Hanging by a Thread: The Story Behind My Chiroptera Necklace Design
I almost scrapped the whole thing.
The sketches weren’t working. The bat had no personality, no soul. It was just… fine. And "fine" isn’t enough for something meant to be treasured. I stared at the page, feeling that familiar frustration—the kind that whispers, “Maybe this isn’t going to work.”
But I wasn’t about to settle. This needed to be a necklace that bat lovers wouldn’t just wear, but would be one they’d fall in love with.
The Missing Piece
I leaned back, staring at the half-finished sketch. Something wasn’t right. It looked too clean, too polished. And then I thought about the bats I’ve seen—real ones, not the perfect stylized ones you see in cartoons. They’re survivors. Some have nicks in their wings from near misses. Scars from life.
And suddenly, I knew exactly what to do.
With a few strokes of my stylus, I added a small tear in one of the wings—just a subtle notch, a little imperfection. And that tiny detail changed everything. It was like the chipped cup in Beauty and the Beast—the flaw that tells a story, makes it feel real. Suddenly, the bat had a past. A mystery. A life of its own.
Clinging by Its Thumbs (Because That’s What Bats Do Best)
While bats don’t actually hang by their thumbs, they do use them to grip onto things—whether it's a rough surface, a branch, or even adjusting their position while roosting. That inspired a subtle but meaningful design choice in this necklace. The jump rings that attach the chain aren’t just functional; they’re shaped and placed to mimic bat thumbs gripping onto the chain. It gives the impression that the bat is clinging to its perch, just as real bats use their thumbs for stability and control.
The Clasp That No One Wants (But Should)
I’ve worn a necklace every day for years (or I guess, since I’m a guy, I’m supposed to call it a chain). I had been wearing a lobster clasp for a few years—because that’s what every jeweler will tell you is “the best.”
They’re wrong.
Lobster clasps are finicky, impossible to close one-handed, and worst of all? They break. Mine did. When I went to get it fixed, the jeweler casually mentioned a magnetic clasp, like it was some weird option nobody wanted.
14k white magnetic clasp
I was skeptical, but I tried it. And let me tell you—I’m never going back.
Magnetic clasps are so much easier to use. No moving parts to break, no struggling to latch it. Just snap it on, and you’re done. But there was a catch: because of the way you pull to open a magnetic clasp, it puts strain on the jump rings. Normally, jump rings are left unsoldered as a safety feature—to break first if something tugs too hard.
But with a magnetic clasp, that safety feature is pointless. If the necklace gets caught? The magnet just pops open—nothing breaks.
So I soldered the jump rings shut. Problem solved. And now I’ll never make a necklace any other way.
A Victorian Glow-Up: Choosing the Right Metals
At first, I imagined this necklace in yellow gold, maybe even with diamonds. But the more I sketched, the more it felt wrong.
Initial sketch, designed with 18k yellow gold, amethyst and diamonds
Bats belong to the night. The warm glow of gold didn’t suit the gothic, Victorian aesthetic I was aiming for. I needed something cooler, something with mystery.
Sterling silver was my first choice, paired with deep purple amethyst—a perfect Victorian-era combo. But after more thought, I landed on 14k white gold. It’s more durable, has that crisp, silvery shine, and pairs beautifully with the dark elegance of the design. Even the chain and clasp match, creating a seamless, polished look.
What This Necklace Really Means
At the start of this journey, I thought I was just designing a bat necklace. But in the end, it became something more.
It’s about resilience—the little notch in the wing that hints at a story.
It’s about authenticity—the way it really hangs like a bat.
It’s about challenging norms—ditching lobster clasps for something better.
And maybe that’s the real beauty of this piece. It’s not perfect. It’s not traditional. But it’s got soul.
And if you’re the kind of person who loves bats—not just for their shape, but for what they represent—then this necklace was made for you.