By the end of this, you’re going to think I’m sentimental or selfish. Maybe both. Remember those heart-shaped pendants with “Best” scrawled on one half, “Friends” on the other? I decided to do something similar for Mom’s birthday. I went to my favorite custom jeweler and asked her to design something that represented two halves: one for me, one for Mom. It was this cool organic-looking hammered chunk of sterling that she proceeded to slice cleanly in half. Needless to say, Mom cried when I gave it to her—and she bawled when she saw the other half hanging around my neck.

Three weeks ago, my parents went to Rome. When I dropped them off at the airport, I noticed Mom was wearing her half of the necklace. “No way are you taking that with you, Mom!” I couldn’t believe she would risk losing this one-of-a-kind memento of co-dependency. “Shel, I want to take a piece of you with me. And what if something, you know, happens (always the morbid pessimist)—I want to be buried in this thing!” “Mom, how about this...why don’t you just bring a piece of Rome back for me?” I schemed “You know, like a piece of jewelry you could only find there?” My loving mother couldn’t say no to this request. “Okay, sure. But I’m still taking the necklace!” And off they went.

Was I being neurotic and selfish? Or was I just making sure that my necklace-half never lost its twin, while making myself a bejeweled walking passport?

I don’t get to say this very often, but Mom was wrong. First, when you travel, never take your most precious jewelry. It’s just too risky. Instead, take a few basic replaceable pieces that will go with most of your outfits. Buy a small bag made just for storing jewelry; you don’t want to pull your giant sterling hoop out of a plastic baggie only to find that it’s been redesigned (courtesy of the airline) into an amoeba (yes, this happened). And always pack your jewelry in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Second, when you travel, take advantage of the opportunity to pick up some new pieces unique to the area you’re visiting—they’ll easily fit in the light jewelry bag you brought with you!

So where are you going? And what should you bring back? Half the fun of traveling is discovering what the city’s/country’s jewelry specialties are. Here are just a few places that I’ve been to, I’m dying to go to, or my friends/relatives have been to.

Egypt: Egyptian jewelry is ornate, bright and symbolic. You can find everything from quirky scarab beetles to ankhs, gods to cartouches.

Hawaii: Shells, pearls, coral—everything from the sand & surf. Toe rings and anklets—anything that celebrates bare feet! Jewelers there love using beautiful plumerias in many of their designs. And if you can get your hands on them, Ni’ihau shell leis, made with the rich shells from Ni’ihau (the Forbidden Island) are cherished heirlooms.

Hong Kong: You absolutely must find something jade.

Any beach town: You can find unusual creations made from the highly prized glass that the sea has tumbled and polished in the silt and the swells.

Venice: Ahh, Venice. A great place, just because…and because of the ornate glass beadwork.

Mexico: Silver, silver and more silver! You’ll discover large sterling pendants with chunks of polished natural stone (lapis, onyx, malachite, chrysoprase, carnelian and more). Bracelets (cuffs and linked bangles) are often patterned with symbols or abstracts of the earth and sky. Also, look for sturdy, bold leather jewelry.

American Southwest: Silver, silver and more silver…with turquoise. No trip to Arizona or New Mexico is complete without a piece of traditional turquoise jewelry.

Switzerland: A watch, of course!

US Virgin Islands: Bundles of hand-cut gemstones! Especially emeralds.

Thailand or Burma: Rubies!

New York: Diamonds! Just pick a number: 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue.

And finally…Rome: Mom brought me a sterling crucifix with St. Francis of Assisi on the back. She found it at the Basilica in Vatican City. The history of that place is prominent in their architecture, their art, and in their jewelry. She also brought back an Italian coin embossed with Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, which I will be taking to a jeweler to set into a ring mounting.

Mom and her necklace returned home, safely. And I got a piece of Rome.

There are jewelers all over the world! Click here to find the jeweler near your next vacation spot!