The invention relates to a universally-applicable, detachable magnetic catch, suitable, for example, for the closing and opening of containers of for fixing or releasing an object, whereby each magnet (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 16, 19, 21) is held with a positive fit in the recess (15, 18, 21) of a holder (11, 12, 14, 17, 20). One of said holders may be displaced by means of an operating device (5, 13) such that the magnetic poles of the magnets oppose each other to be either attracting or repelling. Each magnet has an upper side, an underside, parallel to the above and a circumferential surface at an angle of 90 DEG to the upper and underside. The upperside and the underside of the magnet are a non-symmetrical planar surface and the recess of the holder has a horizontal cross-sectional surface, identical to the non-symmetrical form of the upperside and the underside such that the magnet may only be introduced into the corresponding recess with the poles in a functional alignment.