Whether for a business trip, a destination wedding, or a vacation, travelling always requires forethought. If your plans include jewellery, invest the time to ensure your pieces make it to your destination and back home without any added headache.
From storing and organising to safety and avoiding theft, here are five tips to help you sidestep costly mistakes and make travelling with your jewellery a breeze.
1. Travel Light
While it may be tempting to take your whole jewellery collection with you, the likelihood of losing a piece increases the more you bring. Avoid this by planning ahead. Once you have decided on your clothes for your travels, coordinate your jewellery to your outfits to help narrow down your choices.
Also, consider how much sentimental value certain jewellery has for you. Irreplaceable jewellery, such as heirloom or custom pieces, may be best left at home in a safe location. If more easily replaceable jewellery can complete your look, taking these instead will offer peace of mind.
2. Take Time to Organise
How you store your jewellery for your trip is about more than just ease of access. Poorly packed jewellery is more susceptible to damage.
Specialised cases are popular choices for seasoned travellers. Travel jewellery boxes and roll organisers are both elegant choices, though roll organisers usually take up less space. If you prefer to organise yourself, having several soft cloths will come in handy, as will small plastic bags or pouches.
Rings and bracelets can be laid onto a soft cloth and rolled, with space between each piece to ensure no contact. Place these in a small plastic bag or pouch to keep them from unrolling.
Earrings can be stored similarly after taking the precaution of hooking the posts through the cloth or punching them through a small styrofoam block to avoid movement, and damage.
Watches will need extra padding to protect the face. Pack one watch per cloth, and tuck it into a bag to secure.
For tangle-prone necklaces, slide a length of the chain through a plastic straw and secure the closure. Then, fold it into a soft cloth and bag as with your other jewellery.
Make your life easy and shop jewellery organizers for travel with Alberta Diamond Exchange. We offer two great options, a Velvet Round Jewellery Travel Case or a Leatherette Jewellery Case with a Mirror.
3. Prioritise Safety
Regardless of what you decide to bring, take a picture of your choices before packing. This will help you remember what you have with you making checking your inventory much easier when you re-pack your bags.
While actively travelling, keep your jewellery with you at all times. Checked luggage is far less secure and more likely to be lost or stolen. Treat your jewellery as you would your passport — it should only leave your side if required by security.
Some people feel safest wearing their most expensive pieces during travel, but a carry-on bag that sits close to the body instead of just over the shoulder is also a safe option. A smaller bag will fit into more spaces, meaning you can keep it near you, even on a train or an airplane. A roll-bag is still safer than a checked bag, but keep in mind that a larger carry-on will need to go into an overhead compartment, necessitating it being out of your direct view.
4. Consider Insurance
If taking your favorite fine jewellery is just too irresistible, remember to notify your insurer before you travel. If you do not have insurance, consider having your valuables appraised and insured before your trip.
While using hotel safes is always a wise precaution while abroad, your jewellery will still be at risk during travel and while you are wearing it. Insurance can protect against theft, loss, and damage, all of which are possible while travelling.
5. Keep it Clean
Cleaning jewellery regularly will keep it looking its best. Of course, having your jewellery professionally cleaned is always a good option, but when time doesn’t allow, you can safely clean it yourself with a few precautions.
The first consideration should always be avoiding loss or damage. For example, never clean over an open sink, and avoid any cleaners which could be abrasive.
Any jewellery that falls below a Mohs hardness of 8 must be handled carefully. This includes moonstones, pearls, opals, most gold, and some gems. Once you know which pieces need extra care, simply clean them over a bowl with warm water and gentle soap. Depending on the piece, a soft brush can be used. Buff gently with a microfiber cloth to finish.
Alberta Diamond Exchange is Here to Help
Whether you’re traveling with your engagement ring or costume jewellery, a fashion diamond ring or a pearl necklace, your jewellery will need to be kept safe and clean so it can dazzle when you need it — so make sure to follow these tips for travelling with jewellery.
Alberta Diamond Exchange has what you need if you are looking for a piece for an upcoming trip. Rest easy knowing our diamonds are ethically sourced, and our team is here to help you find or design the perfect piece of jewellery.
