Paper Clips
Staples & Clips · 6 specs
Direct Answer
The Gem Paper Clip (introduced by The Gem Manufacturing Company in the 1890s) is a single looped piece of galvanized spring-steel wire that binds loose sheets using torsional elastic deflection. Available in standard No. 1 (33 mm / 1.3 in) and Jumbo (50 mm / 2.0 in) sizes, alongside specialized Butterfly/Trefoil wire clamps for thick 50-sheet reports.
Source: Commercial Stationery Standard / British Standards Institute · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Standard No. 1 Gem Clip | 33 mm (1.30 in) length — capacity 10 to 15 sheets (0.8 mm to 0.9 mm wire) |
| No. 2 Gem Clip | 28 mm (1.10 in) length — capacity 5 to 10 sheets |
| Jumbo Gem Clip | 50 mm (2.00 in) length — capacity 20 to 35 sheets (1.0 mm to 1.2 mm wire) |
| Butterfly / Trefoil Clip | Large circular loops (up to 50 sheets without fiber indentation) |
| Surface Finishes | Smooth zinc galvanized, vinyl color-coated, serrated 'non-skid' grooves |
| Elastic Limit Physics | Operates strictly in the steel's elastic zone without permanent plastic deformation |
Torsional Physics of the Gem Clip
When a Gem clip is pushed over paper, the inner and outer concentric wire loops twist along their parallel axes. The resulting torsional spring force pinches the paper stack between the wire loops. If the stack exceeds the elastic limit of the wire, the clip permanently deforms and loses holding tension.