A lock key comprising of (3) pieces. A head, a key blade and a snap lock. These pieces are interlocked together, so that separation is not possible in normal usage. The head is made of precious metal or non precious metal set with or without stones and may consist of various esthetic and ornamental forms. The snap lock engages the head and the key blade in a way to inhibit the removal of the head from the key blade in normal use. The key blade can be easily removed from the head and exchanged with another key blade as needed.

A cylinder lock assembly includes a plug rotatable in a cylinder lock body. The plug includes chambers, each of which has a chamber depth axis. A plurality of thin, planar plug locking elements are received in the chambers. Each plug locking element has a key cut interface probe for interfacing with a key cut formed on a key. Each plug locking element is arranged to move along the chamber depth axis and does not rotate about the chamber depth axis. Each key cut interface probe has a predetermined orientation with respect to the chamber depth axis.