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Replacement key for jewelry armoire?

monarch64

monarch64

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Aug 12, 2005
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Hoping someone here can help me or has some insight to replacing a lost key for a jewelry armoire.

I’ve kept my jewelry and some basic but important documents (one checkbook, vax card, gift cards) in a Pottery Barn McKenna jewelry armoire for years now. It has a barrel lock that looks like it fits a skeleton key that closes it for limited access/deterrent purposes. 2 months ago when my last place was being shown, I hastily locked the armoire and remember tossing the key into my handbag before leaving. When I went to get the key to open my jewelry box the next day it was missing from my handbag. I kept thinking it would turn up but it hasn’t.

Pottery Barn no longer sells the particular armoire I have. So I’ve resorted to searching through numerous Amazon listings for a barrel key that looks similar and is the right size for a replacement, to no avail. Everything I’m coming across is very large and meant for cabinets/furniture locks.

Does anyone know if there’s a sort of universal size key for this type of thing? Mine was about an inch long, looked like a very basic skeleton key, with a tassel attached. Thanks for any assistance!
 
see a locksmith, old school is much better for this.
 
Karl_K said:
see a locksmith, old school is much better for this.
Click to expand...

So, I was thinking of contacting a LS, but my last experience with one was so cringe that I don’t know whether to bother with one or not. Also this armoire that I have is wrapped in leather and an off-white that will easily show damage and/or grease/dirt. Do you think that a locksmith will have the fine-tuning abilities and tools to deal with a pretty simple but small lock mechanism? What about getting a replacement key then? Can a locksmith make a key or how does that work? Sorry, so full of questions. Kicking myself for not paying better attention the day I tossed that key into my purse! 8D7FB3AF-A537-4F96-8329-33889466A4DB.jpeg
 
monarch64 said:
Also this armoire that I have is wrapped in leather and an off-white that will easily show damage and/or grease/dirt. Do you think that a locksmith will have the fine-tuning abilities and tools to deal with a pretty simple but small lock mechanism? What about getting a replacement key then? Can a locksmith make a key or how does that work? 8D7FB3AF-A537-4F96-8329-33889466A4DB.jpeg
Click to expand...
30 seconds with simple tools to open it, an older locksmith would be more likely to have the experience to deal with it.
Then either make a key or replace the lock depending.
Might just be cheaper to replace it.
 
Seconding stracci ! I remember the thread where Loretta got a new key in a few days!!
 
LorettaB said:
I was not expecting to not have to pay for the key and it was so nice to get two! All I told them was that I had lost the key to my McKenna. They didn’t ask a single question other than my address.
Click to expand...
:appl:
 
monarch64 said:
Hoping someone here can help me or has some insight to replacing a lost key for a jewelry armoire.

I’ve kept my jewelry and some basic but important documents (one checkbook, vax card, gift cards) in a Pottery Barn McKenna jewelry armoire for years now. It has a barrel lock that looks like it fits a skeleton key that closes it for limited access/deterrent purposes. 2 months ago when my last place was being shown, I hastily locked the armoire and remember tossing the key into my handbag before leaving. When I went to get the key to open my jewelry box the next day it was missing from my handbag. I kept thinking it would turn up but it hasn’t.

Pottery Barn no longer sells the particular armoire I have. So I’ve resorted to searching through numerous Amazon listings for a barrel key that looks similar and is the right size for a replacement, to no avail. Everything I’m coming across is very large and meant for cabinets/furniture locks.

Does anyone know if there’s a sort of universal size key for this type of thing? Mine was about an inch long, looked like a very basic skeleton key, with a tassel attached. Thanks for any assistance!
Click to expand...

Email Wolf and they will send you a replacement key….or two!!!
 
LorettaB said:
I was not expecting to not have to pay for the key and it was so nice to get two! All I told them was that I had lost the key to my McKenna. They didn’t ask a single question other than my address.
Click to expand...

That’s great! I would be concerned that any McKenna key can open any McKenna jewelry box or similarly locked Wolf box though.
A few co-workers all purchased the same style jewelery box at work. I hope they can’t all open each others jewelry boxes now.
 
Last edited:
ringbling17 said:
That’s great! I would be concerned that any McKenna key can open any McKenna jewelry box or similarly locked Wolf box though.
A few co-workers all purchased the same style jewelery box at work. I hope they can’t all open each others jewelry boxes now.
Click to expand...
common keys is the norm for this kind of thing.
Its just as fast to get into them without a key so all it does is keep kids out and the honest honest.
 
ringbling17 said:
That’s great! I would be concerned that any McKenna key can open any McKenna jewelry box or similarly locked Wolf box though.
A few co-workers all purchased the same style jewelery box at work. I hope they can’t all open each others jewelry boxes now.
Click to expand...

I bet they can, or maybe certain models have a certain set of keys.

Here’s a little interesting fact. My husband was a shop foreman for many years. He told me there were only about 5 or so sets of the same keys used in heavy equipment. So if you have a lot of equipment and can’t find the keys to one, chances are good you have a duplicate key where you keep the keys to the other pieces.
 
Slight thread jack:

My friend sat in someone else's car last year. Same model, same children's car seat model inside, opened with her key. Parked one row in front of her actual car in ginormous shopping centre parking lot. She put her bags in , sat in the driver's seat and then looked into the rear mirror and realized the car seats had a different fabric and so she looked around some more and realized it was not her car... It was an expensive-ish (over 50 K) new-ish (2/4 years?) car. So there's not one unique key for cars either...
 
Thanks, everyone! I contacted Wolf over the holidays so it took a few days for them to respond. I just told them I had a PB McKenna armoire and they asked for a mailing address and said they'd send a complimentary key to me that should arrive in 5-7 days.

@ringbling17 I've never considered my armoire to be very secure. The locking feature is nice to have if there are people in your home (cleaners, maintenance/repairs/remodelers) or if you have children who get into things. The model I have is heavy and obtrusive enough that you couldn't abscond with it unnoticed, but certainly not large enough or heavy enough to deter theft by someone who knows what they're doing. I have a (very) few irreplaceable things in a safer place. It is rather strange to consider that there are so many other people out there with the same model jewelry storage with the same key!
 
Here is a key story for you.

Back when I was 18 I lived in this really sketchy apartment building, six floors with an elevator. One day I got off the elevator and took a right walking to the second door on my right. Unlocked the door and walked into someone else’s apartment!! I got off the wrong floor…who knows how many locks had the same key :eek-2:

My car ended up being stolen from the parking lot and I moved out soon after.
 
@YadaYadaYada OMG! I don't even know what to say. That had to have been so scary. The last place I rented was a townhouse in a gated community, but I had to pay a lock change fee of $75 when I moved in. They never changed the locks that I could tell... I never said anything about it but I wonder if I could get into that townhouse right now with my keys--I made several copies! (I would never do that, but it's so strange to think about.)
 
@monarch64, crazy right? That place was a nightmare, I was so convinced someone would try to attack me in the parking lot that I carried around a hammer for protection :naughty:

I bet you could still get into that townhouse which is really scary. I think if I was moving into a new rental I would ask for proof on paper that the locks were changed. Better safe than sorry!
 
YadaYadaYada said:
@monarch64, crazy right? That place was a nightmare, I was so convinced someone would try to attack me in the parking lot that I carried around a hammer for protection :naughty:

I bet you could still get into that townhouse which is really scary. I think if I was moving into a new rental I would ask for proof on paper that the locks were changed. Better safe than sorry!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I would've been on edge all night every night! Hammer was a good idea--my dad gave me a baseball bat when I moved out!

So the reason I moved out was that the owner decided to sell, and last I checked it was being sold "as is." I highly doubt they're sinking one more penny into it, and I bet they haven't changed the locks. I will never buy a house again without changing the locks myself--I don't know if first-time buyers or others would even think to change them all. I'm currently (hopefully temporarily) in an apt building and there are cameras EVERYWHERE. All entrances/exits to units are exterior so there is no place to hide, fortunately. Still hate it, ready to go back to a bubble/insulated community. If this market ever settles down that's the plan.
 
a few years ago now i cut keys at work
there is a' back door' lock very popular here on older houses
we dont cut that one
there are only 12 to choose from
 
monarch64 said:
Hoping someone here can help me or has some insight to replacing a lost key for a jewelry armoire.

I’ve kept my jewelry and some basic but important documents (one checkbook, vax card, gift cards) in a Pottery Barn McKenna jewelry armoire for years now. It has a barrel lock that looks like it fits a skeleton key that closes it for limited access/deterrent purposes. 2 months ago when my last place was being shown, I hastily locked the armoire and remember tossing the key into my handbag before leaving. When I went to get the key to open my jewelry box the next day it was missing from my handbag. I kept thinking it would turn up but it hasn’t.

Pottery Barn no longer sells the particular armoire I have. So I’ve resorted to searching through numerous Amazon listings for a barrel key that looks similar and is the right size for a replacement, to no avail. Everything I’m coming across is very large and meant for cabinets/furniture locks.

Does anyone know if there’s a sort of universal size key for this type of thing? Mine was about an inch long, looked like a very basic skeleton key, with a tassel attached. Thanks for any assistance!
Click to expand...

I have the same problem. I lost my key for my Pottery Barn McKenna Jewelry box.
If I find a replacement I will let you know!
Kimber
 
Thank you for letting me know about contacting Wolf for the key!
 
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