12/19/2023 0 Comments Type of jewelry clasps![]() ![]() They’re affordable and come in different sizes and material varieties. Now that we’ve got some of the technical stuff covered – let’s talk about why we love spring rings! There are two big things that make these little clasps so popular. If it’s something you are especially concerned about, consider a switch to lobster clasps. Anything can get into that mechanism and gum it up. You’re going to want to keep this concept in mind if you add any coatings or patinas as well. If you notice the trigger isn’t working properly, we recommend opening and closing the spring ring about 4-6 times to clear the tubing of any obstructions from the manufacturing process. However, once you have used the clasp a few times, the movement will be nice and smooth. Don’t be concerned, this is normal for spring rings and is part of the economy experience, and why they are so affordable. Priming Your Spring Rings - IMPORTANT!īecause of plating and anti-tarnish treatments, your first few uses of a spring ring trigger can be a little sticky – you may have to break through the plating and anti-tarnish surface treatments to loosen the trigger action. This ensures your clasp looks good for a long time. Often, they’re also treated with an anti-tarnish solution that helps slow down the normal silver tarnishing process. For many chain and findings items, it is more efficient to flash plate to achieve a bright finish instead of polishing or tumbling. That means they get plated in the finishing phase of manufacturing to make them clean and shiny. ![]() If you are ordering quality control lab tests on your materials, you should always either remove clasps that contain steel springs or notify your lab tech that your testing sample may include clasp springs that should be taken out before analysis. The effect on assay is just something to keep in the back of your mind when using a spring ring, or any clasp that uses a steel spring – like a lobster clasp. BUT, we want that steel spring in there because silver and gold don’t have the strength to act as springs, as mentioned above. With the addition of the steel spring, we’ve increased the weight of the piece with a new material, thus decreasing its purity. ![]() For example, sterling silver is 92.5% fine silver, and 7.5% copper. ![]() What’s assay? Assay is a lab test used to determine the compositional breakdown of your piece to verify precious metal purity. The introduction of steel into a clasp will affect the piece’s assay. You may notice a stronger magnetic pull on the findings when you are near the steel mechanism component. These particular findings may be magnetic because of the small steel components even though the main body of these items is made from precious metal. These components include clasp springs, hinge pins in items like leverback earring findings, and the glass-face holding bezels for lockets or watches. They allow certain key jewelry components to contain steel mechanisms because of the necessity for tensile strength. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates jewelry industry practices. Steel springs maintain this important tensile strength "springy" property for lifetime use. This is because a precious metal spring would quickly lose its tensile strength with repeated use and would stop functioning. You will notice in the deconstructed spring ring photos that the spring is a darker metallic material. However, the coiled spring is always made out of steel. Spring ring hollow tubing and trigger wires are made from the primary material metal usually sterling silver, 14k gold, or gold-filled. When the clasp closes, the trigger slides into the tube, ensuring a secure closure. The spring and trigger are loaded into a hollow tube and when you pull the trigger, it compresses the spring - opening the clasp! Pretty straightforward once you can see the insides. Spring rings include three components – the tube, the spring, and the trigger. This includes the parts to a whole, assay considerations, and plating and after-market treatments. Spring Ring Constructionįirst up – construction! To know if a spring ring is the right option, first, we must understand how they’re made. How do you know if it’s the right clasp for your design? We’ll go through the ins and outs of a spring ring, discussing how they’re made, the benefits, and proper usage and care so you can get the most out of your clasp. You’ll find them on everything from chains to beaded designs to pendants strung on cord or silk. Spring rings are one of the most common types of clasps used in jewelry making. ![]()
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