Choosing the Right Jewelry for Travel, Featuring GLDN

When we pack for a trip, we largely consider the essentials: IDs, cards, and currency. Medication. Clothing. Shoes. Toiletries.

But we often leave one category for last, if we even consider it at all:

Jewelry.

Just because something is small doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought.

The jewelry we choose to pack and wear can make just as much of an impact on our days away as our clothing – yet it takes up significantly less space in our luggage. Jewelry adds that finishing touch and swapping out the pieces can also drastically change the vibe of an outfit. And for many of us who wear a little something shiny every day, it can make us feel secure – like nothing is out of place – even when we are somewhere completely new.

This post is not sponsored, but contains gifted products and affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase - at no additional cost to you. Thank you, GLDN, for providing the jewelry shown here!

Today I want to share some tips on choosing and packing jewelry for travel, a topic that I can’t believe I haven’t written about in over four years of blogging. My friends at GLDN kindly sent over some pieces for today’s post (more on those beautiful pieces at the end – as well as a special discount!), but first I want to share what I’ve learned on the topic after years of regular travel:

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH JEWELRY

Select pieces in one tone (or coordinating tones)

Lately, my jewelry choices skew golden, but I am known to mix metals when it feels right. When it comes to choosing which pieces of jewelry you want to bring on your trip, it’s helpful to stick to one tone (or tones you usually wear together), as it lowers the number of pieces you’ll bring. Having pieces that coordinate well goes a long way – much further than the amount of space they occupy.

Choose versatile pieces

Necklaces can easily be layered, or worn separately (GLDN even sells several necklaces in sets, so you know they are the right length to wear together – I like the Dainty Chain + Lor combo). Or add a removable extender to the end of a chain to change the drop of the necklace without adding an additional piece to your bag. Another great versatile jewelry option is an earring jacket, like the Totte Earrings, which can be worn as-is or swapped around with other earrings you own. And of course, the ultimate way to mix up your jewelry is to change up the order of your ear stack (I even just added a third piercing in one ear to take advantage of this). Typically, the largest earring is worn at the bottom lobe piercing, but there are no rules here, so switch it up and see how it looks!

Opt for quality over quantity

No one wants a green finger, neck, or wrist – so opt for quality metals like sterling silver, gold fill, rose gold fill, or solid gold when choosing jewelry. You’ll feel so much better about your choice over time, and your skin will thank you. Personally, while I own and love several solid gold pieces, most of my jewelry is gold fill, as it is sturdy and keeps its shine without breaking the bank. That being said…

Don’t bring anything you’d miss dearly

While we never dream of our things getting left behind, lost, or stolen when we travel, it happens – which is why you should never travel with anything you’d be too upset over losing. And because it’s so small, jewelry in particular has a way of walking. It’s best to leave any heirloom or sentimental pieces at home, including expensive engagement/wedding rings. Travel is a fun excuse to pick up an inexpensive band with your partner and have it engraved with something dear to your heart.

Pack it safely

I always, always, always pack any jewelry in my jewelry case, which I only ever pack in my personal item (that’s the bag that goes under the seat in front of you) in case my carry-on bag has to be gate-checked. Even though we talked about traveling with items that it wouldn’t hurt too terribly to lose, we don’t want to tempt fate, right? Making sure that the pieces are tangle-free and in a cushy spot protects them while in transit.

Consider your clothing

One easy way to edit the pieces of jewelry you’ll need for a trip is to consider your clothing – are you wearing any statement garments? You likely will only need to pack fewer, smaller pieces of jewelry. When wearing a top with a statement neckline, for example, it’s best to skip the necklace and let your top do the talking. Sometimes it’s best to let your jewelry whisper its presence rather than announcing it loudly.

Just wear it

If you really want to travel light – wear all of the pieces you’ll need over the course of your trip while you drive, fly, or take the train to and from your destination. This approach works best if you aren’t planning to be away from home for long, or if you are only staying at one accommodation. When I choose this method, I like to place everything in a designated location when I arrive. Often I’ll corral everything on the nightstand, each piece inside another to keep them from rolling away.

Take care of it

GLDN has a great jewelry care FAQ section on their website, but here are a few important highlights: avoid contact with sunscreen, remove before bed, clean after each trip, and remove before swimming (note, I occasionally swim in sterling silver and gold fill jewelry and haven’t experienced any adverse effects, but swim at your own risk!).

Now, about those pretty pieces…

collage of three items on their jewelry cards: the poppy necklace, aire ring, and minnie huggie hoops — | Poppy Flower Necklace | Aire Ring (*no longer available*) | Minnie Huggie Hoops (*no longer available*) |

To me, GLDN jewelry strikes the perfect balance of price and quality. I talk about value often here, as I’m always looking for the best quality items at the best price point, and I find their jewelry to be a really great value. I considered many different pieces for today’s post, but carefully selected the following, because of their sentiment and their timelessness:

Poppy Flower Necklace | According to GLDN, “Poppies are known to represent peace, continuity of the soul, rest & recovery and remembrance.” For me, poppies take me back to the south of France, driving with Michael down winding roads on sunny days, getting a little lost, and making frequent stops to gawk at the fields of red blooms. I chose the medium size, as it features an abundance of poppies. The 13mm disk sits on a chain that has an adjustable length of 19″-21″, and comes in sterling silver, gold fill, and solid gold. I couldn’t resist adding a 6mm disk monogrammed with an A to mark the occasion of changing my name; when I wear this necklace, it serves as a reminder of past journeys and new beginnings.

Aire Ring (no longer available) | I love a good minimal stacking ring, and the Aire Ring is the thinnest and lightest one I’ve ever worn. At only 0.8mm, it adds just a hint of shine when worn alone, and can also be stacked with more Aire rings for a bigger impact, or with your other rings to change up the look. I struggle with fluctuating finger sizes in the winter, and it’s so helpful to slide a slim stacking ring over one that’s suddenly a bit loose to keep it in place. The Aire comes in sterling silver, gold fill, rose gold fill, and solid gold – and you can select a smooth, hammered, or twist finish (mine is gold fill with a twist finish).

Minnie Huggie Hoops | The Minnie Huggie Hoops live up to their name – at just 8mm they are indeed mini! While I can wear them comfortably in my first lobe piercing, they make an even more beautiful impact in my second (depending on the height of your piercing, the Lill Huggie Hoops might be a better option). They come in gold fill, sterling silver, and solid gold – and they’re easy to forget you’re wearing, which is kind of perfect for travel.

Looking for more honest style reviews? Check out my index of reviews, sorted by brand

Best of all, each piece comes beautifully packaged for gifting with a handwritten note and a polishing cloth (and even if you’re buying for yourself, it’s really just such a delight to open). While I’m not normally a huge fan of excess packaging, I love reusing GLDN’s boxes for storing odds and ends around my house. It’s hard to beat jewelry and home organization!

Reader Discount

Readers of wayward can take $10 off their first order at GLDN by shopping through my referral link; thank you so much for reading along!

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Enjoyed this post? You may also like:

Do you tend to wear jewelry in just one tone, or do you mix it up?

Have you ever lost a piece of jewelry while traveling?