Why all our necklaces and bracelets now have a lobster clasp

The clasp is the smallest part of your necklace. And the part that works hardest.

Atelier TOV4 min readUpdated 12 November 2026

The short answer

All our gold necklaces and bracelets now have a lobster clasp instead of a spring ring. A lobster clasp has a sturdy lever you open yourself, so it's less likely to open from a knock or a jumper that catches. It's bigger, made of real gold and so heavier. That's why a necklace or bracelet now costs a little more.

In this story

Spring ring or lobster clasp: what's the difference?
Why we switched
Why your necklace now costs a little more
How to keep your necklace or bracelet from going missing
How to put on a lobster clasp easily
Frequently asked questions

Spring ring or lobster clasp: what's the difference?

Two clasps, both small. You only feel the difference once you live with them.

Clasp	How it works	What you notice
Spring ring	A round ring with a tiny slider on a spring	Light and fine, but the slider is fiddly and can open if you catch on something
Lobster clasp	An elongated hook with a lever you press open with your nail	Bigger and sturdier: you can feel it's closed

A spring ring is the classic clasp on fine chains. Pretty and small, but that tiny slider does all the work. A lobster clasp has a bigger lever with a stronger spring. You open it on purpose; it doesn't open by itself.

Why we switched

You told us. Every month we got messages about a bracelet that was suddenly undone, or a necklace found just in time on the sofa. The smallest part turned out to matter most.

We tried a better spring ring first. It helped, but not enough. So we chose a lobster clasp: heavier, stronger and nicer to hold. It's now on all our gold necklaces. And on every gold bracelet, from the finest chain to the tennis bracelet.

Why your necklace now costs a little more

A lobster clasp is bigger than a spring ring, and the clasp is real gold too. More gold in the clasp means a slightly higher price. We could have chosen a lighter clasp to keep the price the same. That didn't feel like TOV. We'd rather put a little more gold where it works hardest than sell you a piece you lose.

What stays the same: real 14 or 18 karat gold, hallmarked 585 or 750, never gold-plated and nickel-free.

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Herringbone Chain Necklace £799.00

Paperclip Chain Bracelet £529.00

Essential Initial Letter Necklace £319.00

How to keep your necklace or bracelet from going missing

A clasp that never opens doesn't exist. One that makes it a lot harder does. These habits give it a hand:

Check the lever is fully closed. You'll feel it spring back. If the hook is only halfway into the ring, your necklace is hanging by a thread.
Choose the right ring. Many of our bracelets adjust from 16.5 to 18.5 cm with the small rings at the clasp. Hook it into a ring, not into a link.
Take it off for sport and sleep. And when you pull a jumper on or off: that's exactly when a link catches.
Store it closed. A closed necklace doesn't tangle with your other pieces. It keeps the clasp looking good, too.

Clasp still not working properly because of a production fault? Clasps have a one-year warranty on how they work, the piece itself two years. Warranty and repairs explains how it works.

How to put on a lobster clasp easily

A bracelet: rest your wrist flat on a table, hold the clasp between thumb and index finger and press the lever open with your thumbnail. Hook the ring in and let go.
A necklace: put it on with the clasp at the front, under your chin. Close it, check the lever, then turn the clasp round to the back of your neck.

Which length and which chain suit you? Read types of gold chains and how to choose a gold bracelet.

Gold Bracelets Real gold, many adjustable from 16.5 to 18.5 cm. Shop Gold Bracelets

Frequently asked questions

Do all TOV necklaces and bracelets have a lobster clasp?

Yes. All our gold necklaces and bracelets now have a lobster clasp, including our initial necklaces.

Is a lobster clasp safer than a spring ring?

A lobster clasp has a bigger, sturdier lever that you open yourself. That makes it less likely to open from a knock or when you catch on something. No clasp is indestructible, so check now and then that it's properly closed.

Why has my necklace become more expensive?

The lobster clasp is bigger and heavier, and it's real gold too. More gold in the clasp means a slightly higher price.

My bracelet keeps coming undone. What now?

First check that the hook is in a ring and not in a link. If it keeps opening, get in touch with us. How the clasp works is covered by a one-year warranty.

How can I tell which clasp my necklace has?

A spring ring is round, with a tiny slider. A lobster clasp is elongated, with a lever you press open. All our new necklaces and bracelets have a lobster clasp.