New research highlights protection gaps as consumers bring and buy jewelry away from home.
Jewelers Mutual® Group, the jewelry insurer backed by more than 100 years of expertise, released new findings from its 2026 Travel Study, revealing how consumers pack, purchase and protect jewelry on the go, and where they fall short.
The study found that travel-related jewelry losses were nearly 2.5 times more likely to occur while jewelry was being worn than while it was packed. Gen Z and younger millennial travelers ages 18-34 experienced two to three times more jewelry loss than older travelers, likely due to wearing pieces more frequently and treating them as accessories rather than valuables.
Forty percent of respondents purchased jewelry while traveling in the last 12 months, with nearly 60% wearing that new piece home, often without documentation or coverage in place.
"Jewelry loss while traveling is more common than most people expect, and it rarely happens the way they think it will,” said Howard Stone, Vice President, Global Asset Protection and Claims at Jewelers Mutual. “The ring left on a poolside table. The necklace worn through a busy airport. These are the moments that matter, and they're entirely preventable with the right habits."
Stone recommends the following travel preparation for jewelry:
- Photograph pieces and documentation before departing
- Pack jewelry in a carry-on, never checked luggage
- Use a travel case or soft pouches to prevent tangling and damage
- Store jewelry in a hotel safe when not wearing it
- Consider specialized jewelry insurance before traveling
“What surprises many people after a loss is not that it happened, it's that they thought they were covered,” said Stone. “Standard homeowners and renters policies often fall short on jewelry, particularly for higher-value or one-of-a-kind pieces. Specialized coverage closes that gap and gives travelers the confidence to bring meaningful pieces rather than leave them behind out of fear.”
Find more insights from Jewelers Mutual’s 2026 Travel Study at jewelersmutual.com/travel-study.
For a guide to travel safety tips and packing hacks for jewelry, visit jewelersmutual.com/travel.
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The Jewelers Mutual study was conducted in February 2026 via an online survey through Qualtrics. A sample of over 1,500 respondents in the U.S. aged 18+ responsible for making insurance decisions in their households were recruited via an online research panel and surveyed via online self-completion.
