Jewelry artists should familiarise themselves with the lingo used to describe jewelry-making materials so that they may communicate more effectively with peers, clients, and vendors. When pictures aren’t available to use, the proper wording will help describe the necessity for the proper jewelry closure.
In addition to lobster clasps, jewelry toggles are another type of closure used for a wide variety of viking jewelry, including that which is handmade by artisans, mass-produced as costume jewelry, and crafted by master jewelers. Toggle clasps can be found on everything from Tiffany and David Yurman jewelry to one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day presents that mom will treasure forever. The use of a toggle clasp is a stylish way to secure jewelry and complete an outfit. Toggle clasps are commonly used by the jewelry industry as a means of fastening necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.
For those who aren’t in the know, please define a toggle clasp. (That’s a jewelry clasp for you Yanks!)
The two parts of a jewelry toggle are the jewelry loop and the jewelry stick. Put the jewelry loop on one end of your necklace, bracelet, earrings, etc. made of chain, strung beads, seed bead weaving, wire crochet, etc. The opposite end features the jewelry stick. When worn around the neck, wrist, or ankle, the jewelry stick is inserted through the jewelry loop and then rests against the jewelry loop, keeping the piece of jewelry in place thanks to gravity. If there isn’t any wiggle room when you put the jewelry on, it’s probably not going to survive very long.
Workings of Switches
The biggest aperture of your toggle loop must be greater than the shortest distance from your anchor point (often a ring soldered on or cast midway through a metal toggle stick) to the end of the stick. If you don’t use a toggle stick, the loop will be too big, and the jewelry will fall off. The loop for the toggle should be big enough so that the tiniest beads on the end of the toggle stick fit within. To make the stick rest against the toggle loop, you must first drag it through the loop. To avoid this problem, many toggle-using designers adopt a graduated decrease in size for the end beads. The loop of a toggle should rest comfortably under the wrist, and a heavier toggle will let the bracelet hang more gracefully. Toggles that weigh less will allow a bracelet to spin on the wrist while the heavier sections of the bracelet are pulled down by gravity.
A button with a shank and a bead wire loop of seed beads can serve as your “stick.” Your loop might be very elaborate, with “expandable” toggles consisting of multiple rings joined together. Toggle sticks and loops should have their rings securely fastened. Toggles of poor quality will usually twist off or distort at the ring, and the sticks will bend at the lack of firmness.
Clamping On The Toggles
Toggles on chains are typically secured by open jump rings, split rings, or link locks. If soldered connections are desired, chain end caps will be employed. Toggles are typically attached to bead wire designs with crimps by jewelry makers. Before the wire is flattened into place, it is threaded through the toggle or stick loop and doubled through the crimp. It is common to practice utilizing clam shells or bead tips to connect the knotted fiber to the toggle in bead wire and fiber items such as knotted silk jewelry. Overhand knots can be used to attach inexpensive leather or fiber parts to the toggle pieces.
Material Toggles
In the United States, metal alloys will be utilized to cast the majority of toggles. Toggles made of precious metals including platinum, gold, palladium, and sterling silver are used in fine jewelry. Metals like titanium, stainless steel, and surgical steel are frequently used for cutting-edge, modern jewelry. Toggles made from Gold-filled metal or Sterling Silver will be used for products aimed at the middle market. Toggles made of brass, surgical steel, or copper may be plated with a variety of metals, including gold, silver, copper, gunmetal/”blackened nickel,” rhodium, silver, or gold to imitate their look.
Jewelry findings made of gold, silver, copper, or brass can be oxidized or antiqued to give the illusion of antiquity. Some people swear by solid copper toggles because of the purported health benefits. Toggle switches made of raw brass or lacquered brass also have their devoted followers. Wooden or stone toggle sets can also be uncovered. Swarovski crystals, cubic zirconia, and genuine gemstones are just some of the materials used to adorn the toggles of some necklaces. Only the cheapest jewelry will use pot metal toggles.
Toggle clasps are generally considered more stylish than lobster claw clasps, particularly for jewelry. Toggle clasps, however, pose a little greater threat than lobster claw clasps. Toggle clasps on jewelry, no matter how well-sized, are prone to come undone under the wrong conditions. Some of these “bad conditions” can be avoided by doing something as easy as resting the wrist on a desktop or releasing some of the stress on the work.
Toggle clasps, especially those of an unusual shape or with extra embellishments, are frequently employed as the necklace’s focal point and worn at the front.
Toggles for jewelry can be found in a broad variety of shapes and styles, including plain rounds, ovals, squares, diamonds, hearts, flowers, and even stirrups. The best toggles to pair with a jewelry piece are typically limited by the piece’s appearance and the wearer’s personal preference. Toggle switches, on the bright side, come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and costs.
Real Hip Hop Jewelry – Has it Been Killed by the Economy and Gold Prices?
By definition, hip-hop jewelry has always emphasized a flashy, oversized appearance. The aesthetic for this jewelry was completed by gigantic curb links and rope chains with equally massive, iced-out crosses, skulls, and other types of pendants. The influence of rappers like 50 Cent and Nelly has spread to the worlds of sports and Hollywood. As a result, the popularity of this jewelry trend among young people has been steadily rising. Real hip-hop jewelry (jewelry made with solely real precious metals and gemstones) is typically out of this planet in price due to the oversized nature of the pieces. Do I believe that the current state of the economy and historically high gold spot prices have spelled the end of this trend? Absolutely not; to put it another way, absolutely not. This is due to a number of different factors.
There are two main sorts of customers in the hip-hop jewelry business. The first group consists of the wealthy, who have no qualms about dropping $5000 to $50,000 or more on a single piece of gold or platinum jewelry, especially if it’s studded with a few pieces of “bling” or covered in the finest quality of diamonds. The other industry employs silver, steel, or other cheap metals to create fake jewelry that looks like diamonds but is actually made with cubic zirconia or other low-quality diamonds to fool consumers. The quality of the diamonds or their substitutes, the type of metal used (silver, steel, palladium, or another base metal), and, most crucially, the piece’s designer, production run size, and level of customization all contribute to the wide price range.
These two groups of rap jewelry purchasers help illustrate why the “haves” can afford to maintain their habit of purchasing precious metals and stones regardless of economic conditions. It has only been three years since the spot price of gold was around $600 per ounce; today, it is approaching $1,000. Rap music fans who love jewelry but are on a tight budget will likely purchase fake diamonds and cheap metals. Because it is easily mass-produced in Asia, jewelry of this type will always be accessible to those on a tight budget.
This raises the question, therefore. Where can one find customers willing to spend between $600 and $2500 on such jewelry? Don’t you think this is the sweet spot for authentic rap jewelry? To be really “Hip Hop,” a necklace, ring, or watch must weigh at least 50 grams and feature at least 2 carats of diamonds or another precious stone.
Material costs for a mass-produced item with these specs will run around $3,000 at the moment. Retail prices for even the most basic piece of this jewelry will likely start at $6000 or more once manufacture, promotion, and jewelers’ markup are included. Therefore, the middle market does not exist. You either have $6,000 to drop on a genuine piece of hip-hop jewelry, or you don’t. You can’t put down a down payment on a diamond necklace the way you would on a BMW X5, since Jacob the jeweler, and other sellers of fine jewelry don’t offer installment plans.
Real rap jewelry is doing well even without a middle market, and this trend is only likely to continue if the culture itself loses popularity among the broader public and, more crucially, among young people. Customers for authentic hip-hop jewelry are gone for good. When gold was only $600 per troy ounce and the national economy faced no major challenges, rap fans could easily afford iced-out precious metal pendants, rings, and earrings. Now, however, they will have to think twice (or more likely, three times) before dropping $6000 on a relatively simple jewelry piece. Although the middle market has shrunk, the demand from the well-off for hip-hop jewelry has not slowed down.
