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The clasp is the part of a necklace that gets used most and noticed least, until it fails. A clasp too small to open with cold fingers, or too weak for a heavy strand, undoes an otherwise beautiful piece. This guide explains how a lobster clasp works, how to size one to your cord or wire, and how to attach it properly, using the GRIFFIN range as the reference. GRIFFIN is a historic brand founded in 1866 that supplies high-quality bead-stringing materials and accessories for jewellery-making.
What is a lobster clasp and how does it work?
A lobster clasp, named for its shape, is a self-closing clasp with a spring-loaded lever. Press the small lever with a thumbnail and the gate opens; release it and the spring snaps it shut. Hook it through a jump ring or soldered ring at the other end of the necklace and the piece is closed.
That spring return is the whole appeal. Unlike a clasp you have to hold shut while you fasten it, a lobster clasp closes itself the moment you let go, so it is secure and quick to use one-handed. It is the workhorse clasp of modern jewellery for exactly that reason.
GRIFFIN lobster clasp sizes: which size fits which cord diameter?
The principle of sizing is simple: the lobster clasp should match the weight and scale of the piece and the diameter of the cord or wire it closes. A delicate silk-strung bracelet wants a small, discreet clasp; a heavy gemstone necklace on thick wire wants a larger, stronger one that fingers can grip and open.
GRIFFIN offers lobster clasps across a range of sizes, so match the size to the piece. Clasps around from 9 mm to 11 mm suit fine chains and lightweight necklaces on thin bead cord. The 12 mm to 13 mm range is the standard, all-round size for everyday necklaces and bracelets. Larger clasps around 16 mm are best for heavier or chunkier designs on thick cord or wire where fingers need something substantial to grip. As a working rule, step up the clasp size as the cord diameter and the piece weight increase, so the clasp is never the weakest link, and pair it with a jump ring or soldered ring sized to hook cleanly through the clasp gate.
GRIFFIN 925 sterling silver lobster clasps
The standard GRIFFIN lobster clasp is made of 925 sterling silver and is nickel-free, which matters for anyone with a metal sensitivity to nickel. Sterling silver gives the clasp its strength and its bright, lasting finish, and it takes plating cleanly where a gold look is wanted.
Sterling silver suits the majority of pieces, from silk knotted pearl necklaces to beaded strands and leather designs. To keep it looking its best, polish it with a Silver Care Cloth, which prevents tarnish and restores the natural shine, and never uses cleaning agents on finished jewellery.
GRIFFIN 24K gold-plated lobster clasps
Where a piece calls for a gold finish, GRIFFIN offers the lobster clasp in a 24K gold-plated version. GRIFFIN clasps and findings are made of 925 sterling silver, nickel-free, with 7-micron 24K gold plating, so the gold sits over a solid sterling silver base rather than base metal.
Match the clasp metal to the rest of the findings on the piece: gold-plated clasp with gold-plated jump rings and tube ends, and a sterling silver clasp with silver findings. Mixing metals within a single piece rarely looks intentional. The gold-plated finish is the choice for warm-toned beads, gold French wire finishes and pieces meant to read as gold throughout.
Lobster clasp vs spring ring clasp: practical differences
Both are self-closing spring-clasps, and GRIFFIN offers both. The spring ring is the older design: a round ring with a spring-loaded gate you draw back with a small tab. GRIFFIN spring rings are available in both 925 sterling silver and 24K gold plating.
The practical differences come down to grip and strength. A lobster clasp's lever is generally easier to work one handed and with less dexterity, which makes it kinder to older hands and quicker to fasten. It also tends to hold up better on heavier pieces. The spring ring is smaller and more discreet, well suited to fine, light necklaces where the clasp should almost disappear, though its tiny tab can be fiddly to open. Choose the lobster clasp for security and ease, the spring ring clasp for delicacy.
How to attach a GRIFFIN lobster clasp to bead cord
On knotted or threaded bead cord, the clasp is not tied on directly; it is attached through a finding that anchors the cord ends neatly. The knots at the beginning and end of the piece are glued into Squeeze Capsules or Bell Caps, and the loop of that finding is then linked to the clasp with an Open Jump Ring.
A common finish uses a Squeeze Capsule: knot the two thread ends together, guide them through the threading hole of the Squeeze Capsule, place a second knot tight against it, trim the excess, secure the knot with GRIFFIN Bead Cord Glue and close the capsule. Then attach the lobster clasp at one end and a soldered jump ring at the other using Open Jump Rings, closing the rings with flat-nose pliers. Hook the clasp through the soldered ring to wear the piece.
How to attach a GRIFFIN lobster clasp to Jewelry Wire
On GRIFFIN Jewelry Wire the clasp is fixed with crimps or a Tube End rather than knots. Both methods end the same way: an Open Jump Ring links the clasp to the wire's finished end.
For a Tube End finish, glue the wire end inside the Tube End with GRIFFIN Superglue, then attach the lobster clasp to the Tube End loop with an Open Jump Ring. For a crimped finish, pass the wire through a Crimp Tube, on through the clasp's ring, and back down through the Crimp Tube, then crimp in two stages: first close the tube in the crimper's toothed oval, then turn it on its side in the rounding oval to shape it back to a neat cylinder secured to the wire. Either way, GRIFFIN lobster clasps are made of 925 sterling silver, nickel-free, with 7-micron 24K gold plating.
GRIFFIN lobster clasps are available through https://www.griffin1866store.com and through authorised GRIFFIN stockists worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are GRIFFIN lobster clasps suitable for sensitive skin?
They are 925 sterling silver and nickel-free, which suits people who react to nickel. The gold-plated version features 24K gold plating over the same sterling silver base.
Can I open a lobster clasp with one hand?
Yes, that is its main advantage. The spring lever opens with a thumbnail and snaps shut on release, which makes it easier than a spring ring for most people.
What size jump ring do I pair with a lobster clasp?
Choose an Open or Soldered Jump Ring whose ring pass cleanly through the clasp gate and matches the piece's weight. GRIFFIN Open Jump Rings come in Ø 3.0, 3.7, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 and 5.9 mm, and Soldered Jump Rings in Ø 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 mm, so a smaller ring suits a fine cord and a larger one suits heavier pieces.
How do I keep the gold plating from wearing off?
Keep it dry, store it separately so it does not rub, and clean only with a soft polishing cloth, never with cleaning agents. The 7-micron plating is durable, but abrasion is what wears any plating fastest.
