Jelly Key Launches New Zen Pond Artisan Keycaps Group Buy

Controller Master



For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan’s works wherein we’ve seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. In particular, we’ve covered a keycap each from the Zen Pond III and Zen Pond IV group buy series that depict a school of Koi fish swimming in a pond. This was the design that made Jelly Key famous and also where it introduced the so-called “Eden Effect” that makes the resin background feel like it is part of the scene itself.

Jelly Key’s latest group buy is active now and it builds upon the previous two in the new Zen Pond V series group buy titled “Zen Pond – Lost then found“. Thanks to some shipping logistics issues, once again the prototype sent over came after the group buy had begun so I had no time to do a quick look article on it. Instead, I figured those interested in the Zen Ponds theme that were not able to pick one up last time should know now is the time to do so, especially given the new Droplet profile that makes for spherical corners and an overall rounded structure to make the resin and craftsmanshop more easily appreciated at a typical viewing angle. The Koi fish models are larger and look more naturally swimming in the resin pond too, including with wakes left behind the tail fins. The new group buy started Jan 18 and is scheduled to end Jan 25, however they usually sell out a few days earlier to where you might want to jump into the pond early if these keycaps interest you. The Zen Pond V keycaps are available in five designs, four keycap profiles, and 12 sizes. These cost $55-105 each and, as seen on the group buy page, there are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps. Read past the break for photos of my prototype space bar keycap.

Update: Jelly Key had kindly provided TPU readers with a 5% discount code: 5%-tpu-498djh9

The provided keycap is in the 6.25u size, Droplet profile, and the “Ninja Nova” design—it was similar enough to Ghost Asagi space bar keycap covered previously to where I have a couple of photos showing the progress made by the team at Jelly Key over the years to get the theme better represented on a keycap: