What’s the Deal with Travel Rings?

Jewelry shopping can be intimidating. That’s why we started Ask Holden, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.

Are you and your partner frequent fliers? Do you work with your hands often? Just the worrying type? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might want to consider getting replica rings—also known as travel rings.

Wait, what’s a travel ring? A travel ring is essentially just a “fake” version of your wedding band or engagement ring made with less expensive materials, so you don’t have to stress as much about losing or damaging the real thing.

Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about travel rings, from the reasons why you might want one to the materials we recommend and where to find them.

Why Should I Get a Travel Ring?

If your engagement or wedding ring is made from high-quality materials like solid gold, platinum, or real diamonds (including lab-grown!), there’s a good chance you spent more than a pretty penny on it. But it’s not just about the money—wedding and engagement rings are incredibly sentimental, too.

Anyone worried about loss, theft, or damage might want to consider a fake ring for when they’re traveling. A hotel room safe is only so safe, after all.

Fake engagement rings or wedding bands can also be a good idea if you have a more active or outdoorsy lifestyle. For example, did you know that swimming in salt water or a chlorinated pool can corrode precious metals over time?

Gardeners, farmers, or anyone who works outside also might want to think about the risk of getting soil stuck beneath their diamond settings. It’s not the end of the world if you do (since you can always get a professional cleaning), but many choose to get a replica ring for this reason.

Keep in mind that work with excessive pressure or high temperatures is similarly risky for precious metal rings, which can bend and even break under extreme conditions.

Or maybe you’re experiencing a temporary ring size fluctuation? We’ve found that it’s quite common for someone’s ring size to change during or after pregnancy and breastfeeding. If this is true for you, consider a cheaper travel ring you can wear while you wait to monitor size changes.

If I Get a Travel Ring, Do I Still Need Insurance?

To insure or not to insure…Unfortunately, there’s no general advice we can provide on insurance since it depends on the ring value, the sentimentality of the ring, and how much you’re willing to risk in case you damage or lose it. If you do get fake engagement rings or fake wedding rings for travel, it’s a lot less likely that something bad will happen to your real rings.

We can’t say insurance is ever a bad idea, though! Though we offer protection plans through Extend, please note that Extend is NOT insurance. If you’re looking to insure your ring through a third party, we’ve heard from many of our customers that Jewelers Mutual is a good option.

What Are My Options for Travel Rings?

When it comes to fake engagement rings for travel, cubic zirconia is your friend. It’s one of the cheapest diamond alternatives out there and you’ll be able to find it in just about every diamond shape, from round cut to cushion cut.

Note that cubic zirconia stones are less durable than moissanite, which is another (more expensive) option for fake diamond rings. Still, the amount you save by choosing CZ makes it worthwhile, even if you end up needing to replace it when it gets scratched.

For your fake engagement band, go for rhodium or gold-plated sterling silver. No one will ever even know that it isn’t a real, solid gold ring! (Not sure what plated gold is? Read this blog post to learn more.)

If you want your travel ring to look like it’s white gold, you may even be able to get away with a plain silver ring since the two look quite similar.

You can get a travel ring that’s exactly like your real ring, or you can switch it up and get something totally different. Maybe you’ve always wanted to test out rose gold—well, now’s your chance! If it’s within budget, you can even consider getting different travel rings for different occasions.

If you’re someone who works with their hands, a silicone band may be your best bet. They’re inexpensive, comfortable, and sometimes even engravable.

Where Can I Get a Travel Ring?

If you want an exact copy of your real wedding or engagement ring, the jeweler who designed it may be able to make one for you. If you got your ring from us, we can make a replica! Submit a custom request to get the process started.

If you don’t need your travel ring to look exactly like the real deal, we recommend checking out options on Etsy. You can get a beautiful sterling silver ring and support a smaller vendor without needing to spend very much at all.

If you’re looking for a silicone ring, you can find one from a small business or through major retailers. Silicone rings are sometimes even sold in ring sets or packs, so you can get a bunch in case you lose them.

Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.