HIDDEN GEMS

WITH ERICA SHARPE

- ERICA Sharpe

RIDDLE me this: I’m the beginning and the end, the part that allows the present to be as it should. What am I? The clasp - humble, often unnoticed, yet utterly essential.

As a jeweller, I can confidently say that a clasp can make or break a piece. It’s the mechanism that secures, completes, and often defines the wearability of a design. And while it’s rarely the star of the show, it’s the part I can find myself obsessing over most.

Creating a clasp is a test of skill and patience. It must be functional, but also harmonious with the piece, whether that means blending in with the whole design or standing proudly as a feature. Sometimes it's designed to disguise its purpose; other times, to feature its interesting engineering. In every case, it takes an eye for detail, technical knowledge, and a touch of design inspiration.

As a child, I remember being allowed to go through my mum’s jewellery box. I can still picture the bright colours and shimmer of brooches and necklaces, all lightly scented with the perfume she wore when she went out. One necklace in particular, made of turquoise beads, perfectly round and sky-blue, captivated me. I would always ask to try it on, and she would carefully drape it around my neck and fastened the clasp at the back. It felt cool and comfortingly heavy to wear, although ‘trying on’ was all I was allowed to do. The precious few moments of quiet time with my mum was lovely!