Part of my job as a personal wardrobe stylist is packing my clients for trips. I seem to be doing a lot of this lately, and when it comes to the jewelry, there are quite a few things to consider. I thought I’d share some of these points to ponder with you, as you may find yourself packing a suitcase for a trip of your own this summer!
Are you going to a luxury resort on the French Riviera? Then perhaps you’ll need to up your glitz game! Are you going to visit the rainforest in South America? Then a waterproof sport watch and stud earrings may be all you really need. I always advise bringing the fewest number of pieces necessary no matter what your destination, especially if you’ll have to cart around luggage to multiple locations.
Think about the security of where you’ll be traveling
In the example of a high end resort, there’s likely to be a safe in the room or at the front desk where you can store your unworn jewelry. On a more rustic trip, I wouldn’t risk bringing any superfluous items; perhaps stick to one look that you’ll wear everyday, or perhaps complement it with some inexpensive necklace that you wouldn’t mind “losing.”
Consider the message your jewelry is sending
I have one client who brings 4 carat CZ stud earrings no matter where she goes. Sure, these earrings don’t necessarily cost a lot, but they are still flashy. And honestly, no one knows whether they are “real” or not — I think she’s tempting fate. When you think about your destination, do you want to draw attention to yourself? Or blend in? I recall a time in my 20’s when I was at the train station in Naples, Italy. A local approached me and said I shouldn’t be wearing the jewelry I had on, as it was tempting to thieves. And what did I have on? Simply a pair of $18 silver hoops, a few silver rings and a silver bangle. Interesting. In my book, this was a very low key (and inexpensive) look, but I never considered that the image I was projecting to those in the train station might be read differently.
How are you going to transport your jewelry?
First and foremost, your jewelry should travel on your physical body or in your carryon. Absolutely NO jewelry in your checked luggage…EVER!! I had one client who was traveling with just a few inexpensive necklaces. She ignored my advice and put them in her checked bag. I was not surprised to hear that when she arrived at her destination, not only was her jewelry missing, but a few other items as well. When the baggage handlers see jewelry in a bag, they don’t know if it’s valuable or not. Why tempt people??
My latest find is a travel jewelry box I picked up for $19.99 at the Container Store. It’s the mini lidded stacker in mink, and it’s been working like a charm! I like that it’s a solid box, so I don’t worry about jewelry getting bent in a jewelry roll. It’s small enough to tuck into my purse, and the lid stays very securely snapped closed. I use the ring area for my earrings as well. The only downside is that it doesn’t accommodate bangles, but I can work around that.
This is a VERY important thing to consider in these days of social media. Even though security experts advise you not to post any travel photos on social media until you are back at home, that’s pretty darn hard to do. If you’re gazing out at the most spectacular sunset over the Grand Canyon, I dare you not to press the “share” button on Instagram! In addition, everyone’s address is public knowledge. So if you post, thieves will know you’re gone and they know your address. The solution? Keep all your jewelry under lock and key, either in a safe (bolted to the ground or in a wall), your safety deposit box, or off the premises entirely. I know this sounds extreme, but I think it’s crucial. In addition, make sure your jewelry insurance policy is up to date. (For more info on this, refer this article from 2016.)
Also, I won’t be blogging regularly for the month of July, but I’ll be back full force in August. Know that you can always get your dose of bling on my Instagram and Facebook page.
Great advice, Amy!! It truly makes a trip more enjoyable if we don’t have to worry about loosing items and also knowing items at home are safe.
My thoughts exactly. I think very few people think about keeping their jewelry they leave at home safe. I lock it ALL up!
Sound advice, Amy. After two break-ins here we installed an alarm system and got a safe. I don’t even go to the grocery store without every bit of jewelry I’m not wearing behind bars as it were. I love the traveling storage box you recently got; jewelry rolls have always puzzled me! They just don’t seem protective enough. xx
I’m so sorry that you’ve had not one, but TWO break-ins! Very good call on the alarm and safe. Hopefully that will take care of any future issues!
It’s the chance you take when you live in a city! I was most thankful that no kitties were hurt or lost! Oh, and we weren’t hurt either.
That is the most important thing – you are right!
Great post, Amy. Naples is a notoriously crime ridden city.
Our group of friends was in the train station on our way to the Amalfi
Coast and a man burst through the door firing a gun!
We didn’t lose any valuables, thankfully, but this was a good
wake up call for me at home. Thanks.
What a scary situation! Glad that you weren’t hurt and that you weren’t robbed. Yikes!
great post and advice. I agree with everything you’ve said! over the past year I’ve started putting the jewelry left at home in the safe. And also realized about my purses. I put them in the safe for a few trips and that was difficult with the space. so i now have pictures of all the high end purses so if there were a burglary , i will have proof for insurance.
Also, have tried many ways of traveling with jewelry. i typically don’t take the real good stuff. but for what i do take …i place the pieces I will wear together for a certain outfit all in a little plastic zip lock bag. that way i dont’ have to dig through everything to get it all together. The little bags all go in a cloth draw string bag and in my carry on. it’s quick and easy. to keep a chain from knotting, leave a small lenghth hanging out of the zip.
Thanks so much for the comment, Cher! I agree that having photos of your items for insurance is very important. Love your idea on how to keep your jewelry organized while traveling — I’m sure that works great!!
Hi,
I am new on your blogs. I agree with you that one should keep their jewelry in the separate box to maintain their quality. It help you to access those jewelries very easily and it wont miss place either.
Thanks 🙂
Thanks — I appreciate the comment, Jitesh! 🙂
Hi, Amy! Great suggestions and we want to add another. No Knot Necklace is our new product that is perfect for travel and home storage. I am a regular business traveler and stopped bringing necklaces because I was tired of detangling my jewelry and often ruining it. I couldn’t find a great product, so I created one! We keep your necklaces tangle free, plus lots of room for other beautiful pieces. Please check out our video and website.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=enVo7TuB_TY
//www.noknotnecklace.com
I learned the hard way back in May 2006. I accidentally left jewels in a bag intended for carry-on, but I last minute decided to check. About $5000 worth of my gems–GONE. Never again. I love that you brought up the point about jewelry at home. Do you recommend a safe? I have also heard of folks keeping their jewels in unusual places — the litter box maybe. LOL. No, don’t do that.
Oh no—I’m SO sorry that happened to you! That’s just the worst. I hope your precious jewelry was insured. Personally, I love the security of a safe.
Great post. My wife and I usually leave our jewelry at home if we travel abroad. We’ve heard too many horror stories to chance it… My wife’s grandmother used to travel abroad very frequently due to her husband’s job. She was fearful of someone stealing her wedding ring, so she bought a ring in Hong Kong that she thought was costume jewelry. After all those years of traveling around with that ring on, she was surprised to recently learn that the ring was in fact a real diamond ring! Apparently, the jeweler in Hong Kong put it in the wrong spot.
What a story! If she was charged for a costume ring and it turned out to be real, she sure got a deal! 😉
Great tips and post. I keep my pieces insured with a policy that that replaces and covers travel.
So glad you enjoyed the article, Heather. And awesome that you keep your pieces insured. I sure wish everyone did that!