Traveling With Jewelry: What to Bring & How to Pack It | GLDN

Written by GLDN Team — May 30, 2025

Traveling can be…stressful. TSA lines, erratic flight changes, jet lag, the list goes on and on. But you know what shouldn’t be stressful? Your actual getaway. So, while there are things outside of our control (*cough* airlines losing your luggage *cough*), we have a few tips on how to look good, feel good and have an easy-breezy trip with our favorite accessory: jewelry.

Our approach to traveling with jewelry is threefold: keep it simple with your choices, pack them safely and learn how to care for your jewelry on the go. Simple as that. The result? Pieces that fit your travel schedule, go with all the clothes you packed, and make it home in one tangle-free piece.

Which Jewelry to Bring on Vacation

Tip #1: Choose a Single Focal Piece

Think of this as the one piece you’ll wear your entire vacation, then build the rest of your look around this. Consider where you’re going, which clothes you’re packing and the weather at hand, and use this to guide your choice. Here’s why we love choosing one focal piece: it simplifies your packing and decision-making during your trip, and makes it way easier to build a look from there. This way, you aren’t starting each day on your getaway trying to throw together a jewelry look—you already have the base (which is the most difficult part!) that you already know will match a full week of outfits.

We even asked our team which focal piece they’d bring on vacation, to get your wheels turning!

Marissa’s Pick: Mini Wildflower Hoops. They’re just the right amount of bold, with an adorable layer of floral personalization.
Rikki’s Pick: Radiant Charm Huggie Hoops. They’re sparkly, sun-catching, comfy to sleep in and feel extra secure.
Emma N.’s Pick: Solid Gold Slim Signet Ring. Since it’s solid gold, it can be worn 24/7—hike, swim, shower in it all you want.
Emma F.’s Pick: Trinity Pearl Bracelet. It goes with everything and feels so pretty and summery.
Kenna’s Pick: Custom Charm Necklace. It’s playful yet wearable with so many looks—from casual to dressy.
Jessica’s Pick: Infinity Chain Anklet. It’s such a fun way to spruce up summery outfits.
Jordan’s Pick: Baroque Pearl Necklace. For living your best mermaid life.

Tip #2: Bring a Jewelry Set

For the ones who want a few more options, we’ve got you. Our jewelry sets are curated to mix, match and make several looks out of a couple of easy-to-pack pieces. This way, you can switch up your look from moment to moment—whether you’re lounging seaside or heading to dinner.

Our favorite jewelry sets:

Everbloom Earring Set: a summery ear stack of subtle gemstones; includes two pairs of hoops and a few single studs to create unique earscapes.
Reverie Ring Set: a trio of gemstone rings that catch the light just right. Instantly dresses up any look.
Essential Pearl Set: a more elevated set to pack for ~ fancier ~ occasions. Pair with a little black dress for evenings out.

How to Pack Jewelry for Travel

Tip #1: Invest in a Jewelry Case

If you’re a frequent flyer, an avid day-tripper or someone who simply loves to have options while out and about, a jewelry case is the #1 thing to add to your collection. Otherwise you’re looking at a lot of jewelry tangles, risking losing your pieces and even—gasp!—introducing tarnish and scratches to your beloved pieces.

We’re obviously going to plug our thoughtfully designed vegan leather jewelry cases with anti-tarnish lining (starting at only $32!) because we think they’re the best out there. Our founder, Chrissy, personally spent over a year designing each one with constant feedback from our community to truly fit the needs of jewelry enthusiasts…and all those five-star reviews back us up. 😉

Which jewelry case is the one for you?

Signature Jewelry Case: choose this larger case if you have an extensive jewelry collection, want more options while traveling or check your luggage.
Sidekick Jewelry Case: choose this smaller case if you’re a lighter traveler, prefer carry-ons and only want to pack a few pieces for your getaways.

Tip #2: Store Your Jewelry Safely

Now that you (theoretically) have your jewelry case, there’s an art to packing it. No matter how you travel—by plane, by car, by train—your pieces are going to get jostled around in your bag. But that doesn’t mean they have to get tangled!

Here’s how to store your jewelry in your case:

Use chain hooks to secure necklaces and bracelets; this’ll prevent tangles.
Store rings and hoops on the removable rod (in our smaller case) or in secure slots (in the larger case).
Secure smaller earrings and studs in your removable earring cards.
Use your on-the-go polishing cloth to touch up your piece as needed.

How to Care for Your Jewelry on Vacation

Tip #1: Take Care in Water

Water and jewelry have a complicated relationship. In some cases, it’s fine (think clean, fresh water) and in other cases, it’s bad (think heavily chlorinated water). We know that swimming, surfing and seaside lounging are some of the best parts of summer vacations, so getting water on your jewelry is unavoidable. Use this cheat sheet to determine when you can keep your jewelry on…and when it’s worth the extra few seconds to remove it.

Chlorine = Bad 🔴
No matter which metal you wear—solid gold, sterling silver, vermeil or gold fill—chlorine is a no-go. It’s full of chemicals that can tarnish your jewelry (at worst) or add an unsightly film to your jewelry (at best).

If you do encounter chlorine in your jewelry, don’t sweat it. Just rinse it ASAP with clean water and gentle soap, then pat dry with a soft towel.

Saltwater = Okay 🟡
The worst thing about saltwater is its proximity to sand. Sand can introduce scratches and micro-abrasions to your jewelry, which can introduce tarnish way faster than it otherwise would. If you prefer to play it safe, remove your jewelry before you hit the beach.

Clean Freshwater = Good 🟢
This means clean shower water and gentle soap. As long as you pat your jewelry dry post-shower, it’s a passive way to clean your jewelry! Just be sure to keep up with regular jewelry polishings using your polishing cloth (we recommend no more than once per month) and you’re GLDN.

Tip #3: Sunscreen First, Jewelry Second

That goes for perfume and lotion, too. Always, always, always apply sunscreen and any other fragranced products before putting your jewelry on. Let it dry for at least five minutes, too, just to be on the safe side. Beauty products contain chemicals that can quickly tarnish your jewelry, add unsightly films or introduce discoloration—not something you want on vacation (or ever).

Want more jewelry tips to keep your jewelry looking its best? See our full Summer Jewelry Care Instructions with a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts!