Jet-Set Sparkle: The Right Way To Travel With Jewelry
How do you travel with jewelry? Is it different for every trip? Do you have a jewelry travel case? Take some tips from us on how to store jewelry while traveling and keep your treasures safe.
Choosing The Right Travel Case
Investing in the right travel jewelry pouch, roll, or box can be the make or-literally-break of your jewelry. It’s truly up to you and what you are packing that can determine which travel case to get, too. Many jewelry rolls and portfolios are soft and padded, which is great for necklaces and earrings, but wouldn’t be a great choice if you’re packing a watch. There are hard-shell travel cases that are more durable, withstand any crushing, and definitely protect all of your jewelry. The con with them is that they can be heavy and take up space, depending on their size. A jewelry pouch is another choice of a travel case, great for loose jewelry like studs, charms, and rings. Many people even have a combination of these to ensure that each piece is taken care of based on what they need. For watches, specifically, there are designated watch rolls that will protect the band, bezel, crown, and face of your watch. A travel tip for packing with any jewelry case is to wrap your bigger or most fragile pieces in a soft polishing cloth. This is an extra layer of protection for your jewelry.
Pack With Purpose
When packing strategically, there are a few things to think about when traveling with your jewelry. If you have a carry-on, it is best to keep it in there. This gives you peace of mind where your jewelry is with you at all times, and if your check-in luggage gets lost, there’s no need to worry about your jewels. In packing your necklaces, the biggest struggle can be knots within the chain or having multiple necklaces tangle together. An easy solution here is to use a straw–slip one part of your chain through the straw and clasp it at the opposite end to the other side. This ensures that the chain does not touch each other, where tangling could occur. When it comes to packing certain gems and metals together, keep this phrase in mind: “pearls need protection and gold gets its own.” Pearls are a precious material that can be scratched easily when packed with other gemstones or other materials. Having your pearls in their own pouch, zipper, or pocket is wise in keeping them pristine. Now for gold, this is a softer metal, meaning it scratches easier than, say, platinum. Avoiding mixing metals when possible is a safe route to go.
Secure Valuable Pieces
In case of an emergency, there are a couple of safety precautions to take when traveling with jewelry. Step one: When packing, take a picture of the jewelry you are taking with you. This ensures that if it is lost, you can remember what it was and report it to insurance if necessary. Step two: Consider purchasing travel insurance if you feel that it's needed, or add your pieces to your homeowners' policy. Step three: If staying in a hotel, use their safe instead of a countertop. Accidents happen, and unfortunately, thefts do too. Using the safe is a protected way to keep your valuables safe and out of the clear of being stolen. Step four: Remember that you don’t need to bring every piece of jewelry that you own–unless you want to. This is completely up to the individual, but, unless it's to see the King or a fashion show, keep some treasures at home. Before leaving for a trip, you can always bring your pieces into Lewis Jewelers for a quick cleaning and inspection to ensure that your clasps and prongs are secure, too.
Smart Style Packing Tips
Whether you’re going on a beach vacation or a retreat in the mountains, dressing for the occasion is important–so is styling your jewelry. Depending on the length of the trip, you can always plan to wear one jewelry look with all of your outfits. However, this is not the solution for everyone. Bringing a mix of versatile pieces–diamond studs, a gold chain, a classic timepiece, and a cocktail ring–can set the stage right. Wearing simple gold hoops during the day and then adding on a statement pendant in the evening can bring your style from casual to glamorous. You can even stick to a color story or metal tone. For example, bringing all white gold metal jewelry or bringing pieces with sapphires in them (depending on the outfits packed) can be easy to throw on and walk out the door on your trip without giving it too much thought.
Cleaning and Care On The Go
The number one place to avoid wearing jewelry is in pools, hot tubs, and the ocean. Chlorine and salt can damage metals and loosen stones, increasing the chances of ruining your jewelry. However, if you do end up wearing it in these places anyway (we’ve all done it), pack a cleaning pen or wipe with you. It’s best to avoid cleaners with harsh chemicals to keep your jewelry safe and clean. At Lewis Jewelers, we offer shine sticks and travel jewelry cleaners that are easy to take on the go. Plus, after traveling, bringing your pieces in for a free professional cleaning will restore your jewelry’s shine!
Your jewelry tells your story, so don’t let travel dull its sparkle. Whether you’re headed across state or across the world, these tips will keep your treasures shining bright! Visit Lewis Jewelers for travel-ready cases, professional cleanings, and expert care before your next adventure.
