Hermes Kelly Cadenas Pendant Necklace in Sterling Silver H121331B 00

The padlock has been the most quietly iconic shape in this house since the Kelly bag first carried one, and as a pendant it loses none of that weight. This Cadenas measures 0.65 by 0.32 of an inch, hangs on a 15.74 inch chain, and is made in Italy in 925/1000 silver.

Silver is the right metal for a padlock, I think. In gold it can look like a charm from a bracelet; in cool grey silver it reads as a mechanical object, a small piece of hardware you have decided to keep. The shackle and body are modelled, not stamped, so the silhouette is clear from any angle.

Mine sits high on the neck, just above the collarbone, and I wear it with a crew neck tee and a denim jacket more than anything else. With a striped shirt buttoned high it looks like the clasp of something rather than a pendant, which is my favourite trick with it.

Honest notes: 15.74 inches is short, so this suits a small neckline and not a deep V; and silver will dull in a humid climate, so wear it rather than store it. Made in Italy.

The trade-off with a padlock pendant at this length is that it asks for an open neckline: a sweater that sits at the throat will hide it entirely. In summer, over a shirt or a plain tee, it earns its keep every single day. It is also the pendant I would choose as a first piece, since there is nothing about it that feels delicate.