The Story of a Sterling Silver Keychain
We live in a culture that too often treats things as disposable. When something breaks, the usual advice is simple: throw it away, buy another. But this approach results in massive amounts of waste. What if our belongings could, by design, be part of a different story — one of endurance, repair, and meaning?
Take, for example, the humble keychain. Most are mass-produced, stamped out by machines, meant to advertise something or be used casually until they wear down and are tossed aside.
But a keychain can also be more. Much more.
Once Upon A Gift
Years ago, I created a sterling silver keychain as a birthday gift for one of my nephews. It was solid silver and featured an onyx stone, a gemstone I selected for its historical association with properties of strength and focus. I set the stone in a handmade silver bezel — classic, simple, elegant. Ryan told me he loved it, and for many years it traveled everywhere with him.
Time passed, as it does — he married, welcomed twins — and recently he sent me a message:
“The ring on my favorite keychain broke and now the keys slide off! Can anything be done?”
Broken, But Not Lost
Well loved, but worn; top ring is snapped on one side
With a machine-made keychain, likely made of base material like brass that has been coated or plated, the answer would have been No. Once a piece like that fails, it’s destined for the landfill. In other words, it’s part of the problem for our planet.
But handmade solid silver jewelry is different. Silver is what is known as a noble metal, along with gold and platinum. It resists decay. Silver jewelry can be repaired. Scratches can be smoothed and patinas restored. Silver jewelry can last a lifetime and beyond.
In the Jewelry Workshop
On the bench: restoring strength to the piece
Soon the piece was back in my hands. Examining it, I was struck by how beautifully it had aged. It bore the signs of a life well-lived, polished by years of use. Restoring the piece felt like visiting with an old friend.
The interesting challenge for this repair was that one must heat the piece up and keep it cool–all at the same time. The snapped hoop must be heated to melt the solder that will rejoin the hoop to the body of the piece. At the same time, the onyx gemstone must be protected from heat or it may crack.
I approached this duality with several strategies. I generously packed heat resistant gel around the area with the stone to protect it. I also suspended the stone area off the side of the block which concentrates heat. After careful positioning, I went in with my torch, using a traditional method known as “hot and fast.”
A Happy Outcome
Restored and Ready to Return to Service
Once repaired, the keychain was better than ever — strong, whole, and ready for action again. My nephew’s words warmed my heart:
“Your jewelry is really beautiful. I am honored to be able to carry a piece.”
Why Repair and Renewal Matters
Keychain enjoying a spa day with its maker
This experience reminded me why repairability is so central to my work. Jewelry isn’t just decoration. It’s something you live with, something that becomes part of you. And when it can be repaired, it can hold its place in your life — not just for a season, but for years, decades, a lifetime.
Repairability keeps a piece alive, restoration brings it back to full strength, and remembering honors the moments woven into its history.
Currently I don’t offer keychains in my shop, but seeing this one return to my bench made me wonder — should keychain designs make a comeback? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Sign up for my newsletter to learn about jewelry made to last.