Dept. of Mini Things. We have two opinions of the best way to store keys. One is to use the super practical, high-tech carabiner (does anyone make carabiners in silver?), and two is to go classic: the Tiffany Key Ring.
While Tiffany hasn't exactly kept their edge in design, we feel their key ring has stood the test of time and proved to be a classic. Made of sterling silver and going for the manageable sum of $70, the key ring is durable and has a stripped down, simple, modern design that makes it easy to reach for, hang and/or use your keys. It also gets better with time (ie. the more beat up it gets).
The ring also carries an identifying tag that allows your keys to get back to you if lost via Tiffany's address and registry. However, we think the tag is pretentious, so we generally remove it. MGR
Er, um, with the Tiffany tag removed, you can get a very similar looking item in several shops in the West Village. But I don't think they sell 'em as key rings there... ;)
I don't know if you were looking for an online source or not, but REI has a ton of carabiners that you can get in silver on their site www.rei.com and I'm sure EMS does too, which is what you guys have up there, right?
Tiffany also makes these without the tag, if you don't like that bit. Or you can get a plain tag and engrave it with your name.
You nailed it with the pretentious comment. To me, Tiffany silver is like Burberry scarves and Coach logo bags. I think people only buy these things to signify that they are the kind of person who can afford to buy these things, which in and of themselves arent that interesting. Anyhow, it always cracked me up that Avon, purveyor of cheapo jewelry and cosmetics, owned Tiffany in the 70s and 80s.
LOL I'm sorry, but whenever I look at this I just see 1. belly button ring (the look of the ring), or 2. cat collar (tag part).....
My key ring solution, while no less label conscious, is practical and not intended to emit an "I am the sort of person who can ..." signal - it was a gift many, many years ago. it's a Louis Vuitton key chain attached to a small rectangular coin purse which is Metro card size. The bulkiness of the keys help me find my metro card, plus the timing works since metrocard use usually follows keys and vice versa. The only problem is that after fifteen years of four times a day use, the zipper fell off. I was able to manage that way for a year, but eventually I bought a new one and the quality of the hardware had really declined.
I've had my keychain for years -- a black leather Coach one, sort of a thumb-shaped padded stub, great for fidgeting. It's comfortably worn-in and useful. I wish they'd stop making things with their name all over them now, otherwise I'd recommend it as a great utilitarian object...
Does anyone know of a place other than Tiffany that sells these?
Well Miya, I'm glad your mind does not work like Patrick's does ;)
You know you were thinking it too! ;)
I've house-sat for someone with one of these, and had a friend who had one - both had the same problem, the little balls that screw on the ends come loose! And then you end up with keys loose in your bag/pocket and hopefully you can even find the little ball once it goes missing!
Had the same prob. with the little ball coming loose! Eventually I lost one and Tiffany replaced it, but when it fell off and disappeared again, I gave up. (And for the record, it was a bridesmaid gift, I didn't buy it!)
What!!!!!!!! Tiffany key rings????? is this some kind of joke? are you measuring reactions as some sort of focus-group test?
An aunt had one back in the early eighties, she always had cool stuff- Movado watches, toilet brush from the MOMA design shop. Maybe it was cool back then, but now? Any over-exposed luxury marketed item that you can buy copies of on Canal Street are not cool.
Come-on now, the person I see having that mall purchased key-ring just picked up the kids in the family SUV, perhaps a Mercedes SUV, all the kids have more logos on thier clothes than NASCAR teams. They will all go off to Applebees or maybe as a treat, Ruth Chris' or some other high end chain. Mom keeps her keys in her Louis Vuitton logo handbag, also wearing the Burberry plaid in a few clothing itmes as well... (all very cliche stuff here, if its not recognizable by the brand-name then its not good school of thought.)
the best design keychain is the .25 cent one that you can get at all the hard-ware shops, its as iconic as the paperclip, the clothes pin. Perhaps that key holder in sterling or platinum, that would be nice.
I love this blog for referencing items that are not from the Mall...
That same sterling key chain (minus the Tiffany tag) can be purchased from any wholesale jeweler's catalog for less than 10 bucks. Don't throw your money away for the cornball Tiffany tag.
I have a chain...I can;t imagine it was more than 10usd. I like it. I zip tied a usb thumb drive to it for important files.
I always have my keys and encrypted files with me.
This is the worst key ring I've ever owned. I received one as a gift and the little ball that screws on the end kept coming off until it got lost.
I have a memory stick data drive (what I like to call my "stupid stick") on my keyring too, along with two VPN fobs. Very handy.
My keys are always found next to the computer, too!
I think dats pretty rubish n a waste of money. I could get something that does a better job for free.
You guys are all probably loads more pretentious than the people that buy the stupid keychain.
I have a friend with a septum pierce and he likes to wear a Tiffany key ring through it..
i worked at Tiffany's as a seasonal employee last Christmas (a total of 15 days, maybe). in that short time at least 5 people came in to replace the little ball that fell off. BTW, the engraved heart tag is *not* the only option...we carried at least 10 or 15 other things (pineapple, airplane, globe, etc.) and those other things did not have any engraving (unless you personalized it).