Jewelry is the perfect travel accessory, adding a touch of style to every outfit, whether you’re exploring a new city or lounging on a tropical beach. A few key pieces in silver or gold can elevate your travel wardrobe and make you feel great while on the go!

But while jewelry looks stunning against sun-kissed skin, it also needs a little extra care when you’re traveling. To keep your favorite pieces looking their best and avoid the hassle of replacing them when you return home, check out these essential tips for protecting your jewelry on the road.

Find a good travel jewelry case

How should you pack and store your jewelry while traveling? Don’t bundle all the stuff together and chuck it in your handbag or checked luggage. Both are perfect ways to tangle necklaces and lose valuable pieces. Instead, you need a travel-friendly jewelry case with lots of little compartments for your different items. 

This will keep things separate to avoid tangling and accidental damage while also making it easier to locate pieces when you want to use them. Travel cases are also compact enough to slot into your handbag or luggage case with ease, so they don’t take up a lot of space! 

Wrap your valuable pieces in soft materials

Some jewelry is worth more to you than others. A “valuable” piece of jewelry doesn’t always have to be expensive; it can carry sentimental value. In any case, you should take extra care with the items that mean the most to you. Don’t throw them straight into your travel jewelry case – wrap them in soft materials or place them in little pouches for more protection. 

You’ll have peace of mind that your most prized possessions are tucked away safely. This will also minimize the chances of your valuable items getting chipped or scratched, particularly during transit. Velvet pouches are especially great because they give you an even more portable way of carrying your jewelry around when you travel. Instead of walking everywhere with your travel case in your handbag, you can have a couple of pieces in small velvet pouches. They remain protected, and you have quick access to them whenever you feel like jazzing up your outfit. 

Wear your most expensive pieces during flights

It’s funny because you’re normally inclined to avoid wearing your most expensive items during flights. Instead, you typically wear things that are comfortable or cheap. The opposite is true if you’re looking after your jewelry. Sticking it away in your checked luggage can result in it getting lost or damaged. Have you seen the way some airport luggage staff handle bags? They chuck them onto planes without a care in the world. 

Reduce the chances of your pieces being lost or stolen by wearing them during the flight itself. You can take them off when you get to your hotel – or alternative accommodation – and tuck them away in your travel case for safekeeping. 

Check if your jewelry is waterproof before swimming

Stop what you’re doing and check if your jewelry is waterproof before swimming or doing anything that involves water. Generally, waterproof jewelry is made from stainless steel. If you own a lot of proper gold or silver necklaces, the chances are your jewelry is not waterproof. That’s usually a good thing, as it means the necklace is of a higher quality – and the same goes for earrings, bracelets, and anything else. 

So, yay, you have high-quality jewelry – but this means you can’t wear it in water. Take off any non-waterproof jewelry before jumping into the pool or sea. If you do swim with it, then you’re very likely to damage the surface and tarnish it beyond repair. 

On the other hand, if you do own waterproof jewelry, then it’s okay to hop in the water with it. Maybe you should consider bringing a combination of the two jewelry types on your trip. Wear your nice non-waterproof stuff to meals or while walking around, and then pop the waterproof on to enjoy the water in style! 

Put your jewelry on last 

This is one of those jewelry care tips that sound so obvious when you say it out loud. Put your jewelry on as the absolute last step in your getting-ready process. This means you should put on your clothes, makeup, sunscreen, and fragrances before adding the jewelry. 

Why? Because it reduces the chances of tarnishing from things like sunscreen, other lotions, and perfumes. If you spray perfume with a necklace on already, then it all attaches to the surface and can ruin the metal. It’s not worth the risk, and this is such an easy way to keep your jewelry in good condition while you travel – especially because you’re using lots of sunscreen every day. 

Clean your jewelry at the end of each day

Despite all of your best efforts, you’re bound to get some stuff on the surface of your jewelry during your daily escapades. Sunscreen is the best example; yes, putting it on before your jewelry will reduce how much gets on your items, but it can never 100% prevent it. You’ll also sweat while you walk around and enjoy yourself, so that gets onto your jewelry pieces, too. 

Getting a bit of sweat or sunscreen on your jewelry won’t be a huge problem if it happens once. But, if it keeps happening day after day (which it will), then all this stuff builds up on the surface and causes tarnishing. Bring a soft jewelry cleaning cloth with you to wipe down and clean your pieces at the end of each day. You could even get some proper jewelry cleaning wipes for extra cleansing and protection. It’s a simple addition to your evening routine, but it prevents you from coming home with a bag full of tarnished jewelry. 

These tips are easy to follow and don’t require massive changes to your lifestyle when traveling. It’s mainly about being more conscious and protecting your jewelry from common travel-related issues. You’ll definitely make your life easier by bringing a lot of waterproof jewelry, but the tips ensure you can also take your favorite pieces and avoid ruining them.