Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Prong snap buttons are spring snaps whose top part and bottom ring have prongs that pass through the fabric without cutting it and without punching a hole. They are the lightest and softest system – for shirts, jersey, bodysuits, baby and children’s clothing. The PR series has nine models in sizes from 6.8 to 22 mm, and the coloured ring and mesh cap come in 11.5 to 30 mm on request.
How a prong snap button is built
Each set consists of four parts: the top part (open ring or cap with prongs), the female part (socket), the male part (stud) and the bottom ring with prongs. When pressed with the press, the prongs open up between the threads of the fabric and curl into the opposite part. This way the fabric is not weakened by a hole, and the strain is distributed around the whole circumference of the ring. That is why the system is preferred for thin and medium-weight fabrics, jersey and stretch materials, where a piercing snap would break the loops.
There are two main versions of the top part:
- open ring – the fabric shows in the middle, the snap looks light and sporty;
- closed cap – metal, flat, mother-of-pearl, marble, crystal or mesh – it gives a more finished look and room for a logo.
Prong snap buttons: models and sizes
The table below shows all models in the prong snap buttons series with sizes in millimetres, logo options and typical uses.
| Code | Model | Sizes | Logo | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR-10 | Open ring | 6.8; 7.2; 7.8; 8.2; 9.5; 10.5; 11.5; 12.5; 15; 17; 21 mm | on the male part | shirts, workwear, bodysuits, jersey, denim shirts, baby and children’s clothing |
| PR-11 | Open ring with long prongs | 6.8; 7.8; 9.5; 10.5; 11.5; 15 mm | on the male part | heavier jersey, multi-layer areas, workwear |
| PR-20 | Closed metal cap | 7.5; 8.5; 9; 10; 11.5; 12; 12.5; 16; 18; 22 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, jersey, children’s clothing, jackets |
| PR-30 | Flat cap (coin-style) | 10; 11.5 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, workwear, children’s clothing |
| PR-40 | Mother-of-pearl cap | 7.5; 8.5; 10; 10.5; 11.5; 12; 12.5; 15; 17; 21 mm | laser or print under a transparent cap | shirts, bodysuits, jersey, denim shirts, baby clothing |
| PR-50 | Marble polyester cap | 9.5; 10.5; 11.5 mm | laser | shirts, denim shirts, bodysuits, jersey |
| PR-60 | Crystal cap | 7.5; 10; 11.5; 12.5; 21 mm | no | shirts, bodysuits, denim shirts, children’s clothing |
| PR-70 | Coloured ring | 11.5 – 30 mm (on request) | yes | baby and children’s clothing, jersey, sportswear, shirts |
| PR-80 | Mesh cap | 11.5 – 30 mm (on request) | yes | shirts, denim shirts, jackets, fashion collections |
All models are made of brass. With the mother-of-pearl, marble and crystal caps the decorative top part is free of phthalates and PVC, and on PR-70 the brass is painted in fashion colours with a matte, textile look.
Open ring or closed cap
PR-10 and PR-11 – open ring
PR-10 has the widest range – eleven sizes from 6.8 to 21 mm – and is available with standard or long prongs. PR-11 is the same ring but with long prongs, for heavier jersey, multi-layer areas and workwear. As there is no cap on top, the logo on these models goes on the male part.
PR-20 and PR-30 – metal cap
PR-20 is the classic closed metal cap in ten sizes from 7.5 to 22 mm. It is also available with an open-centre cap and with long prongs for dense fabrics. PR-30 is a flat coin-style cap in 10 and 11.5 mm – a clean surface that is best suited to an embossed logo.
PR-40, PR-50 and PR-60 – decorative caps
The mother-of-pearl cap PR-40 is cast in a colour of your choice and is typical for shirts and baby clothing; the logo is laser-engraved or printed under the transparent cap. The marble PR-50 has its own pattern on every snap and takes a laser logo. The crystal PR-60 is purely decorative – with a stone, and no logo option.
PR-70 and PR-80 – colour and texture
PR-70 is a coloured ring for baby and children’s clothing and sportswear, and PR-80 is a mesh cap with a distinctive texture for shirts, denim shirts and fashion collections. Both models are available in sizes 11.5 – 30 mm on request.
Which fabrics and products they suit
Choosing the model starts with the fabric, not with the look:
- fine jersey, bodysuits, baby clothing – PR-10, PR-40 or PR-70 in the small sizes, with standard prongs;
- shirts and denim shirts – PR-20, PR-40, PR-50 or PR-80, where the cap is part of the design;
- workwear and double layers – PR-11 or the long-prong versions of PR-10 and PR-20;
- jackets in lighter fabric – PR-20, while for heavier jackets and coats it is safer to switch to the 61 system.
On very stretchy materials, the snap area is reinforced with interfacing or tape. Without reinforcement the prongs may not grip enough threads and the snap can pull out when unfastened.
Long or standard prongs
The length of the prongs must match the total thickness of the material at the setting point – including the seam allowances, tape and interfacing. As a guide:
- single thin jersey or poplin – standard prongs;
- jersey with reinforcing tape, a double layer – preferably long prongs;
- dense jersey, workwear fabric, an area with a seam – long prongs (PR-11 or a long-prong version).
If the prongs are too short, they do not curl in completely; if they are too long for a thin fabric, they bend outwards and scratch. The most reliable method is a test setting on the actual fabric.
Setting and comparison with other systems
Prong snaps are set with dies for the relevant size on a hand press, lever press, motorised or automatic machine. The female and male parts must come from the same set – mixing with parts from the 54 system does not work. For comparison: the 54 system has a post with a tube and is preferred for woven shirts and denim shirts, while prongs are gentler on jersey.
Logo and finish
Metal caps take an embossed logo, mother-of-pearl and marble caps a laser logo, and the open ring a logo on the male part. You will find more about the techniques on the branding page. The metal parts are nickel free in every finish, which is important for products in direct contact with the skin. If you are also looking for other metal details in the same finish, see the eyelets and metal buttons.
Sample and inquiry
Polkom offers all models in the PR series and makes caps with your logo to order. Send us a piece of the fabric, the type of product and the size you want via the contact page – we will recommend a model and prong length and prepare a sample. The full catalogue of all systems is in the snap buttons category.
