or Why, after 10 years of shunning them for bracelet designs, I am now welcoming them back onto my arms.
I have been making jewelry for well over 10 years now. Beautiful, time consuming designs, with those little tiny seed beads, each one stitched into place by hand. Very early on I started using magnetic clasps on my bracelets. Easy to put on, easy to take off at bed time. Easy to lose it turned out.
So, naturally, I have spent over 8 years as a bead shop owner reciting what I knew about magnetic clasps to customers: Yes, they’re easy, but I wouldn’t put one on a bracelet you don’t want to lose. Until recently.
Lately I have seen many new designs come to market, addressing the issue of strength and security. What started me thinking about this subject was seeing these new clasps (pictured below) used in a bracelet design by Amee K. Sweet-McNamara. When I saw them in person on her class sample, I was won over. I realized that these little button clasps had solved a couple of problems at once.
New Generation Magnetic Clasp
Their super strong magnets made me realize that a lot of the magnetic clasps I have seen lately are stronger than the ones I used 10 years ago.
Their smooth, soldered ring design solved the problem of the stamped version wearing at the threads of a stitched piece of beadwork.
They come in all our favorite metal colors – silver, gold, gunmetal, antiqued silver, antiqued copper, antiqued brass.
I encourage you to take a look at what’s out there and evaluate it for your purpose. Is the magnet strong? Is the attach point smooth? Is it beautiful?
I am giving magnetic clasps for bracelets another chance in my designs, and I encourage you to think about whether it’s right for yours too!
Now, go bead something! I know I will.
Gail
