How a Kavacha closes: the twist-lock, the seal and the cap
A Kavacha necklace opens by hand and closes with a twist-lock and a silicone seal, and the cap stays on the chain even when it is open. Here is how it works, what differs by design, and the one piece that opens differently.
Every Kavacha necklace opens by hand to a private chamber and closes with a twist-lock and a silicone seal. Kavacha Designs | Sacred Armor™ designed the cap so it stays on the chain even while the amulet is open. The VRAT ring is the one piece that opens differently, on a small hinge.
The twist-lock, in Jayashri's words
"A secure twist-lock closure. The precisely fitted male and female parts align and twist together, and a silicone seal makes the fit snug. The end cap is held on the chain by its bail, so even when the amulet is open, the cap stays attached and cannot slip past the clasp."
On her drawings the cap carries an L-shaped slot that catches lugs on the body, so it turns a short way and locks. It is not a screw thread.
That is the closure on all 21 necklace designs, in sterling silver and on every 14K or 18K yellow gold edition. No key and no tool: you hold the body in one hand and turn the cap with the other.
Why the cap stays on the chain
The cap has its own bail, the loop the chain runs through. When you open the amulet, the cap stays threaded on the chain instead of coming away in your hand. It cannot slip past the clasp, so it cannot be dropped and lost while you fill the chamber.
The silicone seal
A silicone ring sits at the mouth of the chamber. When the cap twists home it presses against the ring, and that is what makes the fit snug. Silicone tears easily and is harmed by oils and solvents, so brush dust off it, close the cap by hand and never oil or grease it. Water resistance has not been tested, so keep the piece and what you place inside completely dry. If the seal ever looks worn or the cap no longer closes snugly, contact us.
What differs by design
The silicone ring differs by design, from about 5 mm on the smallest pieces to 11 mm on the Kerala Large and Pankaj, as written on Jayashri's technical drawings. Three designs have hollow caps, the Narashimha, Pankaj and Kerala Small, so part of the measured chamber sits inside the cap. On the Kerala Pave the end caps you grip to twist are set with lab-grown diamonds, so twist them gently with your fingertips. The VRAT ring has no silicone ring at all.
The VRAT ring opens on a hinge
The VRAT ring carries its chamber across the top of the band. Its small cap opens on a hinge and has no silicone seal. Open it gently with a fingertip, and take the ring off to wash your hands, bathe or swim.
Opening and closing, step by step
- Sit at a table in a dry room, with dry hands.
- Hold the body of the amulet and turn the cap by hand to free it. It stays on the chain.
- Place what you are keeping inside. Fill only enough that the cap closes easily.
- Brush any dust from the opening and the silicone seal.
- Line the cap up and twist it closed by hand until the fit is snug. Never use tools.
Once ashes or another irreplaceable trace are inside, the piece is not meant to be opened and closed casually or repeatedly, although it can be reopened when necessary. Contact us before filling it with ashes. Cleaning and storage are in Caring for your Kavacha.
Questions people ask
Is a Kavacha a necklace with a secret compartment? It has a private chamber. Anyone who looks closely can see the cap, so nothing is disguised, but only you know what is inside.
Does it lock? It twist-locks shut by hand. There is no key and nothing to undo with a tool.
Can it come open by itself? It has to be turned to come off. The cap locks against the body and the silicone seal, and even when open it stays on the chain. If the cap ever stops closing snugly, take the piece off and contact us.
Should I glue it shut? We do not suggest glue. It makes the closure permanent, and the piece can no longer be reopened when necessary.
What fits inside? A written prayer, a lock of hair, a small amount of ashes or another small keepsake. What you can keep inside an openable necklace goes through each. For the names people give a necklace like this, read What do you call a necklace that opens?
Pieces to start with: the Capsule Small, the Taweez and the Kerala Large, or see every design in all amulet necklaces.
