Wearing Jewelry

Wear whatever you like to wear at home. If you are one of those people who take their rings off all the time at night or to wash your hands, then you might think about leaving the expensive items at home, due to more of a chance of leaving them behind in a bathroom or hotel room. Otherwise, theft of jewelry off of people is not a problem here. People all over Europe wear expensive jewelry and never give it a thought.

I agree with Jo - wear what you're used to wearing (unless you're Liz Taylor). Lots of jewelry has been left behind, or in order to avoid that fate, rinsed down the drain. 8-( I see people wearing what I'm generally used to seeing here. Some diamonds, etc., but nothing head-turning (in a gaudy, bad way).

I usually bring 2 pairs of earrings - one gold, one silver/white gold. Usually hoops. If they are precious to me, I make sure I can buy a replacement in case something happens. The other pair goes into the money belt (very flat).

I don't wear necklaces; I carry a backpack, and I've nearly broken a chain a few times getting my pack on. I don't wear any rings when I travel anymore; I've had problems with my hands swelling, so nothing gets lost those first few days when I can't get any rings on. I CAN'T get my wedding ring off...I'm stuck with that LOL!

I have always worn my wedding rings,, I can't imagine taking them off and leaving them at home. They are not however huge rocks that equal a years salary either.I do not take my rings off at home, so I am not worried about losing them while travelling. I do have friends that take their rings off often during the day( while hand washing, or doing dishes etc) and also at night. If that is your habit I would leave rings at home as its just so easy to forget them somewhere .

I never consider the crime an issue,, I mean everyone wears their rings in Europe so why wouldn't I?

I always bring other jewelry to dress up my outfits, but, its always costume so only would lose out on sentimental value if I lost the stuff.

There's so much fun costume jewelry now and sterling rings aren't that expensive so I'm planning to bring these on my trip. If I lose them it won't be a big deal. If I was still married, I would wear my rings also.

I was told by someone that she wasn't so much concerned about someone robbing her of her jewelry, but of it signalling to a thief that she was the type who possibly had lots of money or other valuables in her bag and would be a good mark. She wore lots of nice-looking but fake jewels instead. I pointed out to her that from a slight distance the would-be thief might not tell the difference, so even her fake jewels would mark her, using her logic. Her plan didn't make much sense to me.

As for what I do, I wear basic gold earrings that go with everything, and my wedding band. I don't like to have to keep up with a lot of extras when I travel. Depending on where I'm going and how active I plan to be (canoeing, biking, etc. vs just walking in a city) I may leave my diamond ring at home. It sticks up and gets in the way.

I don't take a lot of jewelry when I am on vacation. I wear a simple wedding band (I have a set of 3 rings that I wear at home, just take one of them for travel) Usually I take one or two pairs of small earrings and my watch. That's it.

I don't travel with a lot, because I don't want to forget something in a hotel. that being said, I took my favorite pair of sterling silver earrings on a trip several years ago. When I got home, I discovered that I'd lost one earring. Don't know if it was left in a hotel room, or somehow fell out of the jewelry bag I was using somehow...but it's gone. I don't travel with my favorite stuff now!

My concerns would be more along the lines of what DD said. I don't bring expensive jewelry with me because I don't want to have to keep track of it, but another concern would be that it would make me a mark for pickpockets. We have a family friend who chooses to travel solo, backpacking and staying in hostels, even though she could travel in style if she chose. She gets frustrated with her husband, who does like to travel in style and wear flashy clothes. He's gotten mobbed by pickpockets before, she never has.

I usually wear sterling hoops, a couple of nice rings, my Swiss Army watch that has a 24-hour clock face, and then when I get there buy some cute earrings or inexpensive necklace or pendant. After I lost one of my very favorite gold hoop earrings I'm hesitant to take my good things with me, so I take my "second-best" sterling silver. I don't worry about it being stolen, just lost or broken from all the wear and tear on my hands.

I rarely wear jewelry at home which makes it a lot simpler for me. I wouldn't take anything especially valuable/sentimental mainly because I'd be afraid of losing it.

Despite not wearing jewelry much, I love to shop for cheap pieces in Europe. So if I am dressing up, I tend to buy a necklace or ring while there and wear it, and then I have a lovely souvenir to take home!

My husband and I combined practicality with sentimentality a couple years ago in regards to wedding bands. We had simple matching silver wedding bands custom-made in Peru that we now exclusively wear when traveling. Not only are they low-key in appearance, but I don't feel the need to take it off when washing my hands, sleeping, etc. like I do with my diamond engagement/wedding rings, making for a low probability that it will be lost or left behind.

While you may not be in the Cuzco area anytime soon (but if you are I'm happy to share the jeweler's info!), if anyone is uncomfortable traveling with their "regular" wedding bands, I'd highly recommend buying something simple while abroad. Our rings are the best and most favorite "souvenir" we've ever purchased.

Here's a thought: Do you think the women of France, Italy, Spain, etc., never, ever wear their good jewellery except in their own bedrooms or living rooms? A little perspective on this would be nice.

I hope the women of France, Italy, and Spain are getting MUCH more sleep that I do in Europe and have more of their brain cells working LOL!

Norma, I'm not sure why this upsets you so much. I was not asking what I should do. I have been to Europe several times and I did fine. I was simply curious about people's perspectives, because I have heard such diverse methods of dealing or not dealing with jewelery from people I know.

I certainly can't speak for all European women, but I do have several German friends and neighbors. I can tell you that they do just what I said that I do. They simplify their jewelry and just wear basics when they are on holiday, especially when they are active, such as at the lake or coast or when biking or hiking. (By the way, I find it interesting that they wear their wedding bands on their right hands rather than the left.)

I am only reporting the experience of a few people, but I think that many women, regardless of country of origin, just don't want to keep up with a lot of extra things when traveling. Now when they are in their own or nearby cities, they wear their jewelry, just as I do.

I don't take anything beyond my wedding band, because I don't want it getting lost/stolen going through security/TSA! I also don't wear a lot of jewelry at home, anyway. I do take off my wedding band when I sleep and shower at home. When I travel (anywhere), I sleep with my band on, and then get a system for where to put my band while I shower (like in a pocket in my purse). My fears would be: 1. Like other posters have said, being a target for pickpockets if you look like you have too much money, more than the actual jewelery getting taken from you in Europe. 2. Losing it in hotel rooms when you take it off. and 3. TSA stealing it.

I have it insured and I wear what I want....

However, I don't take a couple of things that are "irreplaceable" when I travel (both domestically and internationally) they are "irreplaceable" only because of the person who agave them to me.

I also, don't have huge, flashy pieces! :)

I don't own any jewelry that is outrageously expensive, but it's jewelry that has meaning for me and is not cheap. I always take some of it with me. I take it on business trips. I have a small jewelry carrier that fits into my carry on. TSA will not steal it! I can watch it go through the scanner. If you are packing jewelry or anything that's not replaceable and insurable in checked luggage then you are being foolish. I enjoy wearing my jewelry and part of that enjoyment is when I am enjoying vacation.

Pam

We wear exactly what we would at home. Wedding bands with diamonds (if you're in a iffy neighbourhood and really uncomfortable - roll your ring into your palm). We wear our regular watches which are waterproof so there is no need to remove them at the beach or poolside. My wife bought a nice ring in Madrid and started wearing it daily.

Andrea,

When I travel I wear my gold earings that are simple round studs , a small cross necklece and my $25 waterproof to 50 m, indigo nightlight on a leather strap walmart edition watch. I love the watch ,its practical, go with everything , I can wear it in the showers or swimming and have even used the indiglo night light as a flashlight to go potty ectect.The best part is that if it gets busted which it has not yet in 3 years of use I can easily and super cheaply replace it. I also collect little lapel pins as souvenirs of my trips, and use them to hold scarfs in place or to decorate a cardigan ect...they also make great inexpensive gifts for friends home and on the road..as for rings all I can say is age makes my hands swell daily so I long ago gave up on that..I do carry a simple wedding band(also walmart lol thats adjustable in goldplate, about 4 bucks) that I put on when I go solo..little thing cuts down on the hassles of male attention . I know some travel with a lot more ,and individual tastes vary, one positive is I have never been pickpocketed or robbed yet and I know that if I need to add something extra to an outfit costume jewlery is abundant everywhere and very inexpensive and makes great give away gifts too!

Hi Andrea, Just back from Italy last week.... Like many others who posted I kept my jewelery simple- all silver -watch, one chain w/ a couple of options for "pendants" and inexpensive and fun silver band in place of my diamond wedding ring.
My rationale was simplicity and ease as well as not wanting to "worry" about leaving anything in a hotel room or bag.
I did not bring or wear my diamond wedding ring because, as others mentioned, I did not want to draw unnecessary attention not because I thought I was going to be mugged. I will add however, that I also turn my ring around or hide it in my own city (Boston) if I am on mass transportation and would do so anywhere. For me it is a matter of a comfort level (being in a strange place and just not knowing), US cities included.

I would apply this to any "flashy" piece of jewelery or anything that someone may perceive (real or fake) as being worth a lot of money.
Ultimely it comes down to your own comfort level and your personal experiences.

Andrea, my home right here in the good ol' USA was burglarized a few yrs ago and all my expensive jewelry was taken, including my mother's engagement and wedding rings. I decided right then and there never to have jewelry again that I was very emotionally attached to. Now, I wear nothing but CZ's, including one I had mounted on my (replacement) wedding band. If I get robbed or burgled now, I can very easily replace my jewelry. And the joke's going to be on the robber when they try to pawn the loot. I've traveled to the UK as well as all over the U.S. with nary a problem wearing my CZ's.

Unfortunately, my experience is like Kim's. We were burglarized 4 years ago and I lost not only my mother's heirloom jewelry, but also my grandmother's items.

What I was wearing when the house was broken into is what I wear now for travel (and everyday): Engagement ring, wedding band (with 16 small sapphires) and another simple gold band on my right hand.

I know where each item is at all times, and anyone hoping to snatch my jewelry off my hand would have to take the entire hand ...

If you think you will not be able to live without a piece of jewelry if it is lost or stolen, leave it at home (hidden)or in a safe deposit box.

No watch ... hubby is the timekeeper.

I wear no jewelry while my wife does wear a somewhat large anniversary band as her wedding ring and at times various other rings and necklaces.

She does tend to vary what she wears on trips, not so much out of safety, but more in tune to the activity. If we will be on the beach a great deal of time (Greek Islands) or doing more of a whirlwind "backpack" type trip, then she resorts to simple bands, studs and no necklaces, simply because that type of travel is rough on everything.

Conversely, a business trip to Rome for a week, she did not change her jewelry at all. Basically, just like at home, she let the activity dictate her choices.

We have "travel" wedding bands that wouldn't be the end of the world if lost. On our most recent trip, we didn't even bring those.

Anytime you move often, pack, unpack, get showered and dressed in places out of your routine, you increase the likelihood that something may be left behind. I think it's better if you only bring jewelry you can afford to lose and leave your more important (to you) and valuable jewelry at home.

I wear my wedding rings and diamond (hoop) earrings , plus I love to use a particular white/yellow gold bracelet when travelling because it has a secure hook, and goes with everything.

Would you believe that I had used my diamond earrings for every European trip and never had a problem. Wore them to a wedding in Austin, and that's where I lost one side!

I just go simple w/ a pair of earrings. I understand that lots of jewelry is a red flag when going through customs. I would forego the jewelry.....too big a chance of losing it. And it may draw unwanted attention. Each time I go to Europe, I discover I'm more interested in being comfortable than being a fashion plate! Have a great time!

No matter what type of jewellery you take with you; if you take it off at night or to bathe, here's a trick. Take a top with you from a small peanut-butter jar, usually they are bright red or green; and use it as a tray for your jewellery. Your eye will be caught by the bright colour of your little "tray', and you won't leave your stuff behind accidently.

Absolutely! Have a routine for your 'stuff', whether it's jewelry, money belt, metro tickets, etc. I actually carry a tray that's still sold by Magellan's. In one corner goes the jewelry, in another is metro tkts and lip balm, there's a pouch for eyeglasses, and my moneybelt gets plopped on top of everything! I put my vitamins, etc., in there the night before. It's very easy to mess up your routine when you don't remember what country you're in LOL! When that tray is empty, I can leave the room. I know my jewelry (and everything else) has been accounted for.

I put my rings in my handbag when I go to shower in the evenings, and then if I forget to put them on next morning, they're already in my Pacsafe, ready to go!

I don't have to worry about leaving my jewelry behind. I can't get my rings off!