Traveling with Jewelry with Gemologue's Liza Urla
An outfit isn’t complete without jewelry and neither is a suitcase, but arriving at your destination with inseparable, twisted jewels is more frustrating than fabulous. Enter Liza Urla. Founder of GEMOLOGUE - a multicultural jewelry blog that showcases gorgeous styles and collections - Liza travels the world visiting jewelers, writing reviews and sharing beautiful, stunning pieces on GEMOLOGUE. With a gemology degree and one of the top jewelry blogs, she is truly an expert on jet setting with jewels. So who better than Liza to help us out with tips for keeping gems untangled and in place while on the road?
What’s your golden rule for traveling with jewelry?
Just like with clothes, do not overpack jewelry. Think of a few signature pieces that go well with your selection of outfits. My favorite universal piece of jewelry, which I have recently reviewed for GEMOLOGUE is Rosantica Pearl necklace. You could wear this piece as a necklace, a bracelet or even as a belt, both to a business meeting and the beach.
Do all gems travel well?
When going to humid countries, be careful with jewelry that isn’t made of precious metals. Pieces that are gold plated, silver and made of alternative materials such as plastic like Marni costume pieces, are a good choice and safe to travel with.
Tell us your take on jewelry boxes.
During my last trip to Ibiza I traveled with my favorite turquoise collection of jewelry in leather travel boxes by Smythson. The boxes should be not be bulky and they should take up little space in your luggage whilst providing compact solutions for jewelry packing. I always separate fine jewelry from costume jewelry and tend to carry two small boxes. For chunkier pieces I use a travel watch roll, which are perfect for my favorite chunky stingray and wooden bracelets.
Best way to stop rings from rolling away?
In order not to lose precious rings on the move, I prefer to wear them as a necklace on a long chain instead of packing them in my handbag. I feel they are much safer this way.
Need more packing ideas? These are some of Travelle’s favorite ways to neatly and safely store precious pieces:
New Cause For Straws
Pick up some straws and put them to good use. Slide a necklace into the straw so that the ends of the chain are out on both sides and fasten the clasp. This works incredibly well for packing thin necklaces individually. It keeps them separate and straight, preventing them from tangling with themselves and other necklaces.
Pouch Your Pieces
If you’re going on a short trip, big jewelry boxes can easily be replaced by equally protective pouches. Dedicate one pouch to each type of jewelry you’re bringing along (or store pieces separately) and they’ll easily fit into any small space. Statement necklaces can be laid flat in individual bags and stacked to keep them organized without getting caught in each other. Everything will be in one place and stay that way until you’re ready to unpack.
Repurpose A Pill Box
If you have a spare pill box, swap your vitamins for rings and earrings. The narrow shape makes it perfect to slide into the side of your luggage and the individual, snap close boxes are just the right size for keeping small jewelry pieces secure. It can flip over, get tossed around or shaken up, but nothing will stop your gems from arriving orderly and unharmed.
