For years, I had a great gift for young men - Dalvey of Scotland compass keyrings. They were beautiful and could be engraved. Now S2 is about to graduate from HS, and these keyrings are apparently no longer available! I found one British store that is still advertising them. I emailed them but expect to hear that they don’t have them.
Does anyone have any ideas for a practical but beautiful and special graduation gift?
Oops - that’s not on a keyring.
How about a multi tool? Those are useful AND engravable.
I got my S sterling silver keyring engraved with his initials for HS graduation. Basically the same idea you have just not with a compass. He still uses that keyring today (about 8 years later).
@NYMomof2 I first mentioned Dalvey of Scotland back in October of 2007. Your post brings back memories. I got my older kid one of their compasses back in 2005 and had it engraved. Not a keychain but he loved it. Levenger has some nice things that can be engraved and have been big hits -commemorative box , snap tray, pocket briefcase. I have also gotten things from M. LaHart that have been engraved-julep cup, Jefferson Cup- they have nice things for many colleges (but not all, of course, so depends on where the graduate is going to college ). Good luck!
My kid would like one of those Dalvey compasses. How about ordering those (not officially a key ring) but it would be easy to add a keyring loop thingie to it and - presto - compass keyrings! 
Thank you all for your responses! I heard from the British shop that is still advertising the compass keyring I wanted, and they said that it had been discontinued. I searched Ebay, no luck.
sevmom, before starting this thread I looked for existing threads and came across the old one that you and I both posted in. That compass was really special. I’m frustrated because I ordered several of them for gifts, and I wish I’d had the foresight to order one to keep for DS. I checked LaHart and they have a nice Brown keyring, so maybe I’ll get that. I haven’t given up on the compass keyring yet, though. I love Levinger and checked their gifts, but saw nothing that he would like.
happy1, I’ve looked and seen some nice silver engraved keyrings, and I may end up getting one. I really liked the symbolism of the compass, though, for someone starting out in life. And DS has been intensely interested in geography his entire life, and he is probably going to major in geology. So it would have been perfect for him.
HImom, thank you for the suggestions. The compass keyring you linked to is actually quite nice - I like everything about it except the compass itself, which is not nearly as nice as the Dalvey versions. I’d thought of a multi-tool and may end up getting one.
doschicos, I have been thinking of doing exactly that - ordering one of the smaller compasses and converting it into a keyring. I’m trying to figure out if this would work. The beauty of the no-longer-available Dalvey keyring is that it was small and sleek, so comfortable to have in the pocket. Another issue is that the metal of any ring I added would have to be non-magnetic.
I’ve found some other nice compasses online:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/387551.html
Still working on this - need to order something soon.
I don’t have boys, so take this with a grain of salt. What about a nice belt buckle? You can engrave it. The buckle can be reused even after the belt is worn out.
http://www.tiffany.com/accessories/silver-accessories/engine-turned-slide-belt-buckle-10102936?utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA±+Men&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=b7caJMpe|pcrid|94842703213|pkw||pmt||pdv|c|&gclid=COv-xdS4oM0CFUwvgQodeYYNQw
If you can’t click on the link, it is a tiffany belt buckle.
What about a scratch map? He can scratch off all of the places he’s traveled to .
That’s too bad they have discontinued the compass keyring @NYMomof2 . A compass could still be a nice idea for someone that is interested in geography and geology, even if there is no keyring attached.
Other ideas that could be monogrammed or engraved and my sons have enjoyed-watch, dopp kit, good quality weekender or duffel bag, passport case. All good for someone starting out in life and for anyone that travels.
Be careful with the multi-tool item. They may get confiscated at the airport TSA.
Have you tried contacting the manufacturer directly? Although it has been discontinued, maybe they have a few kicking around.
I do like the Brown key rings on M Lart @NYMomof2 -I see 3 different ones in sterling sliver-insignia key ring, dog tag key ring , and valet key ring. All nice and their gifts are also always nicely presented. The sterling silver money clip looks good too if a money clip is used. I also do like the pewter Julep cups and Jefferson cups. They are nice on a desk ( for pens and pencils, for instance, for the julep cup) or on a bookcase.