Brix

Original JarKey

Name: Original JarKey
Brand: Brix

BUDGETDESIGN

A compact ABS lever releases a jar’s vacuum with a satisfying pop before normal unscrewing. Owners report clean openings, but one documented the lifting tab breaking after several years.

$4.92 typical

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EDITION 01RESEARCHED 2026-10-246 SOURCESREFRESH DUE 2027-04

SUBSTANCE SCORES

substance7.5/ 10

design8.0/ 10

value7.5/ 10

WHY THE PRICE IS JUSTIFIED

The low observed Australian sale price buys a genuinely different mechanism: gently lift the lid edge to release vacuum, then unscrew normally. Independent owners report successful opening without denting lids. It is inexpensive, not indestructible: one owner reports the lifting tab breaking after several years.

MATERIALS

Body and lifting tabABS plastic

Keeps the lever light and simple; a long-term owner reported eventual tab breakage.

CRITERIA

8/10

Quietly Considered Form

Editorial judgment: a compact rounded handle and distinct lifting lip express one purpose with few parts; finish quality was not independently measured.

8/10

Effortless Lid Ritual

Independent owners describe easy vacuum release; Barry Lewis notes that users still need enough strength to twist the lid afterwards.

8/10

Five-Year Usefulness

Vacuum-sealed threaded food jars remain a broad use case; the simple lever has no batteries, service dependency or proprietary consumables.

7/10

Reliable Safe Opening

Gate: pass for compatible vacuum lids, supported by first-hand use. Not a solution for non-vacuum tight caps or users unable to twist afterwards.

5/10

Wear, Wash, Repair

One long-term owner reports the under-lid tab broke after several years. No replaceable tab or repair arrangement was established.

IDEAL FOR

·Vacuum-sealed jam and sauce jars
·People who dislike adjustable mechanisms
·Compact kitchens

NOT FOR

·Non-vacuum closures needing extra torque
·Users unable to unscrew a released lid
·Using excessive force on the plastic tab

DESIGN & ERGONOMICS

Editorial judgment: the broad rounded handle and small working lip give the single action a clear visual hierarchy. The vacuum-release pop is the satisfying interaction; there is no clamp to adjust. It does not turn the lid for you.

DESIGN RECOGNITION

JarKey collection object

Museum of Design in Plastics · 1993

JarKeyMuseum of Design in Plastics“Designed by Alf Rimer and Helge Brix-Hansen for Brix Design A/S, Denmark, the JarKey is a lever type device”

LONGEVITY

Owner evidence is mixed: an Australian reviewer reports consistently successful, undamaged lids; another owner reports the lifting tab broke after several years. Retailers specify ABS and dishwasher-safe care, but repairable parts were not found. Treat eventual replacement as possible, not a promised lifespan.