Abstract

A gold jewelry clasp assembly is described, which includes a keeper for receiving a catch and retainer, wherein all of the elements are constructed to operate reliably over a long life time. The catch is formed of a tempered gold strip bent at its middle to form a folded leaf spring, and with one end of the strip bent into a loop around a pivoting wire retainer. The bending avoids a gold soldering operation on the strip which could degrade spring temper, and also permits welding of the retainer wire ends prior to attachment to the catch to facilitate heat sinking that minimizes loss of spring temper of the retainer. The keeper is formed of a drawn tub-shaped gold frame, with the edge that forms the opening of the tub-shaped frame, being cut away at opposite ends to leave a pair of projecting lips on opposite sides. A gold cover strip covers the opening of the frame, and the cover strip has a recess on either side that receives the frame lips in an interference fit. The frame and cover strip are joined together by gold solder lying only at the inside of the keeper along the corner where the frame and cover strip meet.