Necklace wearers - let me know about clasps!

I have about 100 vintage necklaces to restring and knot. Many don’t have their original clasps or they are broken beyond saving. I’ve now nearly run out of reusable vintage clasps. Any necklaces I can keep original I do!.

What are your clasp preferences if you were buying a necklace ( I can’t keep them all or I’ll go under!).

- Spring ring
- Shepherds hook
- Magnetic ( although I’ll struggle with my inner purist to put these on vintage necklaces
- Screw barrel
- T bar and ring
-hook and push clasp like on the old pearls.
- modern lobster clip ( again, struggle to use these!)
etc!
Also would you want silver or are you happy with base metal?.
I’m stringing them with a jump ring I can open and close so I can change out the clasps but if I’m buying clasps it would be really handy to know what you love or hate! Show me pictures of your favourites.
Thanks for your time

 

Well, you asked for opinions! Generally: I think the clasp should respect the age of the beads. As should their value. (Expensive beads are worthy of an expensive clasp.) And I hate, hate, hate -- can I put it more strongly? -- lobster claw clasps. They scream the era of cheap Chinese imports. JMHO. Others may and are welcome to disagree. Strongly, if need be.

Debora

 

Completely agree! Especially the lobster clasps .
But I’m trying to be open minded and find out what people want
Most of the necklaces are 20s onwards glass Czech types. Not many of huge value but some very nice glass.
I’ve a few antique coral that I’m saving gold clasps for.

 

If they were mine, I'd replace the clasps with a clasp typical of the bead's era.

Debora

 

Spring rings make me nuts, as do most modern barrel clasps. The ones from the 1930s can be great. I agree with using age-appropriate hardware if possible. If not, those magnet and screw down "clever clasp" things are great for older fingers. And they don't come loose. I use toggles (t-bar?) or hooks if I'm stringing beads that were found loose. If the string on the old ones is old too, I redo the whole thing reusing old hardware if it's viable.

I also save sterling clasps from chains I melt. A sterling silver lobster claw is just fine by me unless it's one of those itty bitty things you can't fasten without turning the necklace around and using a mirror.

 

Thankyou for your input
Agree about using period clasps where possible. Its tricky to find enough good ones though as so many necklaces arrive without one.

 

I'd say try to keep it fairly authentic. If it's a total rework then fine, use lobster or toggle. If it's a restore job, then spring, barrel or whatever might have been typical, as Debora says.

 

Spring and barrel it is then!
I’ve got a few barrel ones and fortunately spring rings are easy to come by.
Thankyou

 

I prefer the clasps that you find on pearls, as they are easier on my hands. If I had the option, all of my necklaces would have them. I really struggle with the spring rings and lobster claws, especially.

 

For ease of use I favor toggle clasps. But they are not age appropriate for vintage beads. The classic pearl clasp is my choice for other necklaces. They come in silver, gold filled, & gold. I do not find them that hard to work even though my hands are unsteady & appreciate the built in safety feature. There are some variants on this that I also like. I have more than once had the experience of having a barrel clasp come open on its own & the necklace falling.

 

Pearl clasps are a good option. I hate modern barrels; they're fiddly and too small. 1930s barrels are a lot easier to handle. Spring rings aren't much better, again unless they're the old ones. I've had toggles fall off too; the hook and loop clasps are a lot safer. Good old gravity.

 

I’ve investigated pearl clasps and it seems there are plenty available in a vintage style.
This is one thread that I should have added a poll for!.
Cookson Gold have a good range of clasps in gold silver and gold filled. The top one is a modern variation of a spring ring.
I like the engraved box clasp.

 

Lots of nice options there!

 

Yes, I was pleasantly surprised when I went looking