Jewellery in Hand Luggage or Checked Luggage: The Rules and Packing Methods

Jewellery in your carry-on or in your suitcase: the rule and the packing method. In short: Jewellery belongs in your carry-on, never in your checked suitcase. Airlines provide practically no liability for loss or theft from checked baggage; the Montreal Convention caps liability at around €1,600 and usually excludes valuables entirely in their conditions of carriage. You are allowed to take an unlimited amount of jewellery through security.

Status: September 2026. By Phil Oberlaender, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

This sentence is in almost every condition of carriage, yet no one reads it. For Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Eurowings, the same applies: jewellery, cash, electronics, and documents are excluded from the scope of liability for checked baggage. If your suitcase disappears, you receive a flat rate per kilo, not the value of your necklace.

What happens at the security checkpoint

Small jewellery can stay on your body. Stud earrings, a narrow ring, or a delicate necklace usually do not trigger the body scanner, as it reacts to terahertz waves and not to metal like a classic metal detector. You should still place larger items in the tray beforehand; this saves you a secondary screening.

The packing method to prevent knots

Necklaces get knotted in luggage because they entangle themselves due to vibration. Two solutions work reliably. First: thread the chain through a drinking straw and fasten the clasp on the outside. Second: place the necklace diagonally on a piece of plastic wrap, fold the wrap over it, and slide it flat into an intermediate layer in your toiletry bag.

It is best to put rings on a button or in an empty pill box. Thread stud earrings through a button card or a piece of cardboard. It sounds cumbersome, but it takes two minutes and saves you the trouble of detangling them at your destination.

What you should take with you at all

The most honest answer regarding travel jewellery is to take fewer and cheaper items. The most common places for loss are the hotel safe, which one forgets when checking out, and the beach. Neither hits you as hard if the piece cost €25 instead of €800.

Then there is the material. Gold-plated fashion jewellery made of brass noticeably loses its colour in salt water within a week. Sunscreen and insect repellent with DEET attack coatings. Stainless steel withstands both. You can leave a stainless steel link chain on while snorkelling; it does not tarnish and the clasp will not rust. Corelune designs its catalogue precisely for this, because everyday suitability is what matters most on holiday. You can find suitable pieces under Summer Finds, and small gifts under Gifts under €30.

Read more: Jewellery and customs when entering the country and Summer care against cream and fragrance residue.

Insurance and what happens in the event of a claim

Home contents insurance also covers jewellery while travelling, but with two restrictions. Firstly, travel cover usually applies for three months; after that, the protection no longer applies. Secondly, the compensation limit for valuables outside of a safe is 20 to 30 percent of the insured sum; in the case of simple theft from a hotel room without signs of a break-in, often no one pays.

You must report damage to checked baggage to the airline within seven days, and loss within 21 days. The PIR report at the airport is the foundation for everything else. Without it, things become difficult. And as mentioned: valuables are usually excluded in most conditions of carriage anyway, so the effort often ends without a result.

A photo of every piece before your trip helps more than any policy. It proves ownership, condition, and appearance, and you have it in the cloud if your phone is also gone.

When does wearing jewellery cause damage?

Those who know when to briefly remove jewellery extend its lifespan by years. Friction from collars, scarves, and sleeves is the least noticeable but most common cause of visible wear and tear. The rest of the day, including showers and rain, is not an issue with stainless steel.

What goes with jewellery?

For jewellery, the rule is: repetition looks intentional, coincidence looks accidental. Gold to gold and silver to silver is the safe foundation; mixing is done via a piece that contains both tones. This logic can be applied to every jewellery category.

You can find this implemented specifically here: Heart stainless steel necklace from €34.95.

Material, dimensions, and prices at a glance

Showers, swimming, and sports do not affect stainless steel; it does not tarnish. The values from the Corelune range for your reference.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take an unlimited amount of jewellery in my carry-on?

Yes, there are no quantity restrictions imposed by aviation security. In terms of customs law, however, there is a tax-free allowance of €430 for air travel when entering from a non-EU country. Anyone carrying expensive jewellery should have a purchase receipt with them to shorten discussions upon return.

Do I have to take off my wedding ring?

No. Rings practically never trigger the body scanner. If a secondary check is required, a quick scan with a hand-held scanner over the hand is usually sufficient. You do not have to take anything off unless the staff explicitly asks you to.

What do I do if there is no safe in the hotel?

Store jewellery in an inconspicuous place in your suitcase and lock it. The bedside table, toiletry bag, and under the pillow are the first places where thieves look. However, it is most sensible not to take anything with you whose loss would be painful.

How do I recognise a reputable jewellery shop?

By full disclosure of material, dimensions, and shipping origin, by a clearly stated return period, and by an accessible legal notice (Impressum). If material information is missing or health-related promises are made, you should be cautious.

View waterproof summer jewellery

About the author

Phil Oberlaender runs Corelune Jewellery in Düsseldorf and has worked daily with stainless steel jewellery since 2024: quality inspections, complaints, everyday wear tests. The information in this article comes from our own product range and from customer feedback. Where Corelune does not offer something, it states so here.

Which categories match this topic?

From the range, the following match:

• simple stud earrings
• necklaces for women

Two pieces bring a 20% discount, five up to 35%. Shipping is free on orders over 59 euros. A combination of two pieces covers more occasions than a single piece.

View stud earrings at Corelune

Corelune offers: Free shipping from €59, 14-day returns, shipping from the Netherlands.

→ View Sea and Beach Jewellery at Corelune