Jewelry: The Next Stop on a Dream Trip

Jewelry and adventure: an unexplored combination, until now. The behind-the-scenes world of high-end jewelry, while often described, romanticized and celebrated as the very foundation of excellence, has always been confined to a realm of distance and discretion. This rigor is gradually losing ground. Jewelry is becoming an experience in its own right, tapping into a tourism trend that strategic consultancy firms saw coming. In November 2025, a McKinsey report highlighted that the travel sector is growing, driven by demand for increasingly personal and meaningful experiences. According to the analysis, luxury tourism is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 6%, outpacing the wider tourism sector by two percentage points. «Because travelers are looking for new and unique experiences, companies offering unusual adventures and outdoor activities could gain market share. Around 46% of travelers plan to increase their spending on adventure travel and demand for luxury adventure travel itineraries is on the rise.» This trend is even more evident in the recent report “The State of Luxury: What US and Chinese clients reveal about the sector’s future”, also published by McKinsey in June 2026: «In tomorrow’s luxury market, products may well be the simplest aspect for brands to provide. In the United States and China, consumers are redefining what luxury should offer: deeper emotional significance, exclusive recognition, memorable experiences and rewarding discoveries. The next generation of luxury leaders will be those who can deliver those intangible and irreplaceable elements that consumers value just as much as the products themselves.» When asked whether the most exclusive segment of the jewelry industry is taking these trends on board, albeit at its own pace and in its own specific way, the answer is undoubtedly yes. Nowadays, people can meet the artisan who crafted a piece by hand, immerse themselves in the heritage of a historic jewelry company, contribute in the design of their own piece, and personally select a gemstone directly from its place of origin. The search for the ideal gemstone is one of the hottest topics around which to build fascinating journeys spanning regions, cultures and communities. Here, the spirit of adventure, the love of collecting, the curiosity of discovery and the desire for transparency all come together. «Combining travel and jewelry is both thoroughly enjoyable and educational. I can see this sort of experience growing in popularity over the coming years,» says journalist and jewelry expert Jessica Diamond, who, together with gemmologist and author Joanna Hardy, has founded Hardy & Diamond, Gemstone Journeys, a project that will be debuting with its first trip to Sri Lanka in November 2026. The trip foresees a five-night itinerary on the Indian Ocean island, one of the world’s richest regions for gemstone production, offering an immersive journey to explore the relationship between the local area, mining and jewelry. «The project aims at those who wish to travel independently or with family and friends. It offers the chance to discover and explore the “from mine to jewel” process in greater depth with the assistance of experts. A genuine, high-caliber, private consultancy service,» explains Hardy. A leisure trip, but also an opportunity to learn and gain deeper insight. «We offer privileged access, both during the stay in Sri Lanka and when we guide and advise our clients on how to transform their loose gemstone into a finished piece of jewelry. A passion for jewelry is a bonus, but no specific knowledge is required. What matters is being interested in something other than the traditional travel experience,» Diamond continues. Five nights at a resort with a spa and pool immersed in lush nature, punctuated with meetings with experts, visits to mines, and moments for direct discussion in order to help participants choose their ideal gemstone. «The aim is to convey our passion and love for this subject, so that participants can experience the world of gemstones with a new perspective,» adds Hardy. With an even more exploratory focus, The Gem Odyssey, founded in 2023 by gemologist, buyer and consultant Carlos Torres, together with Laurent Massi, owner of the Paris-based company Neogem, organizes expeditions to the world’s major mining regions: Mexico for opals, Colombia for emeralds, Thailand for rubies and Brazil for Paraíba tourmalines. The website states: «The Gem Odyssey’s mission is to unveil the fascinating journey of gemstones and the jewelry industry by offering immersive experiences that take people directly to the heart of the mining regions. Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the value chain behind these gemstones, from their origins in the Earth’s crust to their transformation into exquisite jewelry. By connecting enthusiasts, students and industry professionals with the source of these gems, we strive to promote transparency, sustainability and an appreciation for the rich cultural and geological heritage that gemstones represent.» Interviewed by the Financial Times, Paul Russell, psychologist and founder of the Luxury Academy training company, points out that: «Luxury travel is now the norm. These experiences stimulate what psychologists call self-expansion, in other words, the desire to grow through new and meaningful challenges. They also satisfy a need for narrative identity, stories that show who we are rather than simply what we can afford. We have left the era of ostentatious consumerism behind because today’s affluent travelers are looking for what we might call ‘discreet exceptionality’, once-in-a lifetime experiences that cannot be commercialized.» Jewelry and adventure, as we said earlier. A combination that involves emotions, knowledge and memories. Adventures in Art offers personalized itineraries in art capitals around the world. «We specialize in creating luxury cultural trips focused on art, design, architecture and exceptional experiences,» explains founder Karen Stone Talwar. «Over the years, we noticed how many of our travelers were as passionate about jewelry as they were about art. They wanted encounters with renowned jewelers, designers, ateliers and gem specialists. We therefore saw an opportunity to create something different: immersive experiences in which jewelry is observed through the lens of art, history, design, craftsmanship and collecting.» According to Talwar, the future of these experiences will be increasingly tied to personalization. This could include a visit to a master goldsmith’s private workshop, an intimate dinner at a collector’s home, the chance to handle extraordinary gemstones under the guidance of an expert, meetings with designers in their studios, or learning directly from gemologists about the history and art behind exceptional pieces. «Travelers will continue to search for experiences that are impossible to replicate. Luxury is shifting from the acquisition of extraordinary objects to an understanding of the stories, people and skills that make them unique. I believe these itineraries will become increasingly specialized, with smaller groups, deeper relations and highly curated experiences.» At the end of the day, jewelry has always had tremendous potential for offering dreamlike experiences. «Jewelry has a special appeal because it combines art, history, design, craftsmanship, fashion and self-expression. Even those who don’t want to buy anything find value in meeting designers, viewing extraordinary pieces, learning about gemstones, and understanding techniques passed down through the centuries. Since luxury consumers are increasingly in search of knowledge and authentic experiences, I believe this market will continue to expand,» concludes Talwar.