Seven Ways to Keep Your Jewelry Safe While Traveling This Summer

As vacation travel ramps up this summer, consider these tips on how to travel with jewelry by jewelry expert and certified gemologist Susan Eisen, author of "Crazy About Jewelry! The Expert Guide to Buying, Selling, and Caring for Your Jewelry" and owner of an award-winning jewelry store for 27 years.
 
1. Never pack your jewelry in a suitcase, but do include it in your carry on bag. When you travel, your bags go through many hands and luggage can easily be lost, especially with the recently canceled flights. According to most airline disclaimers, airlines are not responsible for any valuables lost or stolen from your luggage, especially jewelry.

2. Carry your jewelry with you when traveling, but don't just toss it in your handbag. Loose jewelry can be scratched, bent, broken or loosened in its settings as it mixes with keys, coins and other objects. Divide jewelry in Ziploc bags or get a handbag organizer. Don't put diamonds with other colored stones to avoid scratching. Necklaces with thin chains should not be placed with heavier pieces of jewelry because they will get tangled together. Rings and earrings should be separated as well. Seal the bags in case your handbag gets turned upside down.

3. While going through security, make sure your handbag or briefcase is zipped or otherwise shut when jewelry is inside. NEVER place jewelry in the plastic containers that go through security. Susan has seen men throw expensive Swiss watches in the bins, and such handling can shock the movement and cause serious damage, not to mention the possibility of loss. Request a wand search and leave all of your jewelry on if you wear a lot of it. Susan travels around the world to manage the jewelry collections of her clients, and she always refuses to take off her jewelry in an airport and has never had a problem just getting a wand search.

4. Keep your jewelry with you at all times. When you use the lavatory on the plane or at the terminal, take your handbag with you. If you want to sleep, loop your purse strings around your hand, so you'll be awakened if it moves without your permission!

5. In hotels, make sure your jewelry is not visible. Hide it inside a bag inside another bag inside a drawer if necessary, but make sure your jewelry is never lying out in the open. Take advantage of hotel safety deposit boxes if available. Don't carry all your jewelry in your handbag once you leave the hotel because if your handbag is lost, there goes all your jewelry.

6. Once you get home, always unpack and store all of your jewelry right away. It's easy to lose jewelry when you forget to take it out of rarely used suitcases or travel handbags. Susan has clients who have “lost” precious pieces this way.

7. Never take anything on a trip that can't be replaced, like a family heirloom, antique or extremely valuable piece of jewelry. Susan knows of a couple who got cheap silver rings for use on their honeymoon and left the platinum and diamond rings at home in the safe. Be careful and use common sense to safeguard your jewelry!

Susan Eisen, author of “Crazy About Jewelry: The Expert Guide to Buying, Selling and Caring for Your Jewelry,” is a leading jewelry expert, certified gemologist, award-winning entrepreneur and speaker based in El Paso, Texas. She is the inventor of several jewelry-related products including LIFETAG® medical identification jewelry, Purse Pockets® for keeping jewelry safe during travel and TreasureTrays® for organizing and storing jewelry. Eisen studied jewelry design, fabrication and manufacturing techniques at the University of Texas at El Paso. She opened her first retail store in 1980 and added a second location in 1992. Known throughout the jewelry industry for her expertise, Eisen is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the Accredited Gemologist Association and Master Gemologist Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers. She has earned several awards, keynoted at industry events, taught collegiate courses, and been interviewed by top national media including Parade, Health, Good Housekeeping and Copley News Service.

“Crazy About Jewelry! The Expert Guide for Buying, Selling and Caring for Your Jewelry,” is the ultimate guide to making jewelry last a lifetime. An invaluable resource for jewelry owners everywhere, this expert guide will quickly show readers how to efficiently organize, care for, maintain, expand and recreate their jewelry wardrobes into collections they'll adore for years to come. Born out of Eisen's lifelong passion for jewelry and dedication to educating consumers, “Crazy About Jewelry!” is a must-read for casual wearers and full-fledged gem enthusiasts alike.
 

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