Magnetic snaps and twist turn locks both close a purse or clutch flap, but they work differently and look different on the finished bag. On 3DANsupplies, both sit in Closures, Locks & Zippers alongside tongue latches, padlocks, and zipper parts.
This guide compares magnetic snaps with twist (turn) lock clasps for bags and clutches. It covers how to read product titles, when each style fits a pattern, and how related locks in the same collection differ.
What each closure is
Magnetic snaps are two-part fasteners. One half is a magnet face; the other is a matching plate. Many styles use prongs that fold through the cover and washer, or rivet posts. Some are sew-on or sew-in. Titles in this catalog use words such as Standard Magnetic Snaps (Plain), Thin Round, Ultra-Thin Strong, Round Cover (Full-Cover or Half-Cover), Raised Square, Heart Shape, Square Shape, Flower and Round Shape, Round Rivet, Sew on Thin Round, and Invisible Sew-In Waterproof Magnetic Snaps (PVC-Covered).
Twist turn locks (also called turn locks or twist lock clasps) use a rotating face on the front plate. You turn the knob or bar to lock or open the bag. Listings here include Rectangle, Round, Oval, and Heart Twist Turn Lock Clasp styles, often described as zinc alloy purse closure locks. A typical round size in the catalog is 1.3" (33 mm); other shapes list their own face dimensions on the product page.
Install method and open/close feel are separate choices. A soft wallet may use a thin magnetic snap; a structured clutch may use a visible twist turn face. Both can appear on leather, fabric, or vinyl if the cover thickness matches the hardware.
When magnetic snaps are the better fit
Magnetic snaps fit well when you want a low-profile closure, a soft flap, or a quick open and close without turning a lock. They also fit wallets, clutch flaps, and bag pockets where the face of the hardware should stay small.
Look for thickness words in the title: Thin Round, Ultra-Thin, or Sew on Thin Round when the cover is delicate or stacked layers are tight. Invisible Sew-In Waterproof (PVC-covered) styles suit lined bags where the magnet sits inside the seam rather than as a visible metal face. Full-Cover and Half-Cover Round Cover snaps change how much metal shows on the outside. Decorative faces—flower, heart, square, raised square—matter when the snap is part of the design, not only the join.
Common size examples in this collection include 3/4" (18 mm) raised square snaps and 11/16" (17 mm) flower or round specialty snaps. Always match the listed diameter to your pattern cutout and washer clearance. Confirm prong length or sew-in depth against cover thickness on the product page before you punch holes.
When twist turn locks are the better fit
Twist turn locks fit when the pattern calls for a metal turn-lock face, a more deliberate open, or a structured clutch or handbag look. The rotating clasp holds the flap until you turn it, which can feel more secure for bags that bounce or hang open under a magnetic snap alone.
Catalog shapes include Rectangle, Round, Oval, and Heart twist turn clasps. Pick the face shape for the bag silhouette first, then confirm mounting plate size and back hardware in the photos. Nickel and other finishes appear on listings; match finish to nearby bag feet, D-rings, and snap hooks when possible.
Do not substitute a twist lock for a magnetic snap (or the reverse) without checking the pattern’s opening size and reinforcement. A turn lock needs space for the front plate and usually a back plate or washers; a magnetic snap needs room for prongs or a sew-in pocket.
How to read a product title
For magnetic snaps, scan for:
- Face style — Standard (Plain), Thin Round, Ultra-Thin, Round Cover, Full-Cover, Half-Cover, Raised Square, Square, Heart, Flower, Hexagon, Rivet.
- Install hint — prong/washer styles (most “magnetic snaps”), Sew on, Sew-In / Invisible PVC-covered, or Rivet.
- Size — inches and millimeters (for example, 3/4" (18 mm) or 11/16" (17 mm)).
For twist turn locks, scan for:
- Shape — Rectangle, Round, Oval, Heart.
- Type words — Twist Turn Lock Clasp, Purse Closure Lock.
- Size — face size such as 1.3" (33 mm) on round styles; confirm on the PDP for rectangles and ovals.
If the title is long, open the photos. Magnets show two mating faces and often prongs or sew flanges. Twist locks show a rotating center on a decorative plate.
Install notes (high level)
Follow the product page for washers, prongs, and screw or rivet parts included in the set.
Magnetic snaps with prongs usually punch through the cover and fold over a washer on the back. Rivet magnetic snaps use a rivet-style post. Sew on thin rounds stitch to the surface. Invisible sew-in PVC-covered magnets sew into a seam or pocket so little or no metal shows outside.
Twist turn locks typically mount with a front face through the flap and a back plate or nuts behind the body. Reinforce thin fabric with interfacing or a leather patch so the plate does not tear the cover. Check that the flap overlap covers the lock cleanly when closed.
Use leathercraft punches or setters from Leathercraft Tools when your install needs clean holes; match hole size to the hardware, not to a guess.
Related closures in the same collection
The same Closures, Locks & Zippers collection also lists Press Tongue / Thumb Latch locks and Zinc Alloy Tongue Lock sets, plus Padlock with Key styles (including heart and star shapes). Those are different mechanisms: a tongue latch presses to open; a padlock is a decorative lock-and-key closure. Use them when the pattern names that hardware—not as a drop-in for a magnetic snap or twist lock.
Zipper pull tabs, zipper end caps, and coil zippers in the collection close bags along a zipper track rather than a flap face. Keep zipper parts for zipper openings; keep snaps and turn locks for flap or kiss-style faces.
Finish and hardware matching
Finish labels on closures often include Nickel, gold tones, antique or anti-bronze looks, and other options shown on each PDP. Match the closure finish to strap hardware when the bag also uses parts from Snap Hooks & Connectors or Straps & Chains. Exact color match across metals is not always available; aim for the same finish family listed on the product pages.
What to open next
Open Closures, Locks & Zippers. Decide magnetic snap versus twist turn lock from the bag type and pattern. Filter by title words (Thin, Ultra-Thin, Full-Cover, Invisible Sew-In, Rectangle Twist Turn, Round Twist Turn). Confirm size and install parts on one product page before cutting the flap.
Shop next
Ready to choose a closure? Browse Closures, Locks & Zippers for magnetic snaps, twist turn locks, tongue latches, and padlocks. Pair finished bags with Snap Hooks & Connectors or Straps & Chains when the design needs strap hardware as well as a flap lock.