If you’re planning on getting engaged abroad, there are a few things to consider to ensure it all goes to plan.
Experts from luxury jewellery brand GLAMIRA have prepared tips on travelling with engagement rings, including protecting the valuable and sentimental jewellery, as well as avoiding ruining the surprise!
If you’re planning to propose on holiday and you don’t want your partner to know about the ring, there are a few crafty places to hide it where they will be unlikely to see. You could put the engagement ring box in a pair of socks. Or, if the ring comes in a soft jewellery bag, you could put this in your sunglasses case.
If you are flying to your destination, keep the engagement ring in your carry-on. Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for people to become separated from their checked luggage, so it’s safer to keep these important items with you on the plane.
When hiding an engagement ring in your carry-on luggage, try to choose a different security queue from your partner at the airport in case you are asked to unpack your bag. You can also attach a note that says ‘engagement ring, please be discreet’ to the outside of the ring box. Remember to include a translation in the languages of the country you’re visiting. If you’re travelling through Luton Airport, you could even use their secret code by ‘asking for Harry’ to indicate to security staff that you have an engagement ring in your luggage.
If you are travelling internationally, bear in mind that you may have to declare the valuable jewellery at customs – this is something to consider if you’re trying to maintain the surprise! Be aware of the rules in the country you’re going to, and bring copies of receipts that show the items’ value if you can.
Once you’re on your holiday, and the all-important question has been asked, there are a few things to note when looking after the engagement ring your partner is now (hopefully) wearing. If you are in a hot country, it’s important to remember that too much UV light or heat can cause discolouration to your jewellery, so it’s a good idea to take the ring off when sunbathing. In addition, when applying suncream, the ring should be removed to avoid product buildup dulling the jewellery. When visiting the beach or the pool, engagement rings should also be left behind, to avoid damage from the seawater or chlorinated pools, and reduce the risk of losing the ring before it even makes it back home!
And remember, there is the option to use a placeholder ring with a lower monetary value for an engagement abroad, saving the real engagement ring for when you return home. This will ensure that valuable jewellery is kept safe and protected at home.
Nina Laurent, Jewellery Expert at GLAMIRA, comments:
“If you’re travelling with an engagement ring this summer, there are a few things you can do to keep it safe and tidy inside your luggage – here are some of my top tips. Something everyone should be aware of, if you are travelling with special, expensive pieces of jewellery, is insurance. Look into adding these pieces onto your travel insurance, so that if anything should happen to them on your trip, you’ll be reimbursed.”