers are good, but expensive.

Lobster clasps are hard to use when small, though very secure. They have a downscale reputation, but the large ones in precious metals are very classy.