Which Jewelry Should You Travel With on Vacation—and Which to Leave at Home?

It’s only natural to want to look and feel your best while traveling—especially on vacation, when you’re exploring new places and making lasting memories. Travel often comes with plenty of photos to share with family or post online, which might inspire you to pack new outfits and your best jewelry. But is that really the smartest choice?

Traveling with jewelry can be risky and it’s important to consider exactly what you’re taking and where you’re going before packing up your gemstones and diamonds. Before your next trip, let’s take a look at which jewelry is safe to bring along and which pieces are best left at home in the jewelry box. This will ensure you have a stylish, fun, yet safe trip. 

Why Not Travel with All of Your Jewelry?

Before we talk about what jewelry you should pack, let’s first discuss why it’s best not to pack all of it. The short answer is that it’s too risky. 

When you travel, you’re often stepping into a place you don’t know well—an unfamiliar area with unfamiliar people, and sometimes an entirely new culture. If it’s a tourist destination that tends to be crowded, it may not be the most secure.

There’s also the possibility of lost luggage, lack of a safe in your hotel room, accidental loss, or even theft. Rather than risking your entire jewelry collection for the sake of a few TikTok videos, we recommend taking a more thoughtful, conservative approach to packing. This will help keep your trip enjoyable and your stress levels low.

Leave Sentimental and Irreplaceable Pieces at Home

Understanding that there is always a risk of loss when traveling, you should never take any jewelry with you that you would be devastated to lose. This may be different for each person, but typically includes engagement rings, wedding bands, heirloom jewelry, and custom designs. Even if you have travel insurance that would cover the loss, the original piece would never be recovered.

You can't put a number on jewelry that has tremendous sentimental value. Therefore, such pieces should be left at home during travels. 

What Jewelry Is Safe to Travel With?

So, what exactly can you bring? 

1. Versatile Pieces

Versatility is essential when it comes to travel jewelry. If a piece can complement at least two outfits, it’s a great choice. For example, narrow chains work just as well with your airport look as they do with a dinner dress. Also consider stackable gemstone rings that will match with multiple outfits in your suitcase. Both of these options are lightweight and add something to your outfit without drawing unwanted attention. They can be worn during the day and transition well into the evening. 

2. Costume Jewelry 

Costume jewelry is a great option for traveling because it is low cost and usually mass produced. If it gets lost, damaged, or stolen, you likely won’t lose sleep over it. You can just replace it with something similar at little cost.

With costume jewelry, you can choose bold necklaces, rings, and bracelets made with imitation gemstones and plated metals—pieces that add plenty of attitude to your outfits without the risk. 

3. Silicone Rings or Silver Reproductions

If you’re married or engaged, you may not want to travel without some kind of band on your ring finger. Fortunately you have plenty of options. You can opt for a silicone ring, which does great in pools and at the beach. You can also buy silver reproductions—or close replicas—of your existing rings from many budget-friendly retailers, often for under $50. These are great options because if your jewelry is lost, stolen, or damaged, it’s neither a sentimental nor financial loss for you. 

What to Leave at Home

1. Expensive Jewelry

Every person has a different definition of “expensive,” but a safe guideline would be anything with fine gemstones, luxury watches, and custom designed jewelry. They will attract attention and you may become a target for theft. And while most hotels provide safes, you shouldn’t rely on them completely to protect your valuables.

2. Delicate Jewelry

Any jewelry that can be easily damaged—such as delicate chains, gemstones low on the Mohs hardness scale, or pieces made from soft metals—should be left at home. Chandelier earrings, rings with a high set gemstone, or charm bracelets should also be left at home, as they may tangle or break during travel. Delicate jewelry is happier where it won’t be tossed around or scratched by other jewelry in your bag. 

Packing Tips for Traveling with Jewelry

Once you've determined which jewelry you can travel with, the next step is figuring out how to pack it safely. A soft jewelry travel case with individual compartments can prevent tangles and scratches, as there are separate slots for rings, earrings, and necklaces. If you don’t have a travel jewelry case, we recommend using tissue to wrap around your jewelry and putting them in small ziploc bags for safe keeping. 

Pack your jewelry in your personal item or carry-on bag so it’s with you at all times. If packed in your checked luggage, there is always the risk that it can be lost or stolen–especially if your bag is chosen for a random search.

Once in your hotel room, be sure to use the safe. If one is not available, keep the jewelry locked in your suitcase (be sure to bring a suitable lock).

You should also take pictures of every jewelry item you’re traveling with, so you can double check when you get home that everything is accounted for. In case a mishap occurs, you will have pictures of the lost or damaged item in its original condition. 

Choosing Jewelry Based on Destination

Considering your destination is important when packing jewelry.

If you’re going to a beach destination where you’ll be swimming in salt water or chlorine, you may want to review our article about Summer Poolside Jewelry Care, and you may want to leave your more sensitive gemstones and metals at home.

If you’re going to a big city destination, consider fashionable pieces that will transition from outfit to outfit, like plain gold hoop earrings and bracelets.

If you’re heading to the mountains, minimal jewelry is best. Hiking and camping is not kind to jewelry, so it’s best to leave as much jewelry at home as possible. Consider traveling with only a silicone ring in this type of situation. 

What About Jewelry Insurance?

If you decide to take valuable jewelry with you, please make sure it is properly insured. This way if something does happen to it, you’re able to have it repaired or replaced without paying fully out of pocket. 

Final Thoughts

Traveling with jewelry should be fun, not stressful. For that to happen, you need to do a bit of planning. By choosing minimal and versatile jewelry pieces and leaving the valuable items at home, you are minimizing your risk (and stress). You can absolutely still look your best and create lasting memories, while keeping your valuable jewelry safe.

So next time you’re packing for a trip, ask yourself if the jewelry you’re about to pack is going to worry you. If the answer is yes, leave it at home.