Travelling With Fine Jewellery: What to Know
TL;DR: Travel with fine jewellery in hand luggage, never checked baggage, kept in a padded case that prevents pieces knocking together. Remove rings before airport security metal detectors slow you down, and consider travel insurance limits alongside your regular jewellery cover.
Hand Luggage, Always
Checked baggage is handled roughly and occasionally goes missing — fine jewellery should always travel in hand luggage, ideally on your person rather than in an overhead locker where possible.
Preventing Damage in Transit
Pieces knocking against each other in a bag is a genuine risk to prongs and softer stones — a small padded jewellery case with individual compartments, or simply wrapping each piece separately in soft cloth, prevents this.
Airport Security
Rings, particularly ones with larger metal content, can trigger metal detectors. Removing rings before security (and having a secure pocket or pouch to hold them during the process) avoids delay and the risk of setting something down and forgetting it.
Insurance While Travelling
Check whether your jewellery insurance covers worldwide travel, and whether your travel insurance has a separate, lower single-item limit for valuables — the two policies don't always align, and it's worth confirming before you leave rather than discovering a gap after something goes wrong. See our full insurance guide for what to check before you travel.
A Simple Rule
If you wouldn't be comfortable losing a piece entirely, consider whether it needs to travel at all — for some trips, leaving a significant piece safely at home is the simplest risk management available.
More on Aftercare at À Vie Diamonds
See our aftercare and warranty page for broader care guidance, or get in touch with specific questions.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Should jewellery go in checked luggage? No — always hand luggage, ideally kept on your person, given the risk of mishandling or loss with checked bags.
Does travel insurance cover jewellery the same as home insurance? Not always — travel insurance often has a separate, lower single-item limit. Check both policies before travelling.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · À Vie Diamonds