Scott and I are getting ready for a weekend away. We’ll (hopefully) see the sun, eat great food, and peruse booths filled with beautiful, custom JEWELRY!

I know, rough life.

But, as many of you already know, business trips aren’t as glamorous as they sound. Sure, the location is wonderful. Heck, just seeing grass instead of snow and ice is a plus in January! But when Scott and I go to jewelry trade shows, We Work.

Which brings up the age-old dilemma: What kinds of jewelry should you pack (and how to pack it), for a business trip? Scott’s Custom Jewelers has you covered.

The right accessories can help you create more outfits with fewer clothes. And let’s face it, woman live in mix-and-match black. So your jewelry choices can help you personalize your look and take up next to no space in your luggage.

Here’s some of my fail-safe tips on jewelry choices for business travel.

• Skip the fussy pieces. Stiff collars-style necklaces can get damaged in your suitcases. Same with ornate bib necklaces. They tend to tangle. Instead, go for a few statement pendants that can morph from a casual vibe when worn with a leather cord, to OH WOW! when worn on a fancier chain.

• Next, grab some studs. And I mean the jewelry kind! Stud earrings are a great way to make an outfit look finished but not fussy, which is exactly what you wear to meetings. I love to bring pearl studs in the summer, because they look amazing against tan skin. But of course, diamonds go with everything!

• Don’t forget your dangle earrings! I usually pack a few fun, funky pieces in sterling silver. If the business trip includes cocktail hours, a sparkly pair of hoops is also a must.

• A sure fire way to change up an outfit is an armful of bracelets. Pile them on, and your little black dress is complete. Wear just a single bracelet for meetings so the clacking isn’t distracting. And here’s the great thing about jewelry fashion:  You can mix your costume jewelry with your “real” bracelets. The more the merrier!

• What about rings? In addition to my amazing custom wedding ring  (thank you hubby), I always pack a few others. For sure, I take my sterling silver hammered ring. It’s looks great for casual affairs. And colored gemstone rings can be just the pop of color that brings your outfits together.

• Now – how to pack it all up. I don’t use a fancy shmancy travel jewelry case. Yes, that’s a Crown Royal bag. No judgment. Instead, I use small baggies (I’ll give you some – ask me next time you’re in the store) and pack them up individually. The bags protect the jewelry from scratches. For extra protection, I stick the Crown Royal bag in my shoe.

I always say, the right jewelry can make your outfit. And they always fit!

I mean, not many people can pull off wearing studded dog collars to work. Although at Scott’s Custom Jewelers, we can be a little more daring!

But at last week’s Grammy Awards, there were plenty of jewelry hits that just about everyone can wear.

The Choker Is Back

Jennifer Hudson looked stunning in a diamond choker.

Take the choker, for example. It’s back, and this delicate jewelry style looks amazing, especially with asymmetrical necklines.

Remember those thin seed pearl necklaces from the 80s? The ones sitting at the bottom of your jewelry box?

Restringing them into a simple choker is a great way to recycle your jewelry and stay in style this spring.

Try Vintage-Style Jewelry

Speaking of recycling, the Grammy Awards featured a lot of fabulous vintage-style jewelry.

Try wearing Grandma’s rings, sized to fit your index or middle finger. It’s a simple way to make a meaningful piece feel fresh, stylish, and wearable again.

Pair Big Rings With Thin Bracelets

A large citrine and diamond ring looks balanced with a thin sparkle bracelet.

Big rings and thin bracelets look especially good together. This combination can be both casual and dressy.

Scott’s Custom Jewelers’ thin sparkle bracelets are a perfect complement to any style ring.

Stack Multiple Rings

Ariana Grande wore her grandmother’s jewelry to the show.

Another trend spotted at the Grammy Awards was multiple rings on each hand, as well as stacking rings.

This year, it’s all about the fingers — not the bass.

Scott’s Custom Jewelers’ blue and pink sapphire square-shaped stacking rings, along with a diamond band, look amazing together or alone.

Go Bold With Black and White Jewelry

Colored gemstones are always popular, but black and white combinations stole the show.

Whether it was black diamonds or onyx, the bold look was very polished.

Translating that look for everyday wear is easy.

Kat Graham rocked her black and white diamond earrings, showing how stylish and wearable this trend can be.

Make Award Show Jewelry Work for Everyday Style

Sterling silver and a black-and-white crystal pendant can look dressy for dinner.

Or, change out the chain for a black cord, and you’re rocking your yoga pants at the grocery store.

No judgment.

A cubic zirconium pendant also adds a lot of bang for the buck.

Revamp Your Jewelry Box in Columbus, Ohio

This year, dressing like the stars is more of a fashion hit than ever before!

Stop into our Columbus, Ohio location and let us revamp your jewelry box.

We’ve all got jewelry tucked into our underwear drawer that we don’t wear, but can’t part with yet. Traditional, “Princess Di-style” blue sapphire rings, a diamond stick pin from your great grandma, maybe even a diamond tennis bracelet (broken of course – those links caught on everything)! We’ve seen plenty of these pieces at our two custom jewelry stores.

Why do we hide it away? Probably because your jewelry style has changed. Maybe you’re into the multi-gemstone, bib necklaces that are so popular now. Or perhaps it’s asymmetrical jewelry that catches your eye. Whatever your style, those hidden gems have plenty of potential. You just need some inspiration!

That’s what one of our Dublin, OH customer’s recently did.

She had some jewelry pieces/parts that she’d been hoarding for awhile. Diamonds that she got from her father’s inheritance. A blue/purple tanzanite ring from a great vacation. But she wanted a “wow” piece. Something that strangers would stop and ask her about. Something with style and a story. And while so much of her jewelry was traditionally set, her personal style was quite different.

She set an appointment with Scott (but actually, everyone at Scott’s is a designer), and we got to work. We literally have 1000s of photos of our custom jewelry designs available, as well as two stores filled with great wearable jewelry art. So we got to work, and came up with a great jewelry plan.

Since her tanzanite was triangle shaped, we agreed that a wide design would work especially well as a ring. And because the gemstone is fairly soft (which means it needs protection), we wanted to set the stone low, and guard it with gold bars.

We used our amazing CAD system to design her piece, and sent her high resolution photos of her proposed design. That was the fun part and she liked what she saw!

Then we made a polymer model using our hi tech 3D printer and she got to actually try the ring on before we made it. Huge deal. By trying the model on, we were able to adjust the sides a bit for a truly custom fit.

We think the finished product speaks for itself.

I think it’s time to dig through your drawers!

Take wedding bands. We used to make a lot of very standard diamond wedding bands at our Dublin custom jewelry store, Scott’s Custom Jewelers. And they’re great! (I happen to have one or three!)

But recently, we’ve been designing some GORGEOUS custom wedding bands that break all of the rules.

My new favorite is the crown wedding band.

This style looks amazing on it’s own, but when it’s paired up to a diamond engagement ring – wowsa!

This particular band, like most of our jewelry, was inspired by a bunch of things – a picture, some inherited diamonds and details from T.L.’s original diamond engagement ring (which we also created using our special computer aided design/CAD technology & 3D printer).

T loved the marquise shapes in this photo, but only wanted half of this design. Plus, her engagement ring had some fabulous scroll work and a small diamond on the side of the ring that she didn’t want to cover up. So we went to work.

Oh – did I mention that now T lives out of state? Not a problem with all of the technology out there! With our computer aided design program, we were able to design the crown ring, send pictures and even a 3D printed model for T to actually try on for size.

The end result. We think it’s beautiful, unique and certainly not something you’ll see on everybody!

But the best part about making a custom ring at Scott’s is that YOU are the designer! Of course, we’ll help you find your style, but being a part of creating your own jewelry is a rush.

Want some more inspiration? Take a look here.

And about the rumor that custom jewelry is more expensive. Nope. Custom doesn’t cost more (especially if you’re recycling your own gems and gold). It just means you’re not sacrificing style and fit, which actually costs more at the end.

Stop in and let us make your jewelry dreams come true!