Hasta La Gadget!

Some might joke that jewelry is the key to unlocking a girl’s heart. Perhaps people can take this literally, given how much coverage there has been for a new series of elaborated decorated keys.

Costing around 2,100 yen ($25) for the key head, plus from 900 yen ($11) for the joining process, the “Jewelry Key” is a new product from chain Mister Mint, whose booths can often be seen in Tokyo stations. The idea is that you make the keys you handle and take around with you every day that little bit more special by adding a unique heart or cross head.

After all, a necklace is also made of mental and your keys are just as important as a wallet or purse, which of course are treated as fashion accessories as much — if not more than — as practical tools. Why not make them original and stylish? Though primarily known as a place to get your shoes repaired or a key cut, Mister Mint clearly thinks there is a market for these “extras” too and is initially offering twenty-one designs.

These kinds of key decorations aren’t new, of course, but we still think it’s pretty forward-thinking of Mister Mint to be aiming for female fashion consumers with this new range. You can check out the Jewelry Keys at their branches at the Sony Building in Ginza, Shibuya, JR Shinbashi and currently eight others around Tokyo.