The early longevity lock was mostly made of silver into the shape of Yuanbao (shoe-shaped gold or silver ingot used as money in feudal society) which was used to symbolize wealth and honor. There were also longevity locks in the shape of circular bucket, arris and fire-cracker, etc, with inscriptions of Chinese characters on the front side, such as "Chang Ming Fu Gui (longevity, fortune and honour)" and "Chang Ming Bai Sui (long life of 100 years)". On the back side, pictures of Kylin (Chinese unicorn), or characters of "Long (dragon)", "Hu (tiger )" and "Shou (longevity)" are sometimes carved on the back. These calligraphic inscriptions, with their infinite lasting appeal, is simple, beautiful, and smooth while the pictures, which includes the freehand brushwork and fine brushwork, is exquisite and ingenious.

The ropes, which are used to hang the lock, can be as simple as a red ribbon or as complex as a golden or silver chain or a bunch of pearls or precious stones. Children wearing The longevity locks which stand for good luck and longevity are believed to be able to bring good luck, longevity and a bright future to the children who wear them.

  Jiming lock vs. Longevity lock

"Jiming lock", although similar to the longevity lock, has a little difference in meaning. Some parents worry that their babies may die when they are young due to a poor medical condition, so they regard those who have lots of sons or daughters as their babies' foster parents to seek for protection. After the so-called "Jiming (practice of having a foster parent of a baby to ensure his long life)"process, the parents will put on a lock-like accouterment around the babies' necks, hence its name "Jiming lock".

Sometimes, parents have a monk as their child's master or a god as his or her father so as to drive away the devil.

The "Huabaijia lock" is popular in North China. After the baby is born, the parents spend a few copper coins to cast an elaborate longevity lock for their baby in order to ensure his or her long life.

In South China, the parents wrap seven grains of rice and seven pieces of black tealeaves with paper to present to relatives in exchange for scraps of silver , which are used to cast a lock for the baby, with the Chinese characters "Bai Jia Bao Suo (hundred-family' precious lock)" carved on the front and "Sheng Ming Bao Gui (Life is precious)" on the back.

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