There is something counter intuitive about personalizing keychains. Everything, of course, depends on what exactly you choose to engrave on them. To engrave your home address, your phone number or even just your name would mean that a potential thief can sudden access to your valuable possessions or your car. Wouldn’t it be better to engrave the address of your local police department? 🙂 Then they would either apprehend the thief who would show up in hope of easy looting or some honest person would return the key chain that you would be able to easily identify.
Seriously, though, because this particular key chain is also a pocket watch you might consider using one of the suggestions regarding engravings on clocks, watches and sundials :
AGE QUOD AGIS – Do what you are doing
ALIIS INSERVIENDO CONSUMOR – By serving others, I am worn away Note that although originally a sundial inscription, this phrase actually makes a lot more sense for a clock mechanism, it also indicates a particular philosophy of life.
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS – Art lasts, life is short
ASPICE ET ABI – Look (at me) and pass on
DEO FAVENTE – With God’s favor
DEUS ADEST LABORANTIBUS – God favors the diligent
DIES DIEM TRUDIT – Each day forces out another day
DISCE DIES NUMERARE TUOS – Learn to value your days
DUM SPECTAS FUGIO – I flee even as you observe me
EX HOC MOMENTO PENDET AETERNITAS – Eternity is hinged upon this moment
FESTINA LENTE – Make haste slowly There is actually a company called Festina that makes clocks and watches. In my opinion, only the complete quote makes sense. Who would want a clock that is too fast? The phrase indicates a perfect balance that must be achieved in a clock and in life.
HINC VIVERE DISCE – Learn to live by this example
HORA PARS VITAE – Every hour is a part of life
ITA VITA – Thus (passes) life
LABOR IPSE VOLUPTAS – Labor contains pleasure
NE QUID PEREAT – Let nothing be lost
NON NOBIS NATI SUMUS – We are not born for ourselves
NON REDIBO – I shall not return
NOSCE TEIPSUM – Know thyself
OMNIA FALCE METIT TEMPUS – Time reaps everything with its sickle
OMNIA FERT AETAS – Time brings all things
POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM – I hope for light after darkness
QUID CELERIUS TEMPORE? – What is swifter than time?
SAPIENTIS EST NUMERARE – It is the wise who count
SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI – Thus passes the glory of this world
ULTIMA DECIDET – The last one decides
UMBRA DEI – The shadow of God
VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA – Truth is the daughter of time
VIGILATE & ORATE, TEMPUS FUGIT – Be vigilant and pray, for the time hastes away