You’ve booked the flight, packed your favorite outfits, and picked the perfect accessories — but should your best jewelry make the trip? A new study from Jewelers Mutual reveals that more travelers are saying “maybe not.” With lost earrings, stolen necklaces and misplaced rings all too common, nearly 80% of travelers now turn to “travel jewelry” as a stylish, safer solution.
Nearly 80% of travelers who wear jewelry on trips now opt for “travel jewelry” — pieces chosen specifically to reduce the chance of losing valuable or sentimental items. This trend is especially popular among younger adults and women, signaling a shift in how travelers balance style with security.
This doesn’t mean people are leaving all valuables at home. Engagement and wedding rings remain among the most frequently worn items while traveling. In fact, 52% of travelers wear their engagement ring on trips, and about 50% wear their wedding band.
Of respondents who claim to have lost jewelry, 38% lost the item near a body of water, such as a beach, pool, ocean or lake. The Jewelers Mutual study reveals that earrings are the most frequently lost and stolen items, while beaches and hotel rooms top the list of places where jewelry goes missing.
Thefts most often occur in hotel rooms and restaurants. Necklaces are the most commonly left behind jewelry item, often forgotten in lockboxes or safes.
Alarmingly, nearly half of respondents who lost jewelry while traveling experienced such losses multiple times. This underscores the importance of secure storage and travel habits.
Tips for TSA and Travel Security
Traveling through airport security with jewelry doesn’t have to be complicated. Most small items, such as rings or delicate necklaces, won’t set off metal detectors, so wearing them is usually fine. However, larger metal pieces might trigger extra screening. If needed, travelers can ask TSA officers for a private screening to ensure discretion and security.
To minimize risk and to keep jewelry organized, travelers should consider the following:
Keep jewelry in your carry-on bag — never in checked luggage.
Avoid placing jewelry directly in TSA bins, where it’s easy to forget or misplace items.
Use a zippered pouch or structured travel case to prevent damage and tangling.
Store earrings in pill cases and lay necklaces flat to avoid knots.
While traveling with jewelry is common, experts agree it’s safest to leave high-value items at home. When doing so, use a secure storage method like a safe or lockbox. According to Jewelers Mutual, insured consumers are more likely to adopt these secure practices.
The study also found that travelers with dedicated jewelry insurance are more likely to take protective measures. Unfortunately, many rely on homeowners’ policies, which often offer insufficient coverage for travel scenarios. Specialized jewelry insurance can offer broader protection, including international coverage and accidental loss.
The Jewelers Mutual study was conducted in February 2025 via an online survey through Qualtrics and represents the experiences of 1,500 adults in the US aged 20+ who were responsible for making insurance decisions in their household and owned at least one piece of fine jewelry.
Credit: Image via BigStockPhoto.com