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Leave the wedding rings at home?

My husband and I leave for our 16 day trip through Italy in a month and we have been receiving a lot of advice lately from our parents to leave our wedding rings at home so we don't risk having them stolen. As newlyweds, this will be our first big trip since getting married and we really don't want to leave our rings:( I have researched a lot and haven't really come across any stories of stolen rings or advice saying not to wear them...and we are taking many other precautions like money belt, etc for our other valuables. Do you think it's it too risky to wear our rings in Italy? Thanks for the advice!

Posted by
4555 posts

No more dangerous than wearing them in downtown Atlanta. ;)

Posted by
345 posts

Oh, my goodness no. I have never heard of this.

Wear them without any concern!

Posted by
8293 posts

Too risky to wear your wedding rings in Italy? Certainly not. What kind of anarchic country do your parents think Italy is? Assure them that all will be well while you travel, but they should make certain their doors in Atlanta are well locked at night.

Posted by
7453 posts

I have heard of this, I think the concern might be "advertising" that you have jewelry and probably other items worth stealing. A concern from that standpoint, probably not huge. To be honest, my wife might evaluate her jewelry (I wear none anyway) before we travel and leave some at home. But for us it is less of a security issue than practicality. Travelling (at least as I go) is somewhat strenuous. You are sleeping different places, boarding trains, hauling bags, living out of a bag, all opportunities to lose a ring, snag a necklace or a stone, or even leave something in a hotel room. For simple peace of mind, I would recommend evaluating what you wear, do you need 3 rings? need the necklace? I would think your wedding ring would be no problem, unless losing a stone might be a concern.

Posted by
576 posts

As long as you leave them on you'll have no problems. One of my friends has such a large diamond that she always takes it off to sleep, wash her hands, etc. Recently she left it beside the sink at a California hotel and went through days of panic until the hotel (prodded by the police) actually searched the room and found it. Wearing it to Italy should be no different than wearing it anywhere else. The only time I have EVER heard of a ring being stolen from the wearer was the case of Mary Decker Slaney, twenty plus years ago, an Olympic marathoner who was attacked and robbed while running in AMERICA. I sometimes have a jeweler check to make sure my prongs are good and my diamond doesn't fall out on its own, but other than that I think it's paranoid to worry about jewelry. Tearing a ring off someone' finger would be pretty brazen and difficult.

Posted by
252 posts

Personally, I never take anything with me that I'm not willing to lose. As far as specifics, my wife's engagement ring is a family heirloom, it cannot be replaced. Far too much risk to bring it with very little reward. But, our wedding bands can be easily (though sadly) replaced and I have no qualms about traveling with them.

Posted by
23178 posts

We follow the practice of not taking anything we cannot afford to lose. Jewelery is one of those item. We switch to matching gold bands, my father's gold watch which I wear lot at home is traded for a electronic Timex. I have read reports of gold necklaces being snatched but I think that is rare. But I think you need to consider the image that your are projecting. We have traveled for over 300+ days with no problems but we don't project much of an image either.

Posted by
576 posts

One of my friends who married a guy from Italy, had someone try to tear a gold necklace from her neck on their honeymoon in Italy, but was stopped by her husband. Valuable, flashy necklaces would seem to be more of a risk and easier to steal than a ring.

Posted by
11507 posts

It would never occur to me to not wear my ring, same with hubby. We have worn our wedding rings many times to Europe, mostly France., England and Germany,, but I was in Italy last summer too.

Our rings are not silly big mind you,, if you have one of those huge rocks for rings,, then perhaps leaving it at home would be a good idea as you are more likely to remove that ring at the sink and for bed( risky since you are in different places all the time).

I have no idea what sort of ring a man would wear that would need to be left at home,, hubby should wear ring.

Posted by
53 posts

Thank you everyone for all for the great advice! That makes me much more confident in our decision to wear our rings :) This will be our first solo trip out of the country for my husband and I so our families are a little nervous, but thanks to this site we are very prepared and excited to get to Italy!!

Posted by
1880 posts

My hubby never takes his ring off. I take mine off at night, when I wash my hands, do dishes. It makes me nervous to travel with all my rings...so I take a wedding band only when I travel.

I figure that I don't want to lose something with so much emotional value. for my own peace of mind, I leave my best stuff at home. It doesn't bother me- I know I'm married.

Do what you feel best doing. If you don't take your rings off, you have less of a chance of forgetting them. I've lost one earring two times now when I was traveling. I thought I had them secure in my jewelery case, but when I got home..one was missing, and I really liked the pairs...that's why I took them with me. Not again!

Posted by
17 posts

You're from Atlanta and you're worried about crime in Italy???

Posted by
492 posts

I always wear my ring. If I am someplace (not just a place in Italy) and am worried that the stones on it will draw unwanted attention, I just twist it so the stones are in the palm of my hand and not as visible. If you are in the habit of taking rings off for certain activities (washing hands, applying hand lotion, etc.), either be very careful about where you put your rings or get in the habit of leaving them on all the time to help reduce the likelihood of misplacing them. I would avoid taking your rings off in public restrooms and such as its very easy to send things flying and some may see it as a moment of opportunity.

Posted by
1158 posts

Jake,

I heard that too. Plus I heard that Italian men inviate cute ladies for a coffee and thenthey put sleeping pills in their coffe so they can rob and rape them.
I would stay home and walk safetly in Atlanta with my valuable rings.

Posted by
401 posts

I, like millions of other people here in Italy, wear my wedding ring everyday and never give it a second thought.
You'll be fine.

Posted by
1158 posts

Why would it be? Do you think Italians cut tarvelers' fingers off?
I wonder where you got that information from?

Posted by
7209 posts

One of my mother's friends told her the exact same thing!!! How utterly laughable. It's a tale and don't fall for it.

Posted by
12172 posts

I think there are two good reasons not to wear expensive jewelry while traveling. Neither one is the danger of being accosted and robbed of your rings.

First, when you are traveling you will stay at a variety of lodging with unfamiliar settings that you will not return to soon. You will be packing and unpacking often. The chance of misplacing something while traveling is much greater than when you are at home in familiar surroundings on a regular schedule.

Second, a large rock will attract thieves. Europe isn't the place for a physical mugging but your daypack will suddenly look more appealing than the person next to you who isn't wearing expensive jewelry (even though you may have exactly the same things in it).

When we travel my wife and I wear our "travel rings" they are simple thin bands of gold. They aren't our "real" wedding rings so if we lost them, we could replace them without feeling great loss. They aren't showy in any way, so they don't attract undue attention from thieves.

My other big security rule is to carry only one thing at a time. By reducing everything to one bag - whether you are shopping, riding a metro or walking through a park - it's much easier to keep track of your stuff and harder for a thief to steal something without you noticing.

Posted by
8934 posts

If I asked if I should wear my rings while visiting Atlanta, what would you say? I never take my rings off at all so I doubt if I will leave them on the night stand at a hotel in Atlanta. Will I be more obvious to thieves as I have heard the crime in Atlanta is really bad. How scared should I be when I come to this city?

Posted by
7209 posts

Actually I should have included another detail in my previous posting above...the "friend" who told my mother not to wear her wedding rings also said that thieves would cut her fingers off to steal her rings! And this friend has never been to Europe.

Posted by
11507 posts

Stephanie,
Good idea to take all the "advice" you get from people who

a) haven't been to Europe or

b) were there last time 20 yrs ago( and on a bus tour where they "saw" Paris in 2 days)

c) they were there during WWII.

Advice invaraiably starts with " I heard about" instead their own personal experiences.

Go with an open mind, do get as much of your own research done, grab a RS guide book( or any other) .

Laugh off the little things that go wrong,, and remember Europe is not a third world country, the water is good, the hospitals are modern, and most people are nice, ( there are grumps in at home right, ignore them ) .

PS. Yes, pickpockets are the one thing us North Americans have to be aware of,, here( NA) we just grab, shoot or knive someone to get their stuff, in Europe its way more about being sneaky, sneaky, sneaky.!!

Posted by
223 posts

I agree not to bring valuable jewelry...but your wedding ring?? I never take mine off, so I wouldn't even think to while traveling! If you feel safe wearing it in the US, than you should feel safe in Italy. (only time I lost jewelry in Italy was in the Rome airport...had a necklace on that fell off when I took off a sweater and I didn't notice until too late - not valuable, but sentimental, so now I don't travel with jewelry I care about - nothing to do with Italy though!)

Posted by
345 posts

Stephie, one more thing. Pat is right. Arm yourself with good information in response to warnings based on urban myths. Being safe is a travel skill so buy Ricks's ETBD and read the first half (travel skills) and buy his Italy book. Do you have a good travel guide?

Posted by
411 posts

Hi Stephie,

Sorry about all the Atlanta bashing--- this is usually a very nice forum... must be something in the water today. You were asking a simple question about advice you've gotten about taking jewelery to Italy. It is VERY unlikely that your rings would be stolen there. If your engagement ring has a large stone you might consider wearing just the wedding ring. A more likely problem would be taking the ring off and leaving it somewhere. We had a student who lost her class ring by leaving it in the hotel bathroom and not realizing it was gone until days later. We also had a student who had a necklace grabbed from her neck near the Trevi fountain. Last year while we were in Rome a couple in their 60,tourists but I don't recall their nationality, had their coffee drugged so they could be robbed and the drugged man was run over by a train.

Posted by
4555 posts

Maggie..."Last year while we were in Rome a couple in their 60,tourists but I don't recall their nationality, had their coffee drugged so they could be robbed and the drugged man was run over by a train." Not sure what that has to do with the question. The point about Atlanta seems pretty obvious.....if she's not worried about the theft of her jewelry in Atlanta, she shouldn't be worried in Italy.

Posted by
345 posts

If you think having your coffee drugged is scary you should have James fill you in on the civil strife that ensued after the Pirates & Cockroach Rebellion wiped out the Ligurian Mosquitos. Chilling!

If that leaves you cold, please consult with Neil. He will gladly regale you with 101 compelling reasons why you should not travel to Italy when you can visit the greatest country in the world instead-- Wales!

Sorry Stephie, it's a dubious accomplishment on my part, but I guess this thread is now officially too frivolous to continue.

Posted by
26 posts

I did not wear my engagement or wedding ring during my Italy honeymoon. I didn't fear having them stolen; I was more concerned about me losing them or leaving them in a hotel room!

Posted by
8934 posts

Not to change the thread completely, but am I the only old-fashioned person who does not take her wedding ring off? I remember being so upset before an OP, cause I had to remove it. I never take it off. I don't even like taking my engagement ring off. Am I alone here?

Posted by
345 posts

I only take them off to clean them.

Posted by
1158 posts

"Last year while we were in Rome a couple in their 60,tourists but I don't recall their nationality, had their coffee drugged so they could be robbed and the drugged man was run over by a train. "

Maggie,

Did you actually see the man dead?
Or you just read the story online like many other ones such as stolen kidnies and wedding bands....

Posted by
800 posts

1) I wear my wedding ring, but not engagement ring when I travel because I DO take it off and would be afraid I'd lose it. Not afraid of people taking it.

2) Not trying to hijack but RE: story of man in Rome drugged and killed by train - Isn't this one real? Or did it turn out to not be so?

Mon., May 26, 2008
ROME - Italian railway police say an American tourist was hit and killed by a train at a Rome station as he was walking on the tracks in a daze after being drugged and robbed.

Police official Giovanni Piccolantonio said Monday that 74-year-old Frank Phel from California died early Friday at the suburban Tiburtina station.

Posted by
411 posts

BeaI did not see the man dead, though I did see his body being taken away by the police on the television at our b and b and saw the pictures in the Italian newspapers for several days.NormI really don't see how disparaging the OP's hometown is genuinely helpful. Read the origial post. She's never been to Italy, it's her honeymoon, people have been giving her some dubious advice and she's come to people she assumes have real knowledge. Why not just say as long as you are careful about taking the ring off and leaving it somewhere it should be fine. Taking a ring off of your finger is pretty aggressive and most of the street crime in Italy is less physical.

Posted by
8293 posts

C'mon, Maggie. Norm did not disparage Atlanta at all. He tried to bring a bit of common sense into the discussion, that's all.

Posted by
15 posts

Well, if nothing else this has been entertaining! I dont think you will have a problem wearing your wedding rings, I've worn my everywhere we travel and I sleep with it on so I dont run the risk of losing it, then have it cleaned when I get home (after wearing it in the shower, to bed, swimming, etc) mine fits well, so I dont worry about it falling off. But you could always purchase a cheap band and where it in its place and leave your diamond at home if you are overly concerned. Happy Travels!

Posted by
23178 posts

I think this discussion approaches the silly level (James will probably jump on me for using that word again) and is similar to the white tennis shoes, t-shirt, shorts, etc. discussions. IN MY OPINION, successful security when traveling encompasses a number of factors that result is an image that you project to a thief. In their own ways, pickpockets are professionals who have developed the ability to spot good targets. They are not gong to randomly hit ten people with the hope that one of them might have a loose billfold. I don't know what those factors are but I can guess -- a look of affluence, lack of attention to personal security, lack of attention to surroundings or how they are handling themselves in a crowd, how much attention are they drawing to themselves, etc.

Would a .75 caret engagement ring draw attention ?? -- probably not. Would a 1.5 caret in a high mounting -- maybe. Just use common sense. And look in the mirror. You will be fine and they do not cut off fingers.

Posted by
4555 posts

Maggie....perhaps you may want to read my comment carefully. And you say "people have been giving her some dubious advice." I think you may have mistaken a few sarcastic comments for advice...it has generally been that she should have nothing to worry about. You may also recall that you were the one who raised the story about the elderly American tourists who were drugged and robbed.....not exactly reassuring to our young honeymoon couple.

Posted by
23178 posts

If we are gong to bring up the drugged couple, lets be sure the story is accurate and the proper emphasis is placed.

..... (ABC news report)....This man approached these two tourists and earned their trust, and then offered them two cappuccinos with drugs," Piccolantonio said.....

This was a setup which is true in nearly any theft situation. Avoid the setup. We have been telling young ladies not to accept drinks in bars for years but that same advice applies to everyone. A little street smarts goes a long ways. Be cautions of strange who approach you and taking food or drink from a stranger has never been a good idea. But to suggest that the drugged tourist is common place is a disservice to everyone because it is not.

Posted by
411 posts

Norm
" And you say "people have been giving her some dubious advice." "

Read her initial post "we have been receiving a lot of advice lately from our parents to leave our wedding rings at home so we don't risk having them stolen."The comment about the drugged man who was killed by the train was in response to Bea's comment right before mine. I'm really baffled why a simple question from a novice traveller sparked so many sarcastic responses.

Frank, since you were able to find the story did it have any information about the trial of the perpetrator? At the time the police were considering charging him with murder since the drugging lead to him being run over by the train.

Posted by
345 posts

Dear Maggie, understanding tone in an email is difficult and that's why misunderstandings happen all the time. I hope this helps. Norm was 1. using irony to make a point and 2. creating a useful excercise in which one compares the familiar to the unknown to illustrate a point and draw conclusions. Bea was doing the same. They're not picking on Atlanta.

Stephie, we must thank you. This is the most interesting thread running on the board right now. It's funny how I never predict which threads those will be!

And do tell us more about the incident! I promise not over-anaylze your emails Frank.

Posted by
4555 posts

Maggie...to extend on your quote..."people have been giving her some dubious advice and she's come to people she assumes have real knowledge." My point was people on this board HAVE been giving her consistent advice....with the same precautions she might use in her home town, she should be OK.

Posted by
29 posts

Is it a huge diamond that you are worried about? The only thing I've ever heard of is a friend of mine took her ring off to wash her face last year at a nice Rome hotel. She forgot it on the back of the sink the next day when going out and it was missing upon her return. She admitted to being forgetful and luckily had insurance. I think this could happen in any city in the world.
I just returned from getting married in Italy and found that everyone was SO concerned for us about money belts, rings, safety, etc that we must have been on high alert but seriously, we had NO problems whatsoever! However, your peace of mind on vacation is a beautiful thing....

Posted by
101 posts

Would a 1.5 caret in a high mounting -- maybe

I have that ring and spent a week in Rome with no problems at all. There are plenty of people over there with larger ones. You will be totally fine with your rings on.

Enjoy your trip!

Posted by
62 posts

I believe in good judgment and caution, but I have felt about as safe in Italy as I have in most other tourist destinations that I have visited(including those in the US). I'd guess the probability of a wedding ring signaling trouble in Italy is about as great as it is on Main Street in the town where I live. My wife and I both choose to wear our wedding rings every place we go.