Ever had a fabulous piece of jewelry that you don’t often wear because it’s nearly impossible to fasten? If you’re like me, those tiny, little, spring rings manage to slip right out from your fingers just as you almost have it in place! Or the try-to-close-it-backwards-in-the-mirror game and go cross-eyed? How about wrist twister? Not a fan? Neither am I. I have neither the patience nor the nails to spend time fidgeting with tiny, stubborn clasps. Whether a necklace or bracelet, we want a secure clasp that’s easy to fasten!
Without revealing my age too much, (ahem,) my experience with jewelry goes back to childhood, especially remembering playing in my aunt’s and grandmothers’ jewelry boxes. Aptly, my first job as a teenager was in the accessories department of a major retailer where I learned lots of good stuff from my older and wiser mentors. Over the following decades and after accumulating oodles of jewelry, I can state with confidence that I know what works and have probably become, to an extent, one of those older and wiser ladies.
Most people probably agree that bracelets are the most difficult jewelry item to put on by themselves. Like a dog chasing its tail, I have stubbornly attempted to fasten a bracelet by going round and round my wrist to no avail. In the case of some bracelets, even opposable thumbs aren’t what they’re cracked up to be! While stretch bracelets are nice, there are certain looks that require a clasp.
If you’ve shopped through the bracelets I make, you’ll see that many have a magnetic clasp. Magnetic clasps are amazing things for not only older and wiser ladies, but for everyone. Even teenage me would appreciate a nice, strong, easy-to-fasten clasp! After making jewelry for over a decade, I have experimented with lots of different magnetic clasps and have found that they are not all created equal. The ones I currently use are all solid sterling silver aside from the magnets themselves of course, and are so powerful, they will pick up silverware if I’m not careful at dinner. Besides being super strong, they have a “lip” which provides additional stability and prevents the magnets from sliding apart by accident. Many of the bracelets with magnetic closures also have a safety chain for triple security. Here in the northern climes where coats and jackets are required much of the year, our bracelets are perhaps more at risk of losing by removing said outerwear, hence the extra precautions. I usually carry a handbag on my forearm or wrist as well so I’ve taken every measure to ensure secure bracelets! With arthritic hands, magnets make the most sense as well. I’m not kidding when I say they virtually fasten themselves! It’s true! You’ll be amazed when you receive your magnetic clasp bracelet and vaguely line it up and it snaps right into place all on its own! To get this article’s photo, I had to carefully place the two magnetic ends at least two inches apart to prevent them from closing! Besides using magnetic closures on bracelets, I do occasionally use larger toggle clasps and buttons which I have found are much simpler than some other fasteners and equally secure.
For necklaces, I usually use the largest sterling silver or gold filled lobster claw the design will allow. Lobster claws are easier to handle than spring rings and accommodate the use of an extender chain. To get just the right fit, and because we all come in different shapes and sizes, most necklaces I create include an extender chain allowing them to be adjusted in length two or three inches. For longer necklaces, the toggle often comes in handy for its security and versatile look as a feature. Hook and eye closures are another type I use occasionally, typically on a piece heavy enough to keep the clasp securely fastened. Beware of lightweight jewelry with hook and eye closures as they can easily be slipped apart.
With decades of jewelry experience, there are good reasons for using the clasps that I do, namely, ease of use and security. You can count on any jewelry you purchase from me to be not only beautiful, but well-made and functional. Be assured that decades from now you’ll be able to put on your bracelet all by yourself!
Thanks for reading along and happy jewelry-wearing!
~Sheila