What’s the Best Way to Keep My Jewelry Safe on Vacation?

Packing jewelry does require more consideration than simply throwing clothes into a suitcase. Fine jewelry is precious, delicate and often sentimental – be sure to travel with the care it requires.

Below are a few of the smarter packing ideas on vacation to ensure your pieces arrive safe, undamaged and organized:

Make a Jewelry Travel Inventory

Before you leave, document the jewelry you’re bringing. Take photos or note each piece.

This visual inventory not only helps you plan outfits, but it can also be a lifesaver if you need to file an insurance claim or police report for a lost item. (It’s also a good moment to double-check that any especially valuable pieces are properly insured for travel.)

Notify your insurance company of your travel plans if needed – similar to alerting your credit card, letting your insurer know you’ll be out of town with valuable jewelry is a smart step.

Carry On, Never Check

Always keep jewelry with you in your carry-on bag, not in checked luggage. Luggage can get lost or rough-handled, so your precious items should stay by your side.

Wear jewelry that makes sense for your travel outfit and pack the rest securely in your personal items. For added security, avoid wearing overly flashy or expensive pieces during transit – you don’t want to draw the wrong kind of attention while on the go.

Use Protective Cases or Pouches

The best way to pack jewelry is in a dedicated travel case or organizer that keeps each piece separated. You can use a fabric-lined travel jewelry box or portfolio (more on that below), or even DIY with small soft pouches and pill boxes.

The goal is to prevent items from scratching each other or tangling. For example, keep each necklace in its own compartment or bag so chains don’t intertwine.

GIA experts suggest putting each piece in its own plastic zip-top bag (with a label) – this lets you see everything at a glance and adds a layer of protection. Hard-shelled pill organizers also make great mini jewelry holders for travel, keeping earrings and rings sorted in sturdy little compartments.

Prevent Tangles and Damage

Even with an organizer, a few tricks can help avoid tangles or scratches. If you’re packing necklaces, thread each chain through a drinking straw or a piece of plastic wrap to keep it from knotting up. This simple hack “works like a charm”.

For earrings, consider carrying a small piece of cardboard or an earring holder – stick the earring posts through it so pairs stay together. Also, don’t use cotton balls or fabric that sheds fibers, as these can leave lint on prongs or gemstones.

Instead, opt for soft microfiber cloths or the individual baggies as mentioned. And toss in a polishing cloth so you can give your jewelry a quick shine at your destination.

Pack Light (Sometimes, Less is More)

When it comes to jewelry on a trip, carefully choose what to bring and what to leave home. It’s tempting to bring an option for every outfit, but remember that the more jewelry you take, the more you have to keep track of.

Select a few versatile pieces that will pair with multiple looks. If you have extremely valuable or sentimental jewelry (like an heirloom necklace or your most expensive watch), consider whether you truly need it on this trip. Experts often advise that the safest way to travel with expensive jewelry is occasionally not to travel with it at all – leave it secured at home for peace of mind.

As GIA’s travel tips put it, “Don’t take too much: Sometimes less is more… you can still make a splash by bringing a select few pieces, while leaving the rest at home.”.

If you curate your collection down to the essentials, you can minimize risk while still looking great on holiday.

Protecting Your Jewelry from Loss or Theft

Proper packing is half the fight – the other half is being cognizant while you travel to avoid losing or having things stolen. In the time it takes to pull your hair back into a bun, a ring can be lost or a necklace misplaced, so practice these precautions to keep jewelry safe while traveling:

Be Discreet and Vigilant

In transit and unfamiliar places, it pays to stay low-key with valuable jewelry. That might mean turning your engagement ring inward on your hand or wearing a scarf over a flashy necklace in crowded areas. While it’s fun to wear our best pieces, avoid advertising expensive jewelry to potential thieves.

Always keep your jewelry pouch or case with you and never out of your sight, particularly in airports or transit stations. If a kind stranger (or perhaps airport personnel) wants to help you with your bag, it is completely fine to hang on to it and politely refuse, “I’ve got it thank you” as many travelers have discovered the hard way, as long as you’re not watching, opportunists can make off with carry-ons.

Security Checkpoints

One vulnerable moment for jewelry is the airport security line. Never place jewelry loose in the TSA bin where it’s easy to forget or for someone to pick up. Small items like rings usually won’t set off metal detectors, so it’s often best to wear them or keep them tucked in a zipped pouch in your carry-on during screening.

If you must remove metal jewelry, place it directly into your own carry-on bag or travel jewelry pouch instead of placing it on the counter before sending the bag through the X-ray. Plus, you can’t leave a ring in a plastic tray. Most jewelry losses occur during those frantic moments at security when people scramble to pick up their things. Another bit of advice, highlighted in a recent report by Jewelers Mutual, is this: Do not place jewelry into TSA bowls; always carry your jewelry in a zippered case or on your person while going through checkpoints.

Hotel Rooms and Safes

When you arrive, take a moment to plan where your jewelry will stay when you’re not wearing it. A hotel safe is usually the best option – it’s more secure than a nightstand or dresser drawer.

For pieces not being worn, use the in-room safe. (Just be careful you don’t forget them – more on that in a minute!). Staying in a rental home or nowhere with a safe? When you head out, try storing jewelry in a place that’s difficult to locate (a travel case hidden inside a suitcase or a less obvious place than the top of the dresser). And always lock when you leave, of course.

Do not leave jewelry unattended in public places; do not remove a watch and place it on a restaurant table or poolside lounge. This is going to sound like common sense but once during the vacation mood to relax people sometimes forget and jewelry “walks off.”

Beware of Water

Did you know jewelry is lost most often at beaches and pools? According to recent surveys, a significant portion of travel-related jewelry losses happen around bodies of water. It makes sense – cold water can make fingers shrink, meaning rings slip off easily in the ocean or pool, and earrings can get lost in the sand. Sunscreen and water can also make jewelry slick.

As a rule of thumb, remove jewelry when swimming – and store it in that reliable travel case, or a zip pouch with your beach gear, to prevent a diving disaster. If you do insist on wearing something akin to a wedding band to the ocean, be sure to size it with ring guards or wraps to ensure it isn’t going to fall off and always double-check that it’s secure.

And remember, hotel pools and beaches are where lost jewelry most commonly is misplaced – so think twice about bringing irreplaceable items to the shore. Fancy jewelry could be best left at home while the fun costume jewelry could be worn to the beach and to casual dinners out.

Double-Check and Don’t Forget

Whenever you change locations – leaving a hotel, getting off a plane, packing up the car – do an inventory check of your jewelry. It helps to keep all your pieces in one dedicated case or pouch so you can easily see if something is missing.

One of the most common travel mishaps is forgetting a beloved piece in a hotel room. Necklaces are the number one item left behind, often in hotel safes or drawers.

Make it a practice to open that safe and look inside before checking out. You can place something that you must take with you, as a shoe, in the safe as a reminder you have something placed inside. And the bathroom – rings have been known to be left by sinks. A quick look around your space for any pieces of gold or diamonds or gemstones will prevent a heartbreak later.

Insurance and Documentation

Despite all the precautions, life happens, which is why insurance is key. If you haven’t already, look into jewelry insurance or ask your insurance agent how your homeowners’ or renters’ policy covers jewelry during travel.

Keep in mind that many basic policies have low limits or may not cover losses abroad. Companies like Jewelers Mutual offer specialized jewelry coverage that can protect against theft, loss, or damage anywhere in the world.

Final Thoughts

It is nice to know that your prized possessions are covered, even if you never have to use it. And carry appraisals or receipts for extremely high value jewelry with you when you travel – they may be helpful in establishing value or ownership if you have to file a claim or police report.

To quote jewelry professionals, the objective is to “preserve your jewelry, allowing you to enjoy and wear it fearlessly”. With a little preparation beforehand, you can spend your vacation sparkling and at ease.