Top Tips For Travelling With Luxury Jewellery Pieces

If you're planning on travelling with luxury jewellery pieces, it's important to take the utmost care to prevent them from being damaged or stolen. Many travellers who take special valuables on a trip often don't give enough thought to their safety.

When it comes to the holiday to-do list, other tasks may take precedence. However, there are some essential precautions to take - particularly if you're taking items of great monetary and sentimental value, such as a wedding or engagement ring, or a special gift.

Unfortunately, thieves are always on the lookout for fine jewellery brands, particularly if you're relaxing on holiday, when your usual guard and caution may have dropped. Read on to learn some useful tips on how to travel safely with jewellery.

Decide What Jewellery To Pack

Careful planning is the key to minimising the risks of loss or damage when it comes to your favourite jewellery pieces. Think about where you're going and what your plans will be when you arrive. If you're jetting off on a laid-back beach holiday, do you really need your jewellery at all?

Perhaps you could take just a few subtle pieces for a meal in a restaurant or a pleasant evening out? There's no point in taking risks with your precious luxury jewellery if you're simply lying on the beach all day or swimming in the pool.

However, if you're travelling for work, or you're going to a celebration such as a wedding, jewellery will probably be on your "must take" list. When this is the case, check any travel advice relating to your destination in advance. For example, if crime is a concern, consider leaving your most expensive jewellery behind.

Once you've decided what to take, make a list of what you have with you and what's being left behind. This way, should the worst-case scenario happen, you will know exactly what's missing.

How Should I Store My Jewellery Left At Home?

While you're away on holiday, the rest of your jewellery will be left behind at home. If your house is going to be locked up and empty, it's worth considering how safe it is. Unfortunately, some burglars target properties when the owners are away.

Although it's not something we like to think about, sadly, it's a fact. According to figures from UK insurance companies, the number of domestic burglaries rises by 26% during the peak holiday season. Avoid becoming a statistic by making arrangements for your jewellery while you're away.

Some people consider renting a safety deposit box to store valuables while they're away on holiday. However, even if your jewellery is placed in a deposit box, make sure you have it insured, as it may not be fully covered otherwise. Unless you have a family member or friend who can house-sit in your absence, it's worth taking into consideration.

What Is The Best Jewellery For Travel?

If possible, you're best not taking particularly expensive jewellery, or irreplaceable sentimental items, on your travels. Many people swap genuine items with versatile costume jewellery for safety's sake when travelling.

Wearing costume jewellery can take the headache out of travelling with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in your bag. However, if you don't want to leave your own jewellery at home, take as few pieces as possible.

Some people can't bear to be parted from sentimental items, such as engagement and wedding rings, so these would fall into the category of "must take" pieces. Some travellers combine the best of both worlds, wearing their real ring for the journey and for dressy occasions, but taking a faux band for other activities.

If you're going on an adventure holiday where you're going to be surfing, kayaking, windsurfing or swimming, for example, it's best not to risk losing or damaging your precious jewellery. If you have any exceptionally costly jewellery items, leave them behind, even if you adore them. It really isn't worth the risk.

How To Pack Jewellery For Travel

There are two words that spring to mind when wondering how to pack travel jewellery - and that's "very carefully". As well as wanting to avoid damage and loss, you also need to avoid unwanted attention. You can buy various products to protect your jewellery during travel, such as travel cases, jewellery rolls and pouches.

If you're not wearing your jewellery through the airport, you should be carrying it in your hand luggage. Keep the bag in your sight at all times and don't accept offers of help from anyone, whether it's airport staff, taxi drivers or hotel staff. Never pack your jewellery in your suitcase, as it's far too risky.

You can wear jewellery through airport security, as the vast majority don't set off the alarms. If your jewellery does, the airport security staff can inspect it while you watch.While the above advice applies to every piece of jewellery that you care about, if you're travelling with very expensive jewellery, there are extra precautions to consider. Take a visual inventory of the pieces you're carrying as proof of ownership. This will be handy should you need to file a police report or insurance claim.

Know When To Take Your Jewellery Off

Once you arrive at your destination, check your list of activities and be prepared to leave your jewellery at the hotel if there's anything off-limits to necklaces, rings or other items. If you must leave your jewellery behind, never leave it in your room, even hidden away in a cupboard, or inside your luggage.

Ask the hotel staff if you can use a safe, whether it's in your own room, or behind the reception desk. Although it's better to keep your jewellery with you at all times, on occasion, this may not be possible, so don't leave it at risk of being stolen.

If you're staying in an unknown area that's potentially dangerous, conceal any expensive jewellery from strangers, especially if you're out walking in tourist areas. There is no need to make yourself an obvious target. Your jewellery must be insured - and covered for worldwide travel - but don't make it easier for opportunist thieves to snatch your valuables.

What If You Lose Your Jewellery?

If you do happen to lose your jewellery while travelling, despite taking all the precautions, it may not be a disaster. Notify security where it occurred - whether it's the airport, cruise ship, hotel, or other public building - especially if you suspect it's been stolen.

Report it to the police, as it's likely there will be CCTV cameras and they may be able to spot anything untoward. Whether stolen or simply lost, your jewellery insurance is of vital importance. Even if, sadly, you never find your cherished items again, at least you will be able to replace them when you arrive home.

Taking all the necessary precautions, as detailed in our guide, will help you to enjoy a trouble-free holiday and keep your jewellery pieces safe until you return home again.