Jewelry and pick pockets

Spain is no worse than anywhere else, as far as pickpockets, and outright robbery is rare. It is perfectly safe to wear your wedding ring - locals wear them. They also wear earrings and necklaces and bracelets. Don't worry about it.

I would not worry about a wedding ring. . . but if it makes your husband really uncomfortable, maybe it's worth his peace of mind to leave it at home. I would not wear any costume jewelry that looks expensive. I always wear a somewhat heavy gold chain and in Barcelona, a local told me to tuck it in under my blouse! He said someone might yank it off. That's the only time I was ever warned about it in all my travels.

I was worried about the same thing and ladt year bought this really pretty fake diamond...can't tell it's fake at all. Then I read not to worry about your wedding rings. I have friends who do both. So now, I'm not worried about robbery, but if somehow I will lose it.

As far as costume jewelry, good point about making sure it doesn't look real. I'm also concerned about my watch. do those ever get unsnapped and pulled off?

... in Spain you don't risk being stabbed or gun down to have your ring or your wallet with 10 bucks stolen from you... like sadly is in so many neighbourhoods of many American cities... if that's what you're asking.

Barcelona is far safer in general terms than most other big capitals in Europe (as per crime index), yet being one of the top destinations in the world -which means crowds in front of attractions or at certain metro stations- there are a number "specialists", both local and foreign, that are out there pinching stuff from unsuspected people -both from locals and from tourists, as they don't really give a toss about where you come from.

Pickpocketing, as the term indicates, is a crime where the victim doesn't realize he's being targeted until it's too late. You simply need to be a schmuck that's not paying attention to your surroundings and that's carrying a top of the line phone in your jeans back pocket, or leaving the expensive camera unattended on a table in a terrace, or be naive enough to not be suspicious of 'out of the ordinary' situations*.... and when you realize the pickpocket is long gone with your stuff.

Other type of crimes do exist as well of course -this is a big city after all!- but they are fairly rare.

(*) out of the ordinary situations.... I hear one of the latest techniques of some Argentinians when they come to Barcelona "to work" (being sarcastic here, of course) is to approach you with a big smile and pretend to dance a tango with you... while the partner next to him/her is going through your pockets without you even noticing it. Gosh!... how "ordinary" is that someone approaches you for a dance in the middle of the street in your hometown? Well, same here...it's not! Can't you suspect there's got to be something fishy going on?

Anyhow, for those interested in some advice, check post #9 here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187497-i44-k8582706-Scams_safety_and_walking_around_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html#67424708

PS: Btw, my last remark isn't obviously intended to blame Argentinians or any other nationality as crime doesn't understand about nationalities. Sadly, in Barcelona, we have criminals from many nations, including our own (duh!).

I was wary about the same misconception about Spain, but that wariness vanished in the 1st hour of landing in Spain. I traveled extensively in Spain ( Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Barcelona in 2 weeks)using trains, buses, air, taxis, walked early, walked late. I didn't feel unsafe even once, Spain is a beautiful country inhabited by friendliest bunch of people that makes the travel all the more awesome. The weather and food scene is extraordinarily great. I had taken a money belt, but never used it onece, never felt the need, had my wallet in my back pocket, I was carrying several credit cards, debit cards and 700 euro cash. So dont worry and have fun.

We use the same mindset about taking precautions aganist theft regardless of what nation we are visiting. There are several places in the RS forum which provide wise counsel regarding pickpockets. However, I hope you take really deep dives in using the forum to peel back the layers of how to thouroughly enjoy your visit to Spain.

... yet I won't get tired to repeat: this is not the countryside, it's a city!... and we have all sorts of unsavoury characters like in any major city, so don't be fool by appearances. Despite "feeling" save, do be cautions -as you would in any other major city elsewhere.

Do you frequently take your ring off and set it down in a public place? If not, then as a wearer of a real diamond necklace 24 hours a day in a large city, including traveling to Spain twice, I'm pretty sure you'll be just fine.

I think Spain, at least Barcelona and Madrid, are somewhat worse for pickpockets than some - not all - European countries. In Madrid, a thief tailed us - likely because he saw me get into my neck wallet in a grocery store (something I usually wouldn't do). On the Ramblas in Barcelona, a wheelchair intentionally ran over my wife's foot, and stayed on it - I'd guess it was a way to create a diversion for a theft. You sometimes had to jump out of the way, they were trying to bump into or run over you.

The best way to avoid being a target is wearing money belts and staying alert. The second best technique is to avoid any show of wealth - including expensive jewelry. In Mexico, you have to find a happy medium. You want to be well dressed enough so the cops won't take an interest in you while, simultaneously, not appearing so well dressed that thieves might target you.

We've been wearing our "travel" rings for a lot of years. They are simple thin gold bands with no jewels to make them stand out.

I wouldn't worry about someone taking the ring itself, rather I'd be concerned about anything that identifies you as someone carrying valuable items. If thieves take an interest in you, they'll target your purse, wallet, luggage, daypack, shopping bags, etc. - things they're really good at getting in and out of without you noticing. Their goal is to be long gone before you notice anything missing.