WHEN it comes to jetting off on holiday, plenty of us would be reluctant to bring valuable items with us, especially when it comes to jewellery.
Whether you’re worried about items becoming damaged or perhaps them being stolen, it can seem like the safer option to leave them behind.
However, according to experts at Pandora, simple household items like straws, towels, and postcards are essential for protecting your precious jewels while travelling.
For those jetting off this summer, Emma Fox, jewellery expert from Pandora UK, has put together the ultimate holiday-proofing jewellery guide to keep your favourite accessories in perfect condition.
Reusable drinking straws are great to have on hand when packing and travelling.
You can keep your necklaces tangle-free by slipping one end of a necklace through the straw and closing the clasp.
You can make a DIY jewellery wrap using a towel. Lay a small hand towel flat, then place each piece of jewellery on the towel with a few centimetres of space between them.
Roll up the towel and secure both ends with hair ties or elastic bands to keep it from unrolling.
To store earrings safely and together whilst travelling, poke them through a piece of card or postcard to keep them secure.
As a general rule, always remove your jewellery before swimming in the sea or a pool. The harsh chemicals in pool water can react with metals, leading to tarnishing or corrosion.
Similarly, the saltwater in the sea can erode gold, silver, or platinum elements, weakening the precious metals and potentially causing your jewellery to break.
If you forget to take off your jewellery, be sure to rinse both your jewellery and your hands with fresh water after swimming in the sea or chlorine.
Avoid wearing jewellery on the beach, especially valuable pieces. Sand can scratch some gemstones, and rings or earrings can easily be lost in the sand or sea, plus saltwater can blemish diamonds.
Regularly cleaning your jewellery on holiday is essential to prevent tarnishing and discolouration, especially due to oils and chemicals in sunscreen that can dull gemstones.
To minimise oxidation, keep your jewellery tucked away when not in use. However, if sweating, chlorine, and saltwater exposure are unavoidable, clean your pieces daily.
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google’s AI app – Gemini – which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list.
“And then I give them a rucksack each – and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid’, and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.”
3. Try a hack or two
She said: “I think they all work, but for different reasons – and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip.
“Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver.
“Packing cubes are great – for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
“These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
“I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived.”
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets – which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you’ll be popping to the shops when you’re abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
“Also pack it in some form of order – so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
“Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it.”
Do this by simply using lukewarm soapy water and a soft bristle toothbrush to gently scrub away any dirt and grime. Alternatively, place your jewellery into a hotel room glass filled with warm soapy water whilst getting ready.
Another simple jewellery travel hack is to use a safety pin for storing rings. Thread each ring onto the needle of the safety pin and secure it.
Safety pins come in various sizes, so you can choose one based on the number of rings you need to pack. To keep your rings safe while travelling, pin the safety pin to the inside of your luggage.
