| Lobster claw clasps make up a second category | | | | Lobster claw materials |
| of many different jewelry closures for fine | | | | Lobster claw metal materials will generally match |
| jewelry, mass-market costume jewelry and | | | | a dominant metal in the jewelry piece. Lobster |
| handmade artisan jewelry. Lobster claw clasps are | | | | claw materials include Platinum, Palladium, karat |
| the single largest category of jewelry closures. | | | | Gold, Gold-Filled, Sterling Silver, Titanium, Surgical |
| Jewellery designers can clearly communicate their | | | | Steel, plated Surgical Steel and plated Brass. DIY |
| desires for jewelry components to local bead | | | | jewelry will most often use gold-filled, sterling, |
| stores, customers and jewelry supply vendor by | | | | plated surgical steel or plated brass clasps. Plated |
| learning the terminology and function of jewelry | | | | surgical steel and plated brass clasps may have |
| components. | | | | finishes of gold plate, antiqued gold plate, silver |
| What is a lobster claw clasp? | | | | plate, antiqued silver plate, antiqued brass, bright |
| Many people use the term "lobster claw" | | | | copper, antiqued copper, gunmetal/black nickel and |
| generically for a family of clasps with triggers that | | | | imitation rhodium. |
| open and close the clasp. Lobster claw clasps | | | | Toggles versus Lobster Claw clasps |
| lock around a jump ring or a link of chain to hold | | | | Some people prefer jewelry toggles over lobster |
| the two ends of a jewelry piece together. Other | | | | claw clasps, considering toggles as more stylish |
| jewelry uses include attaching charms or doubling | | | | than lobster claw clasps. However, lobster claw |
| as a clasp and a visual centerpiece in the case of | | | | clasps usually offer more secure fastening than |
| a fancier claw clasp. | | | | do toggles because toggle bars may slip out of |
| A jewelry purist will claim only oneshape of claw | | | | their loops, even if the pieces are appropriately |
| clasp is a true "lobster claw"; these clasps have | | | | sized to the wearers. |
| long, straight oval shapes. Oval trigger and | | | | Lobster claw flaws |
| rounded trigger clasps are quite symmetrical | | | | The most common flaws of lobster claws, more |
| except for the trigger while the specialty Pelican | | | | common with inexpensive costume jewelry |
| clasps are curved clasps with the trigger on the | | | | clasps, are lobster claw bases with little strength |
| outer convex surface. Balloon clasps are similar | | | | which fatigue and break with ungentle wire |
| to oval trigger clasps, but with a longer oval shape | | | | wrapping or wearing,lobster claw triggers that |
| and thinner construction; balloon clasps will weigh | | | | stick and lobster claw triggers with springs that |
| less than a similarly sized lobster claw or trigger | | | | "pop." |
| clasp. Other specialty clasp shapes include heart | | | | Judging the size, weight, cost, appearance and |
| trigger clasps, elephant trigger clasps and cat | | | | ease-of-use of lobster claws is part personal |
| trigger clasps. lobster claw finding | | | | preference and aesthetics and part experience |
| Swivel Clasps | | | | working with different jewelry components.There |
| One style of trigger clasps called swivel clasps has | | | | is no one perfect clasp design for all jewelry |
| a base containing the anchor ring rotates | | | | applications. Fortunately, there are many |
| separately from the rest of the claw. This clasp | | | | different designs of lobster claws to |
| style may offer the wearer more comfort by | | | | accommodate the unique styles of amateur and |
| giving another "degree of freedom" to the | | | | expert jewellery makers. |
| bracelet, necklace or anklet. | | | | |