How Do You Travel With Jewelry?

Short answer: to travel with jewelry, take two or three pieces you wear every day, packed separately in a pouch or box in your hand luggage, never in a checked suitcase. Take rings and earrings off before swimming, the sauna and sunscreen, and keep silver dry. Pieces with swappable parts let you pack less and still change your look.

How much jewelry should you take on a trip?

Less than you think. Every extra piece is one more thing to lose. A simple rule for a weekend or a two-week holiday:

• One pair of earrings you can wear all day, such as the light Minimalist Hoops in 925 silver (€42.99). Plain hoops work with a swimsuit cover-up and with a dinner dress.
• One necklace that layers, such as the Paperclip Chain Necklace (€54.99, 50 cm). Worn alone it is simple; with a pendant it looks dressed up.
• One ring, ideally adjustable. Fingers can change a little in heat, so an open band such as the Twisted Wave Ring (€44.99) is easier to wear than a fixed size.

Leave at home anything you could not replace. If a piece has strong personal value, such as an engraved pendant with a name, wear it rather than pack it.

How do you pack jewelry so it does not tangle or scratch?

Chains tangle and plating scratches when pieces travel loose together. Three habits prevent both:

• One piece, one compartment. Use a travel case with separate sections or a soft pouch per piece. The Loretana gift box every order arrives in is made for storage too, so it works as a travel case.
• Close every chain before packing. Fasten the clasp and thread one end through a drinking straw. A closed chain cannot knot itself.
• Keep earrings in pairs. Put each pair in its own pocket so a single earring cannot slip into the lining of your bag.

Should jewelry go in hand luggage or a checked suitcase?

Always hand luggage. A checked suitcase can be delayed or lost. Put the jewelry case in the bag you keep with you, ideally in an inside pocket that closes.

At airport security, small pieces often go through without a problem, but staff can ask you to remove jewelry. To make it simple, travel wearing only the pieces you keep on all day, and put anything you take off straight into a closed pouch rather than loose in the tray.

Can you wear silver jewelry at the beach, pool or sauna?

It is better not to. The 925 silver itself does not dissolve in water, but chlorine and salt water dull the plating faster than anything else, and sunscreen and sweat leave a film on the surface. Heat in a sauna makes all of this work faster. Our jewelry care page lists when to take pieces off: before washing, swimming, the gym, the sauna, sleep and sunbathing.

Rhodium and 14K/18K gold plating are surface finishes, and like every finish they wear with use. Pendants and earrings keep their finish much longer than rings and bracelets, which rub against skin and surfaces all day. Underneath the plating is hallmarked 925 sterling silver. On holiday, put your jewelry in its case before the beach and put it back on in the evening.

After a humid day, wipe each piece with a soft dry cloth before you pack it. Moisture is what makes silver darken; our guide on how to stop silver from tarnishing explains why.

One piece, several looks: packing with interchangeable jewelry

Interchangeable pieces let you take one base and a few small parts instead of several complete pieces.

• Ring: the Interchangeable Stone Flower Ring in 925 silver (€89.99) comes with four AAAAA cubic zirconia stones, green, red, blue and white. They screw in, so one ring and its spare stones take almost no space in a case. Swap stones with clean, dry hands at your hotel, not on the beach.
• Earrings: the Interchangeable Hoops, Blue CZ (€79.99) come with two sets of detachable drops, blue and white. Worn alone they are plain silver hoops for the day; add a drop set in the evening. One pair gives three looks.

Everything that swaps is in our interchangeable jewelry collection. Keep spare stones and drops in the box, not loose in a bag, so the threads stay clean.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to take my jewelry off at airport security?

Not always. Small earrings and thin chains often pass without a problem, but security staff can ask you to remove pieces. Travel wearing little, and put anything you remove into a closed pouch.

Will my silver jewelry tarnish on holiday?

Humidity, sweat and sunscreen speed up tarnish. Take pieces off for the beach and the pool, wipe them dry each evening and store them in a closed case. Tarnish on silver can be cleaned; see our silver jewelry care guide.

Can I sleep in my earrings while travelling?

Small, smooth earrings are the most comfortable if you do, but taking them off reduces the risk of losing one in a hotel bed. Our article on sleeping in earrings covers it in detail.

Loretana MB is registered with the Lithuanian Assay Office and has a registered responsibility mark. Every piece carries the 925 hallmark and our responsibility mark, and orders ship from Lithuania.