Prepare Your Jewelry for Travel
How to Protect Chains and Gems Before Packing in a Carry-On Bag
The first article in this series discussed various types of carry-on bags that can be used for transporting your jewelry in a commercial airliner. This second article will discuss the best methods to use to pack and cushion your jewelry prior to placing the jewelry in the carry-on bag.
Soft gemstones, chains and dangling earrings can be difficult to pack and transport. To follow are a few sure fire methods to make sure that your jewelry arrives at its destination in one piece:
The original jeweler's box - mentioned first, but not usually a viable option unless you are only transporting one or two pieces of jewelry. The jeweler's box is usually much larger than the piece of jewelry itself and will take up more room than necessary. With the two-bag carry-on rule, space is at a premium. Also, many people do not bother to keep the original jeweler's box.
Chain necklaces with or without a pendant – the best way to keep your chains from tangling or kinking while packed is to place them on rectangular pieces of clean cardboard. For a chain hung with a pendant, cut a piece of cardboard or very heavy artist paper into a rectangular shape that is at least four inches wide and 2½ times the length of the pendant. .At the top of the piece of cardboard, cut two slits vertically set in on each side by about one inch. Insert the chain into the slits on either side as shown in the image on this page.
Place each piece of cardboard into its own plastic bag and tape the bag shut. Leave little wiggle room around the piece of cardboard to keep the chain from jostling around during flight.
To transport chains with no pendant, cut a piece of cardboard two inches wide and two inches shorter than the chain. Following the same logic as above, cut two slits on either end of the cardboard. Insert the chain into both slits on either end of the cardboard to secure the chain, flat and in place.
This method is also a fantastic way to transport earrings. Cut a piece of cardboard, punch two holes near the top and insert your ear wires into the cardboard.
Tissue Paper – If chunky necklaces or bracelets need to be transported, have them arrive in excellent form by wrapping them in tissue paper and securing the tissue paper with ribbon prior to boarding the plane.
This is a procedure that is best done at the gate after the traveler has gone through the security checkpoint.Depart for the airport with sufficient, folded sheets of tissue paper and pre-cut lengths of ribbon in your carry-on bag. Lay the jewelry flat or looped in your bag, then after you have arrived at your gate carefully cushion each piece of jewelry in its own tissue paper cocoon. Untie the ribbon and carefully unfold the tissue paper for use again on the way back.
