According to the U.S. Travel Association, 64 percent of Americans plan to take a leisure trip this summer, an increase of 61 percent in 2011.
More than one quarter of them could wind up losing a piece of jewelry, according to a survey by Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance, a product of Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company
The survey of 600 married women in the U.S. found that not only do this many travelers lose a jewelry item during their travels, almost two-thirds of people bring or wear valuable jewelry while on vacation.
The most common place people left their jewelry was in the room safe, which Perfect Circle says is the best option next to wearing jewelry and holding onto it at all times. Yet almost one-quarter of people left pieces of jewelry in their luggage, which is not advisable when it comes to protecting a favorite pair of diamond earrings or new pearl bracelet.
“Jewelry is part of who you are, it’s part of your personality. You want to wear it while traveling, not leave it behind,” Mike Maley, vice president of personal lines with Jewelers Mutual, said in a statement. “It’s perfectly fine to bring your jewelry on vacation, just take extra precautions to ensure its safety.”
The company offers advice for keeping jewelry safe while traveling:
· Choose wisely. Pack light and take only the jewelry you’ll wear while traveling and at the destination. Leave expensive special occasion items at home.
· Make a list of all jewelry taken on a trip and make two copies. Take one copy and store it separately from the jewelry. Leave the other copy at home. Also helpful: take pictures or a video of the jewelry.
· Carry it on. Never put jewelry in checked bags. Instead, wear it or stow it in a carry-on bag. With items that are worn, take extra care by slipping a pendant inside a sweater or turning a ring so only the band shows.
· Hold on to it. Put jewelry in a bag that’s carried at all times while traveling. Don’t leave jewelry in an unattended car or suitcase. When checking into your hotel or condo, don’t hand the bag to hotel staff. Carry it personally.
· Use the safe. Always store jewelry in the in-room safe when it’s not being worn.
· Insure it against loss, damage, theft and mysterious disappearance worldwide.
