6 travel jewelry cases even pro jewelers love

A travel jewelry case may seem like a minor accessory, but keeping necklaces tangle-free and watches unscratched can go a long way to reducing stress while traveling.  

“Using a dedicated travel case for your jewelry is an easy, yet essential step in ensuring that each piece arrives at your destination safely and in pristine condition, minimizing costly damage,” says Jodi Reynolds, owner of The Karat Concierge, a fine jewelry retailer based in Austin, Texas.  

The best travel jewelry case not only protects your favorite pieces but also has excellent and efficient organization. It should have enough capacity to store just the pieces you need to travel with, without taking up too much room in a carry-on or tote. 

We’ve traveled with plenty of jewelry cases and spoke with 30 jewelry and travel experts for their advice on what to look for. Based on our research, we’ve determined that the Calpak Jewelry Case is the best overall. It has plenty of compartments, a soft faux suede liner, and a protective case to keep your baubles from getting crushed. 

We’ve got other options too. Here are all our favorite travel jewelry cases, from the most affordable to the best roll-up organizer. 

The best travel jewelry cases 

Storing jewelry in a travel case is always a good idea, especially for frequent travelers.  

“Packing your jewelry in a travel case can provide essential protection and organization,” says Drake White, owner of London Gold in Scottsdale, Arizona. “The right travel case keeps pieces safe from damage, tangling, or loss by securing each item in individual compartments. Using a dedicated travel case also makes it easier to access jewelry on the go without rummaging through bags, which helps maintain their longevity and keeps them looking their best.”  

Additionally, the best travel jewelry cases should have sturdy construction and soft linings, such as velvet. We pored through hundreds of travel jewelry cases to choose our favorites. Here are the pros and cons of each. 

Why we like it: The Calpak Jewelry Case has a hard exterior with a suede-like interior, a zip closure, and lots of compartments and snaps to corral all your jewelry—an important detail for a good jewelry case. 

“Rings will have their place, stud earrings will have theirs, and watches will have a padded comfortable setting that also doesn’t crunch the band, says Matt Harris, a Gemological Institute of America alumnus and chief curator at Curated Fine Jewelry. “When you’re ready to wear your jewelry, the convenience of grabbing one small box rather than searching through your bag saves time and worry.”  

We also like that it weighs just under a pound and comes in two neutral colors, which is ideal, says Reynolds.  

“A jewelry case with minimal external markings, ideally sized between a wallet and an iPad case, offers the greatest discretion,” she says. Once you get to your destination, Reynolds recommends keeping your jewelry in the case. 

“This approach enables you to quickly place the case in a hotel safe—along with other valuables such as cash, wallets, and important documents—before leaving your room,” she says.  

Keep in mind: A hard case will help protect jewelry from being crushed, but it can add bulk to luggage. 

Product details: Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 2.8 in. | Weight: 0.9 lbs. | Materials: Faux leather and suede 

Why we like it: At 8.5 inches long, this slim wallet-style case is a favorite with our experts. “This is the jewelry case I travel with to keep my fine jewelry protected,” says Reynolds. “I love that there are enough—but also not too many—designated spots for each jewelry type. The design of [the] hooks for necklaces with a soft pocket ensures that they will not get tangled upon arrival.”  

Kaeleigh Testwuide, owner and founder of The Diamond Reserve, likes the larger version for its customizable options and features, such as a ring roll and bracelet pouches.   

Extra light travelers would also do well with the Levenger Carrie Mini Jewelry Organizer, which weighs just a quarter of a pound and holds even fewer items.  

Keep in mind: These smaller jewelry cases are best suited to people who travel with just a few key pieces. Cramming too much into a case can cause damage or tangles. This case is lined with linen, instead of the faux suede or velvet our experts recommend. Harris suggests storing soft gemstones, such as pearls and opals, separately to prevent scratches. 

Product details: Dimensions: 8.5 x 4.5 x 0.5 in. | Weight: Unavailable | Materials: Faux leather, linen 

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Why we like it: Compact and sleek, this handsome leather jewelry case has a couple of interior zippered compartments, snap hooks for chunkier pieces, and a snap bar to keep rings organized. It’s full-grain leather on the outside and microsuede on the inside for extra protection. We love that this one opens flat, like a book, so you can see all your jewelry at once.  

Keep in mind: Because this case is made of leather, it’s more expensive than others on our list.  

Product details: Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.8 in. | Weight: Unavailable | Materials: Leather and microsuede    

Why we like it: This tidy organizer comes in 27 colorways and materials that you can monogram in foil deboss or print. The hard case is made of vegan leather, with plenty of linen-lined cubbies and snug rolls inside for rings, earrings, and small bracelets.  

We also appreciate the mirror that pulls open to reveal an elasticized pocket and three hooks. 

Keep in mind: The linen lining isn’t as soft as velvet or faux suede, so we wouldn’t store soft gemstones in this case. Due to its compact size, this jewelry case isn’t ideal for longer necklaces.  

Product details: Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.3 in. | Weight: Unavailable | Materials: Vegan leather, linen  

Best men’s travel jewelry case: Mejuri Watch Case  

Why we like it: With a single watch roll and two compartments for rings or cufflinks, this is an elegant, compact travel jewelry case. It’s made of leather with a microsuede lining designed to help prevent tarnishing. You can also get it monogrammed with up to three letters.  

Keep in mind: This case is best suited for one watch. If you need more capacity, the Blake Watch Roll with Capsule from Wolf may work better. It’s pricey but holds three watches, plus the roll hides a genius secret compartment for cuff links, rings, and even small chain bracelets or necklaces. 

Product details: Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 2.5 in. | Weight: Unavailable | Materials: Leather and microsuede 

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Why we like it: This travel jewelry case is popular with both shoppers and our experts. It costs about $20 but holds plenty of jewelry, with four panels that fold into a zipped pouch. There are numerous loops and ring rods to keep everything organized, but we love the clear pouches, in particular. It’s especially lightweight and also comes in a smaller (medium) size. 

Keep in mind: This is a soft-sided case that can’t protect your jewelry from being crushed or bent. Although it’s made of polyester and plastic, it’s not waterproof and won’t prevent your jewelry from becoming tarnished from spilled liquids. 

Product details: Dimensions: 6.1 x 9.8 x 1.9 in. | Weight: 0.6 lbs. | Materials: Polyester, plastic   

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Why we like it: Compact and affordable, this travel jewelry case opens like a book so you can see everything, then folds up neatly into a slim, wallet-size pack. There’s more than enough pouches, snaps, and pockets to organize your jewelry, plus this case is one of the lightest on this list, at just a quarter of a pound. 

Reynolds recommends the Bagsmart Travel Jewelry Case Organizer too. It’s a bit bigger, so it holds more, but also features the folding wallet style.  

Keep in mind: This soft-sided jewelry case can’t protect your jewelry from being crushed. The polyester material isn’t waterproof, so it won’t prevent spills from seeping in and damaging your jewelry. 

Product details: Dimensions: 5.5 x 6.1 x 1.0 in. | Weight: 0.3 lbs. | Materials: Polyester, plastic 

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How we chose the best travel jewelry cases 

We talked to many experts about the best travel jewelry cases for your next trip and relied on our own experience as frequent travelers. We also looked at the following characteristics in compiling our list: 

• Materials: Materials are important for protecting your jewelry. We looked for travel cases with soft linings to help keep jewelry from getting scratched or dented. 

• Size: The best travel jewelry cases should be compact enough to fit into carry-ons and luggage.  

• Weight: We looked for jewelry cases made with good quality construction that doesn’t add to the case’s weight. 

• Expert opinions: We consulted nearly 30 jewelry experts and pro travelers for their advice on what they look for in a travel jewelry case. 

• Third-party reviews: We took third-party reviews into consideration too, paying particular attention to real-world pros and cons. 

• Our own experiences: I travel professionally and have tried many of the products on this list.  

Tips for buying jewelry cases for travel 

There are a surprising number of travel jewelry cases out there (Amazon has more than 2,000). Shopping for the best jewelry case for your needs can feel daunting, so we asked our experts for a few tips. 

“When choosing a travel case, materials matter—padded linings and sturdy exteriors offer the best protection,” says Jamie Batiste, jewelry maker and founder of Rejected Hearts Club, in Austin, Texas.  “Look for organizational features like ring rolls, earring slots, and necklace hooks to keep everything secure and separated. Compact, lightweight cases that fit in a carry-on are ideal for hassle-free access.” 

Choose something discreet 

Talla Kuperman, the Austin, Texas-based founder of custom jewelry design site Love Talla, recommends choosing an inconspicuous case. “You don’t want someone’s attention to be attracted to a jewelry case,” she says. “Most people are good people, but then there’s some people who would be tempted by an easy-to-grab jewelry case full of your precious pieces.” 

Get the right size 

All of our experts say a jewelry case should fit your travel needs. You don’t want something too big or too small. Consider the size of your jewelry. Chunkier pieces naturally mean you’ll need a larger case. 

Consider jewelry materials 

Kuperman notes that many people often forget to think about what their jewelry is made of, when shopping for a case. Gold-plated sterling silver should be stored in an airtight plastic bag without other metals to prevent oxidization and tarnishing. Harris adds that soft gems, such as opals and pearls, need special care too. “Keep these precious gems in a compartment on their own with soft siding, away from any jewelry that may knock against them,” he says.  

Think about your jewelry’s value 

Experts recommend leaving your most valuable jewelry at home. If you must travel with an expensive piece, go with a case that has security features. Often, you can turn to the maker for help. 

“Omega and Rolex have service cases that are really small and compact and avoid any logos or branding, making them a very clever choice if you don’t want to draw any unwanted attention,” says Ben Johnson, head of digital at Miltons Diamonds, in Liverpool, England. 

Johnson adds that these bags are designed to fit into carry-ons, handbags, or even jacket pockets, in addition to having soft, cushioned linings. He also suggests insuring your fine pieces before you travel. 

Frequently asked questions 

Can I take my jewelry on a plane? 

Yes, you can take your jewelry on a plane. Most experts we spoke with recommend wearing jewelry on your flight. “Gold, sterling silver, and other fine jewelry typically do not set off alarms, allowing you to wear your rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets without any delays,” says Jeremy Hinds, an expert jeweler at F Hinds, a retailer based in the United Kingdom. “However, if your jewelry is particularly large or contains a significant amount of metal, it may trigger the alarm. In those cases, it’s best to pack these items in your carry-on to avoid setting off the metal detector.” 

We suggest researching local customs before you travel to make sure you’re wearing acceptable pieces. If you’re headed to an unfamiliar place, it’s better to leave your most valuable jewelry at home.  

Do you have to declare jewelry when traveling? 

You don’t have to declare jewelry you bring from home. However, if you purchase jewelry in another country, you may need to let Customs know. Customs import rules vary by country, so check the rules at your destination before you travel.  

What is the best way to travel with jewelry? 

Our experts recommend traveling with jewelry in a carry-on or handbag. Packing jewelry into a checked bag risks theft.  

“The most prevalent forms of jewelry theft encountered by travelers are those involving luggage and hotel room or vacation rental burglaries,” says Reynolds. “To mitigate the risk of falling victim to either, the most effective strategy is to store your jewelry in a discreet, secure case and ensure it is locked away whenever possible.”