21

Jan.

Your Jewelry and Airport Security: Do You Wear the Good Gold Stuff?

By Calla Gold

Gloved Screener at Airport

Let’s Steer Clear of any Entanglement with This Guy

Will Wearing Your Rocks Get You Strip Searched?

What about your jewelry and airport security? Can you wear your good stuff? And that big costume watch when you go through airport security?

Do you worry that all the gold and platinum in your rings will set off the alarms and get you strip searched in a dingy back room by some Neanderthal with thick, hairy hands?

Not a pleasant thought.

Should You Put Your Good Jewelry in Your Checked Baggage or Carry-On?
Do not put your favorite gold and platinum jewelry in your checked baggage. If they lose your suitcase you’ll be so sad.

After a bit of research, this Goleta Jeweler did and an interesting email from my client Lorrie, I’ve discovered that you are better off travelling with your nice jewelry than stacking on the costume jewelry. Really? Yup!

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

This Tanzanite and Diamond Platinum and Gold Ring Should Sail Through Security

Gold and Platinum are Not Magnetic

The security system at airports is among other things looking for magnetic metals.

You are more likely to set off the alarm wearing cheap costume jewelry, frequently made with magnetic metals, than fine gold and platinum jewelry.

It is often advised that you leave your fine gold and platinum jewelry on your person as it is unlikely to cause the security system to react.

Leave Your Large Costume Jewelry in Your Carry-on Bag

Because many of the costume jewelry metals are magnetic it’s better not to wear them through security and then have to take them off. Put your costume jewelry in your carry-on bag.

If your carry-on bag sets off an alarm it’s easy for the security personnel to look inside and see at a glance what is setting it off instead of having you remove all of your jewelry.

What the Security Guards Say

What did the screeners themselves have to say about your jewelry and airport security? One screener said the small amounts of metal in a ring won’t set off the alarms and at any rate, to never put your good jewelry on the conveyor belt. It could fall off and get lost.

Another screener at another airport said to never remove your jewelry, period. Another suggested putting your belt and any larger costume watches in your carry-on bag. Normally, this won’t set off the flashing red lights and obnoxious buzzers.

If it does and your bag gets searched, hopefully the guards will quickly see the offending object was your big costume jewelry watch and not a homemade bomb.

Lady being screened at airport

Don’t Let Your Bra Slow Down Your Trip Through Security

Your Underwire Bra is More Likely to Set off Alarms Than Your Jewelry

What might set off the alarm is your under-wire bra. That and other advice is in “What Not to Wear: How to Speed Through Airport Security”

Fly the Friendly Skies With Your Calla Gold Jewelry!

As for me and travelling, I’ll keep wearing my good jewelry!

So I ask you, good readers, what’s been your experience?

Calla Gold

 

10 Comments

Categories: Opinion

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10 Responses to “Your Jewelry and Airport Security: Do You Wear the Good Gold Stuff?”

Lee January 21st, 2013 at 3:32 pm


Calla, I used to wear three Cartier love bracelets. One rose, one yellow and one white. They set off those dang alarms every time I went through. I have been felt up at every major airport across the country. Enjoyed this. The post, not being felt up!

Calla Gold January 21st, 2013 at 5:43 pm


Lee,
You crack me up. Sorry that your Cartier bracelets set off the airport alarms leading to grabby searches!
Calla Gold

Lisa Darsonval January 25th, 2013 at 7:35 pm


Hey there Calla Gold! I love it, you are branching out into bra advice! But seriously, thank you for this advice! I actually switched to bras that didn’t have underwire to avoid the unwanted “pat downs”. Any tidbit that will minimize a search is an appreciated one.
I’m so glad I can wear my good jewelry through security. It is a part of me and my life. Thanks to this blog article I’ll never put my good jewelry into one of those little buckety plastic containers for the x-ray machine ever again. And I’ll leave my sports magnetic muscle wrap thingies in my checked bags.
Lisa

Calla Gold January 26th, 2013 at 7:41 am


Hi Lisa,
I’m glad you are on board to do your part to limit airport pat downs! And definitely wear your good special gorgeous jewelry! Let it shine!
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla

anne orfila January 26th, 2013 at 10:40 am


I’ve never taken my “good jewelry” off to go through airport security and it hasn’t been a problem. However, I am not stacking Cartier love bracelets on my arm, although I wish I could say that I was! :-D Lastly, I always pack my costumer jewelry in my luggage. If it gets lost, no worries.

Calla Gold January 26th, 2013 at 11:51 am


Hi Anne,
Thank you for sharing your experience while travelling. You sound like an experienced and savvy traveler.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla

Tom February 27th, 2013 at 10:29 pm


Good suggestion mate. I have been through these airport search-hurdles once and felt really bad. Anyways Calla, this information will help a lot to avoid these hassles in the future. What tripped me up was wearing a bunch of costume jewelry with my good jewelry. Not recommended. Thanks.
Tom

Calla Gold February 28th, 2013 at 7:41 am


Thanks for stopping by Tom. I’m glad you have your airport hassles in the rear view mirror!

Lee Armstrong April 4th, 2013 at 12:57 pm


Hello Calla,
I read your post about jewelry and airport security with interest. Is it possible for a 14kt gold, heavy bangle to set off an alarm?
Lee

Calla Gold April 4th, 2013 at 6:19 pm


Hello Lee,
My sources tell me that your 14kt gold heavy bangle will not set off the alarm at airport security as gold is not magnetic. If it is gold plated over base metal which is often magnetic it may well cause the whistles and bells to go off.
Happy Travelling,
Calla

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