More absurdity
The Downside of Traveling With Stylish Jewelry
MY sister Jodie and I are always traveling for work. As jewelry designers, we need to go to a lot of shows. We can’t pack lightly and usually bring about four suitcases filled with our work.
Most of our stuff is made from heavy materials and metals. So part of the routine for us when we fly is getting stopped by security. Our jewelry sets off the alarms, and we’ve become accustomed to arriving early to go through private screenings. Most of the time, it’s not a hassle. We’ve got it down to a science and know how to unpack and repack our bags with little effort, even though I’m the worst packer ever.
On our recent trip to a Paris trade show, we were stopped at security and asked to empty our bags. I didn’t really think twice about it. But somehow, this experience seemed a little different. One of the agents walked over to another agent and they started whispering to each other. Both gentlemen came back, and one of them then told us that it seemed that we were carrying a very dangerous object.
My sister and I just said, “Huh?” Of course, we were a little concerned, thinking that maybe someone stuck something in one of our bags when we weren’t looking.
One of the agents then started to unpack our bags. Though our jewelry is sturdy, he was a little rough with the stuff. I kept asking what he was looking for and then the object in question finally appeared. It was our Cosima necklace. It’s a really bold piece of jewelry, with large, metal triangular spikes.
My sister and I looked at each other and breathed a huge sigh of relief. We started laughing and explained to the two male agents that it was just a necklace from our collection, not a weapon of mass destruction. I even modeled it.
They didn’t think we were funny. And they thought we were lying. The agents couldn’t believe someone would wear it, and one agent kept repeating that he believed it was a weapon. He even tried to prick his finger on one of the spikes. He told us the piece was going to be confiscated. At this point, we were frantic.
I tried to explain that we were jewelry designers going to a trade show, and this was simply a piece from our collection. I tried to put up a convincing argument, and so did my sister. But the agents weren’t buying it. The next thing I know a few other guards came over and started to try and take apart some of our pieces. My sister and I were freaking out.
But then a few women guards came over to assist. One of the women started digging through our bags. She started to pull out pieces and was showing those pieces to her female colleagues. I kid you not. One of the women guards was holding an earring up to her ear and another was trying on a ring. Apparently, they liked our stuff.
It was only at this point that the male guards gave up. I think they realized that our necklace probably wasn’t a weapon. And I think they also got tired of listening to a bunch of women talk about jewelry. They let us through.
We took the names of the women agents and sent them a piece of jewelry when we got back to say thanks.
We didn’t send anything to the male agents, though, since I still think that a few of them believe that our necklace is a lot more deadly than it is stylish.
By Danielle Snyder, as told to Joan Raymond. E-mail:
joan.raymond@nytimes.com
