Keyrings | Collectibles & Collectors Items

There are a number of reasons to buy a key ring. You could buy one for practical purposes -- perhaps to keep keys on! Or, you can buy a novelty key ring for amusement or as a keepsake from a trip or as a little gift for someone. Some key rings are also designed to be collectibles and can often be associated with other memorabilia and be part of a theme, such as a collection on Superman, for example, which might include a key ring amongst posters, films, magazines, mugs and costume.

Practical Purchases
There are a number of companies that offer very reasonably priced key rings for practical purchase. Some companies offer plain cheap key rings (although this will not be their only stock line) which will probably cost less than a �1 but should last a while and let you keep keys on them. Other companies supply key rings, chains and attachments which are longer lasting, are of higher quality and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and with a range of attachments. These are ideal for long term day to day use and will last for years and years. Other companies have a different strategy to sell low priced key rings. These companies sell in bulk usually to other companies that want to give away the key ring as a form of advertising or a small office gift to staff. Buying in bulk is the most inexpensive option as there is still a range of key rings to choose from but the starting price will begin at a few pence per unit. Such key rings can often be bought blank or you can get a quote on promotional key rings if you want specific writing such as names or a brand or logo on them. These key rings can also be bought individually and there is usually a range of more expensive individual business gifts to choose from such as high quality solid metal key rings.

Novelty Key Rings
There are a lot of eye-catching fun designs that you can buy. Key rings come in all different shapes and sizes and are made of a number of different materials. Some have modern designs whereas others have a more old fashioned look. There is also a range of unusual designs from animals to lifeboats. Some have brand names whereas others are distinguished by the material they are made from. Some are made of a light metal, others are made of leather and some are made to be extra light and comfortable to carry around such as the plastic, soft PVC, rubber and clear Perspex key rings. Other key rings have a dual use. Sometimes they are attached to pens, can openers, tape measurers, torches (often LED) or have a dual function such as a hand stress ball as well as holding keys. Novelty key rings are a great fun gift and also useful to carry around with a wallet particularly if they have a dual function. Many people find those that have a pen attached to be particularly useful. Others find a key ring with an attached bottle opener to be indispensable!

Key Ring Collectibles
For keen collectors there are many companies around that specialise in the production of key rings. These key rings are usually more expensive than the novel and practical use key rings and are designed for those who are building a collection. This is not a wildly expensive hobby and collecting a bunch of key rings can be great fun as they have such unusual designs. These key rings are often of either a higher quality or really unusual or eye-catching design which is what makes them a collector's item rather than the run of the mill item. Such specialist stock is often related to the army and there are many designs which reflect medals and so on. Companies might also produce dog tags as a side line or designs cast in this mould. There are also animal, flag and globe designs. These key rings are usually larger and heavier than ordinary key rings.

Key ring Memorabilia
Some key rings form part of collections of memorabilia. You can buy key rings associated with merchandise for famous characters, films and TV series. Popular key rings include those for The Simpsons, Superman, Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. Most collections of memorabilia for popular series will also include a key ring. If the memorabilia has T-shirts, DVDs / CDs, mugs, postcards, pictures, pens and so forth, it is likely there will be a key ring that forms part of the collection. For The Simpsons and TV programmes where there is more than one well known character, there will often be a key ring for each individual character. These types of key ring are usually bought to form part of a collection of merchandise but they can also make a nice gift for someone who is interested in particular characters, a famous person, film or TV show.

Where to Buy Key Rings
Key rings can be bought from a number of places for a few pence upwards and are generally inexpensive -- even the high quality items are not generally high in price. Those that form part of other collections are also unlikely to be of a high price as this is not the kind of item that is signed or rare. They can be bought and ordered individually or in quantity from internet sites but given that they cost so little, paying the extra for postage is rarely worthwhile for a basic, functional item. Internet sites do however offer competitive prices for designer or collectible key rings and also personalised or key rings bought in bulk order. Otherwise key rings can be purchased locally from a newsagents or supermarket. You can also buy second hand key rings from individuals here at Classifieds -- and these are often the cheapest of all.