Five Tips To Look After Your Jewellery & Watches On Holiday
Holiday season is upon us, and who doesn’t want to be on a sandy beach, dripping in jewels with a piná colada in hand? Sound good? Well, before you overpack your suitcase with the inevitable ‘just in case’ pieces, take a few minutes to read our top tips on how to plan, pack and protect your jewellery and watches on holiday.
No summer outfit is complete without a shimmering necklace, statement earrings, or a show-stopping watch. However, ensuring your jewellery travels safely can be a challenge and you need to protect your jewellery from the sun, sand, and sea to avoid damage and tarnishing.
Courtney, Our Jewellery Buyer, and Bruce, our Head of Watches, are on-hand with their advice and tips to keep your pieces in sparkling condition whilst you’re sunning it up this summer.
1. Plan your looks and pack with care
The excitement of going on holiday can leave many jewellery lovers at a loss as to which precious pieces to take with them. Packing lots of jewellery together can cause damage in transit, so it helps to plan out your looks ahead of time to save any nightmare entanglements.
When selecting jewellery to take on holiday, think about versatile pieces that you will take you from day to night-time elegance. If you know you’re going on a more active, adventurous holiday, it may be best to leave your prized pieces at home, so you don’t risk losing or damaging them.
“The best way to store your gold jewellery is to keep it separate from other pieces and metals, in a jewellery box, or even in the original box it came in. Make sure your gold jewellery is not exposed to humidity, too much moisture, or liquids, as this will help it stay free from tarnish.” – Courtney, Jewellery Buyer.
To make sure your jewellery is kept intact on your journey, it’s best if all pieces are placed carefully in a secure bag, or a travel jewellery box. Besides, who wants to spend their time untangling necklaces when you should be lounging on a sunbed?
Each piece of jewellery or watch from Beaverbrooks comes in its own box. Be sure to keep the box that your jewellery or watch comes in - they’ll be a saviour when it comes packing your holiday jewellery if you don’t have a travel jewellery box. Or, discover watch rolls, they’re perfect for keeping your watch safe on the go.
Tip: Want to refresh your jewellery game ready for your holiday? Get some top tips on what’s hot right now with our Jewellery Trends For 2024. Think beachy anklets and get ready to glow in gold. For more inspiration on one of our favourite staple summer accessories, discover Our Top Five Anklets For Summer & Beyond.
2. Suncream, sprays, sweat & sand
Suncream is essential when you’re going to be sat in blazing sunshine, but it can unfortunately dull your jewellery’s sparkle. The lotion can get stuck into the crevices of chains and prongs, which make the stones and metal appear flat and greasy. It can also remove the plating of any gold plated jewellery, so make sure to lather up well before you put on any jewellery and take it off in between top ups. Our Diamond Dazzle Stik is the perfect travel size jewellery cleaner to keep your diamond ring sparkling. Add it to your beach bag when travelling, it’s ideal for on-the-go jewellery care.
There is nothing worse than being bitten on holiday, and while mosquito and insect repellent is a hero against insect bites, repellent sprays can damage watch straps and jewellery, so remove before application or clean precious pieces thoroughly after applying.
Likewise, the heat on a beach holiday will more than likely make you sweat, which can also make jewellery tarnish. Be sure to remove any pieces when taking part in activities or when sunbathing (who wants funny tan lines anyway?), and get your jewellery back on when you’re off for a beach stroll (cue the perfect Instagram photoshoot) or when you’re off for lunch or a cocktail or two. Keep our Connoisseur Jewellery Beauty Wipes on hand at all times to give your jewellery a quick clean. They work wonders!
@debbielegrainger
Spending a day at the beach is a perfect way to relax, but sand is not your friend when it comes to jewellery. Be very careful with certain gems when coming into contact with sand grains, as they are abrasive and can cause damage. Take extra care when it comes to anklets, as sand can scratch their precious metal. Our jewellery cleaning products will help to prevent and keep your jewellery in tip top condition.
"The chemicals and minerals in salt water, pool water and suncreams can cause damage to your jewellery. So, make sure to give your pieces a gentle clean with soapy water after any contact with these liquids." - Courtney, Jewellery Buyer.
Tip: Our How To Clean Silver Jewellery At Home and How To Clean Gold Jewellery At Home guides include the best tips and advice to safely cleaning both your plated and precious metal pieces. Keep your jewellery looking sparkling and fresh with these simple steps.
@debbielegrainger
3. Water sports
Cooling off in the sea or taking a quick dip in the pool is refreshing, but chlorine and sea water can damage and discolour jewellery – especially sterling silver pieces – so remember to remove before you dive in the water. If jewellery does come into contact with salt water or chlorine, just rinse it off with clean water. Or, you can discover our range of cleaning products to help keep your jewellery sparkling on holiday and beyond.
When it comes to watches, be cautious when entering water, as not all watches are waterproof. However, many watch brands craft timepieces that can withstand deep water and water pressure, whether you’re diving, snorkelling, sailing, or swimming.
This TAG Heuer Aquaracer 27mm Gold Plated and Stainless Steel Ladies Watch is crafted in robust stainless steel with gold plating, and boasts a water resistance of 300m. With a clean, legible dial, screw-down crown, and Super-LumiNova™ detailing on the dial, it’s ideal if you like to spend your time beneath the waves whilst on holiday.
An iconic diving partner, this TUDOR Black Bay GMT 41mm Automatic Men's Watch features a GMT function, bidirectional rotating bezel to track time whilst diving, and water resistance of 200m. Constructed in stainless steel with an easy-to-read dial and emblematic ‘Snowflake Hands’, it’s also COSC-certified, meaning you’ll have exceptional precision when partaking in your favourite water sports.
Tip: Discover our Watch Care Guide for more information when using and looking after your watch.
4. Protect your prized pieces
No-one wants any holiday disasters, so make sure to store your jewellery in a safe place to avoid ruining your holiday. Most hotel rooms have safes and safe places to keep your jewellery from harm when travelling. This is a great place to store your expensive and most precious items when on holiday.
However, accidents can still happen, so it can be a good idea to invest in insurance, such as Beaverbrooks’ jewellery and watch insurance policy from as little as £8 per month. Pop into your local Beaverbrooks store to ask for further details on watch and jewellery insurance and one of our friendly experts will be happy to help. Or, visit our Help Hub for more information.
If you don’t want to leave your engagement or wedding ring in a safe on holiday, why not keep those special pieces at home and take a temporary cubic zirconia ring to wear on holiday? With a beautiful sparkle that looks lovely in the sun, you don’t have to worry about damage or losing your most sentimental pieces.
Tip: Find a style that’s similar to your engagement ring. If you have a solitaire engagement ring, this Silver Cubic Zirconia Solitaire Ring is the perfect choice. For those who have an emerald cut halo engagement ring, this Silver Cubic Zirconia Halo Ring is our favourite. We have so many different shapes and cuts to choose from!
5. Travelling time zones
Changing the time on your watch when you land in your holiday destination always adds to the excitement, but if you have a clever GMT watch then you won’t need to worry with your dual time zone display.
A GMT watch can track two time zones at once, so is a great choice to take on holiday, especially if you’re an avid traveller. Usually found on the bezel, the GMT function has a 24 hour format and extra hand that indicates the second time zone.
This TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 43mm Automatic Men's Watch has a GMT function on the bezel, and equipped with a water resistance of 300m, you’re covered for swimming and water sports, too.
This Longines HydroConquest GMT 43mm Automatic Men's Watch boasts a GMT function and water resistance of 300m. When it comes to holidaying, it’s the ultimate tool watch and handy wrist partner all in one.
If you do have to change the time when travelling to a different time zone, be sure you push the crown back in on your watch to avoid damaging the mechanism. Your watch also won’t be waterproof or covered by insurance if the crown isn’t positioned correctly, so double check before taking a dip!
Tip: For more advice on functions and features of a watch and what to look for when choosing one, visit our Watch Buying Guide.
Feeling inspired to update your holiday jewellery looks? Our Jewellery Trends For 2024 are perfect for all your summer looks - and beyond!
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