If you’re looking for a necklace clasp for arthritic hands, you’re in the right place. At Waystone, we know that for someone experiencing reduced hand mobility or joint pain, the clasp on a necklace can make all the difference. 

Why Standard Lobster Clasps Can Be a Challenge

If like me, you have some hand flexibility and mobility issues, the lobster clasp can be very difficult to use! The classic lobster‑claw clasp is fine when your fingers and joints cooperate, but if you have arthritis, stiffness or hand mobility issues, you’ll quickly find it frustrating:

• The tiny lever takes strength to push and thumb control to hold it open.
• The ring or link you try to hook into can require fine motor skills.
• Often you’ll need to twist the necklace around to see what you’re doing, and then spend time refastening the necklace because it is upside down.
•  You can ask for help. But as anyone with mobility issues knows, it is sometimes difficult to find good, reliable help when you need it.

There are also some devices available to help with fastening clasps, but I have never found them to be useful. That’s why many people with arthritic hands give up on wearing necklaces — or compromise by finding necklaces that are long enough to slip over their head.

We Designed Options with You in Mind

When we created our custom necklace collection, we included three clasp options for a reason: lobster, toggle, and hook‑and‑eye. We did this because accessibility matters. 

Here’s how each stacks up for arthritic hands:

Lobster Clasp: The most familiar, and the most secure — but also the hardest to manage if your grip or dexterity is limited. 

Toggle Clasp: A bar and ring system. You push the bar through the ring and let it sit sideways. Much easier to handle because you’re sliding a larger piece rather than manipulating a spring‑lever.

Hook and Eye Clasp: One side is a hook, the other a loop (eye). This tends to require minimal pinching, less twisting, and can often be done one‑handed or with much less strain. This is the friendliest clasp for those of us with hand mobility issues.

Our Recommendation for Arthritic Hands

If you’re living with arthritis or any hand‑mobility challenge, we strongly recommend opting for either the toggle clasp or the hook and eye clasp. Here’s how to decide:

• Choose toggle if you want something stylish, easy to grab, and you don’t mind the bar showing a little.
• Choose hook‑and‑eye if you want something minimal, subtle, and extremely low‑friction on your fingers.
• If you already have a necklace with a lobster clasp and you’re struggling, consider these workarounds: 
  • Ask a friend or partner to help you put it on.
  • Choose a longer chain so the necklace simply slips over your head and you never have to touch the clasp at all.
  • Use a magnetic clasp adapter or an extender, though these are not always ideal for every necklace and may require some assistance themselves.

Why It Matters

Wearing jewelry shouldn’t feel like a chore. For someone with arthritis, the frustration of clasps can mean you stop wearing pieces you love, or avoid necklaces entirely. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a thoughtfully chosen clasp, your necklace can be a pleasure again — something that enhances your outfit and holds meaning, rather than being fiddly to put on.

Here at Waystone, we believe your jewelry should reflect your story and serve as a keepsake — not an extra burden. If you’d like help deciding which clasp is right for you, we’re happy to guide you.

Bottom line: When searching for a necklace clasp for arthritic hands, focus on ease of handling, minimal fine‐motor requirement, and visibility/gripability. A toggle or hook‑and‐eye clasp will serve you far better than a traditional lobster clasp. You’ll spend less time wrestling the necklace, and more time enjoying it.

Updated on November 10, 2025.