Welcome back, friends! In this third installation of my Clasp Wars series, we are going to be talking about snap clasps. I asked which clasp we should talk about next on my Facebook page and the request for these little clasps was surprisingly high.

Just a quick note, I tend to refer to these clasps as “snap clasps”, but you may also find them listed as “ball and socket clasps” or “trailer hitch clasps”. They’re all the same, but just a heads up in case your local bead shop or favorite online store uses one of their other names.

SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet with Matte Bronze Snap Clasp

Pro’s

So, I am super stoked to talk about snap clasps because I absolutely love them. They’re one of my favorite clasps to use and though I only really became obsessed with them recently, they are quickly becoming my favorite clasp type.

First, I love them because they are wicked easy to use.  To close them, you simply place the loop part over the ball and press it down. Then, to open it, you press down on the ball and it snaps right open. It’s easy to do one-handed, even with limited mobility. They are also very secured, since the pressure needed to pop them open is perpendicular to your wrist, there’s pretty much no way that they’re gonna come off accidentally.

Bejeweled Collar Bracelet with Gunmetal Snap Clasp

Snap Clasps do come in multi-strand options, but I don’t have any in my stash at the moment. I don’t usually find myself needing to gather multiple strands into a small point like that. Instead, when I have a wide bracelet, sometimes I will put multiple snap clasps on the end and I get a kinda cool corset-like effect!

Ruched Tila Bracelet with three Matte Bronze Snap Clasps

Honestly, I love these clasps. They’re strong, come on lots of different metallic finishes, and are easy for my customers to use. <3

Cons

It’s is honestly hard for me to think of cons, because these are truly my go-to clasps. I suppose they are a little simple looking. You’re not gonna get the same oomph that you get from an elaborate box clasp.

Daybreak Bracelet with Matte Bronze Snap Clasps

Also, they don’t seem to be available in a huge range of sizes. The ones I have are all around 12-14mm, which work perfectly for my purposes, but I am surprised that a wider array of sizes (and colors?) aren’t easier to find.

Tetrabella Bracelet with two Bright Bronze Snap Clasps

I do think sometimes that it would be nice if the holes were vertical instead of horizontal, so I could stitch straight through the loops instead of needing to use a jump ring… But I usually attach my clasps with a jump ring anyway, because it means I can change a clasp if a buyer requests it. So, again, that’s only hypothetical problem. Overall, I am VERY happy with my little snap clasp friends!

When Do I Use Them?

I use my snap clasps on pretty much any bracelet that doesn’t need something highly decorative and is relatively flat. I tend not to use them on necklaces or beaded ropes, because the twisting might make them a little harder to use. And I just don’t think they look quite right on a necklace or rope. *shrug* I’m honestly not super sure why.

Toying with Tiles 2.0 Bracelet with Dark Silver Snap Clasp

So, there you have it, folks! This post is a little short, but I really don’t have to much to say about these clasps other than OMG, I LOVE THEM and that you should give them a try! It’s so refreshing to have something that is both secure AND easy to use.

What do you guys think, have you tried snap clasps? And do you have any requests on what clasp I should do next?