From pearls and festoons to pendants and lariats, every necklace is a piece of beauty and elegance, highly priced and highly prized. Whether it’s a family heirloom (such as a stone-studded princess necklace passed down to you from your great-great-grandmother), a token of love (a gold heart locket gifted from your husband), or a stylish accessory (a waterfall bib necklace), you certainly treasure your delicate – and expensive – jewelry and want to keep it safe and secure.
Necklaces, however, are much more difficult to safeguard than other pieces of jewelry – they tend to tangle and can tangle so badly that it may be impossible to separate them without damaging them. Therefore, when storing away or transporting your necklaces – and especially when moving them to a new home – you need to find a way to pack them so they don’t become a knotted and tangled mess.
But how can you achieve this feat? How to prevent necklaces from tangling? How to keep them safe during a house move?
Here are some clever and effective packing solutions that will help you protect your necklaces and keep them tangle-free during your relocation:
Use a jewelry box
Without a doubt, the best way to pack necklaces for moving is to put them in a quality jewelry box. Jewelry boxes are specifically designed to protect delicate items – the containers are lined with soft padding on the inside (so they provide good cushioning) and are made from sturdy materials (so they ensure excellent protection). What’s more, jewelry boxes have separate compartments for different types of jewelry (so the delicate items don’t come in contact with one another), including larger compartments for necklaces.
So, when packing necklaces for moving, a jewelry box will provide you with a convenient and easy way to ensure the safety of your valuable pieces – just arrange your necklaces inside the specialized compartment, add some soft packing paper to create additional padding and prevent your valuables from shifting during transit, close and lock the box, and wrap it in a few layers of bubble wrap to protect the container itself from damage (secure the wrapping with packing tape). Your pendants and collars will stay safe and tangle-free throughout the entire moving process.
See also: How to pack jewelry for a move
Use a jewelry roll
Similarly to jewelry boxes, jewelry rolls are perfect for keeping necklaces safe and neatly organized during a house move. They come with a soft cloth flap that protects the delicate jewelry from scratching and other damages and have several removable rings for attaching individual necklaces to prevent them from tangling. The soft suede rolls are very compact and provide a safe and convenient packing solution.
Thread the chains through plastic drinking straws
Hard to believe as it may be, regular drinking straws are your best bet when it comes to keeping necklaces from tangling during a house move. All you need to do is slip the chain of a necklace through the straw and clasp the ends. You can cut the straw if you’re packing a shorter necklace or use two straws for especially long necklaces – just be sure to put individual necklaces in separate straws to keep the chains untangled. The straw will keep the necklace straight, will protect it from damage and will ensure that it won’t get tangled onto itself or into another piece of jewelry.
Bonus tip: If your necklace has a pendant, slide it towards one end of the chain so you can thread most of the chain through the straw. Leave the pendant outside of the straw and wrap it in soft packing paper.
When you’re ready, wrap the chained straws in packing paper and place them in a bag or an appropriate size box with some extra cushioning inside to keep your necklaces together and provide them with better protection during the move.
Loop the necklaces through toilet paper rolls
Toilet paper rolls can also come very handy when packing necklaces for a move – just like with drinking straws, you can slip a necklace through an empty (and perfectly clean) toilet paper roll and clasp the ends together on the outside. This method works great for thicker chains that won’t fit into a drinking straw and allows you to pack several jewelry pieces together.
The toilet paper roll will keep the necklaces from getting tangled and will make them easy to relocate. Just make sure you wrap the rolls in bubble wrap and place them inside cushioned boxes or plastic bags when finished.
Use plastic wrap
Wondering how to pack necklaces without straws and paper rolls and still keep them untangled? Use the power of plastic.
All you need to do is lay a sheet of plastic wrap on a hard surface, place your clasped necklaces evenly across the piece (with 2 inches of space between each two jewelry items), cut another sheet of plastic wrap that is the same size as the first one, and place it on top of the first sheet. Then, press firmly between and around each necklace to seal it in between the two layers of plastic wrap. This will ensure that your pieces remain straight and separated and will prevent them from moving around and getting tangled.
Your last step is to carefully roll up the sheet of plastic-wrapped necklaces, wrap the roll in bubble wrap for extra protection, and secure the protective wrapping with rubber bands or packing tape. Your necklaces are ready for transportation and will stay safe and untangled throughout the move.
Bonus tip: If your necklaces are already organized in a tray, you can simply stretch some plastic wrap across and around the container to keep everything in place.
Related: How to use plastic wrap for moving
Put smaller necklaces in sealable plastic bags or pill boxes
An even easier way to pack necklaces for moving is to put them in small Ziploc bags. Wrap each individual jewelry piece in soft packing paper and place it in a separate sandwich bag. Seal the bags and place them all inside a larger plastic bag.
You can also pack smaller necklaces in pill case organizers – place one fastened necklace in each compartment to keep your delicate jewelry pieces separated and prevent them from tangling. The sturdy case will provide your necklaces with the protection they need to survive the move safe and intact.
Wrap delicate necklaces in a microfiber cloth
Another efficient way to keep necklaces from tangling when packing them for a move is to wrap them in a microfiber cloth. All you need to do is lay out your clasped necklaces on the cloth (leave 2 inches of space between them) and roll the fabric (make sure the necklaces don’t touch one another during the rolling process). Once the necklaces are rolled in the cloth, fold the ends together and use rubber bands on each side to secure the pouch.
The textured microfiber cloth will prevent your necklaces from slipping around and getting tangled and will keep them safe during the move.
Additional useful information: How to pack fragile items for moving
Wrap larger necklaces around hangers
When packing larger necklaces for moving, you can keep them from getting tangled by wrapping them around hangers. When ready, wrap the entire hanger in bubble wrap to keep your precious jewelry safe during the move.
Related: How to pack hangers for a move
Bonus tips for packing necklaces for moving
The above tips on how to pack necklaces without tangling will help you prevent your jewelry from becoming a knotted mess and keep your valuable pieces safe during the relocation. Yet, there are a few more things to think about when packing necklaces for a move:
- Take inventory of your necklaces – Whether you have a large collection of necklaces or just a few sentimental items, you’re advised to inventory your jewelry before the move and make sure you have an accurate record of your cherished possessions, including details like value, brand, type, materials, etc. It is also a good idea to get an appraisal for your more expensive necklaces and purchase appropriate moving insurance – just to be on the safe side;
- Get rid of necklaces you won’t wear anymore – When inventorying your necklaces, set aside any worn out and/or damaged pieces (that are not worth repairing) and pieces that you can’t see yourself wearing anymore (whether because they’re out of fashion, or because they won’t be appropriate for your new lifestyle after the move, or because you simply don’t like them). Give them away to anyone who would like to have them – there is no point in moving jewelry that you’re not going to wear ever again (unless it’s a piece of great sentimental value that you want to keep regardless of its condition, style, and financial worth, of course);
- Do not use newsprint to pack your necklaces for moving as the ink may leave ugly stains on your delicate jewelry – not only will it take time and effort to remove the stains, but some of your fine necklaces may even get ruined;
- Transport your jewelry yourself – Jewelry and other valuables should not be entrusted to the movers – take your necklaces with you (in your car or in your carry-on bag) and make sure they arrive at your new home safe and sound. (See also: What items to move yourself)
Now that you know how to pack necklaces for a move, you can rest assured that your treasured jewelry pieces won’t get tangled, broken or lost during your relocation – and will be ready to wear and help you look your best in your new life.
