Never say never. I have worn a bracelet with a toggle clasp
continuously for at least seven years along with three other
lobster-clasped bracelets on the same wrist. (Before you say eewh,
know that these bracelets get washed and scrubbed with a brush
several times a day due to my working environment .)
Anyway, in seven years of continuous wear – sculpting, painting,
bronze casting, hiking, gardening, sleeping, and numerous other
activities – the toggle clasp has only spontaneously come undone
twice. That’s right, twice. I’d have to say that that is a VERY
small “failure rate”.
Eight years ago, I would have shared the concern of your client, but
now I know that a well-constructed toggle clasp is an excellent
closure.
(The interior opening of the circle is 3/8ths of an inch in
diameter, and the bar is 15/16ths of an inch long. The wire that it
is constructed from appears to be 12 gauge. Sterling silver.)
Thanks to all of you who helped with the toggle catch. I finished
the bracelet and could not make it come apart no matter what I did -
short of deliberately undoing it. As you no doubt guessed this is
the first time I made one of these clasps and I love it! That is
what I love about making jewelry, there are always so many new
things to try and to learn (even at my advanced age).
where can you "see" one of these "trademarked" toggle
clasps http://www.scottkaysterling.com/got_flash/index.html
Scott Kay has 3 trademarks federally registered and 4 more applied
for, none are for the toggle clasps. He has no current patents and no
current published applications but he very well may be applying for a
patent on his improved toggle clasp
I am just about possitive I have seen that style before; I don’t
think there is anything ‘new’ about it. In fact, I could swear I saw
one just like it in a book of ancient jewelry. Toggle clasps in all
their various forms have been around forever. I don’t see how anyone
could win a patent on any toggle type clasp. They just aren’t 'new’
and unique.
Jan, what lovely work! I especially like your varied palette and
excellent use of the textures in your designs, and the deep “frames”
around several pieces of your work. You seem to enjoy, as I do,
making bezel-setting a real challenge for yourself
If you don’t mind sharing your technique, could you tell us how you
finish all the nooks and crannies of these “boxed” or “framed”
designs? I’ve done a few pieces like this, but have typically ended
up oxidizing the background because of an unsatisfying finish. I’m
especially interested in examples like the “Stardust” ammolite
pendant, where there is just a narrow space between the bezel and
the frame.
If you don't mind sharing your technique, could you tell us how
you finish all the nooks and crannies of these "boxed" or "framed"
designs?"
Hi Jesse,
Thanks for your kind words - I don’t mind sharing - especially since
I have gained so much info on this forum.
I often use a dremel “engraver” to create the background - or a
diamond or steel point on my hammer handpiece. When I need to get
into the tight corners, which is most of the time, I take out the
engraver point and put in a tiny broken drill bit, one with the
larger shank. It will get any where, even between close set bezels.
I love to create frames around things but this does lead to ever
more tight places to get into. On the bracelet, I outlined the bezel
with a fine point sharpie, then did the texturing (using the diamond
point) up to that line. But of course when I soldered on the bezel
I found gaps with no texturing so out came the broken drill bit to
fill in the spaces.
Jan, thanks for sharing your finishing/texturing technique - very
cool! It’d never occur to me to go about it that way. Nice to
have a use for those inevitable broken drill bits, too
