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Under Lock & Key: The Mechanics of Keyhole Clasps (2-Day)In-Person at Creative Metal Arts Guild October 25 - 26, 2026 |
Elegant jewelry demands an elegant clasp, not just the everyday spring ring or toggle. In this two-day hands-on workshop, students develop an understanding of the mechanics of multiple types of keyhole or “lock-and-key” style clasps. The techniques learned create a foundation to understand other styles of mechanism and help students learn to identify strengths and weaknesses in findings they work with in the future.
We’ll begin with a Slotted Open Keyhole Clasp on day one and extend those skills into the more complex hidden lock-and-key in an Enclosed Lentil Clasp for day two. Students will enhance proficiencies in intricate measuring, sawing, and careful fitting of the “fiddly bits” of these clasps, and will come away with one or both clasps in near finished state (depending on experience). As they fabricate and test each mechanism, they’ll discover how to adapt these concepts for necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and one-of-a-kind pieces, transforming the clasp from an ill-considered necessity to an integral element of their design vocabulary.
Skills Required: Advanced beginner and above – Basic metal fabrication skills required (sawing, forming, filing, soldering, etc).
