1st post: Ladies: Should I bring my nice Louis Vuitton handbag and diamond rings and gold jewelry to Italy (Rome/Florence/Tuscany/Amalfi Coast), or plain leather bag & inexp jewelry?
 

This is my first post, and I'm Steve R's wife :o). I'm going to Italy in Sept 06 for 3 weeks and would love to take my nice brown Louis Vuitton handbag and 2 carat engagement ring, diamond wedding band, and a gold necklace to Italy. We'll be staying in some moderate hotels and some pretty expensive ones (Westin Excelsior using Starwood pts in Rome for 4 nts, and La Minerva in Capri for 2-3 nts, though that's not that expensive).

Will I stick out too much as "an easy mark" wearing this jewelry and handbag, or does everyone wear this stuff anyway? Would it be better to wear lesser jewelry, leaving it safely at home, and wear a regular non descript handbag? I've never not worn my jewelry when traveling but I've heard "things" about this part of Italy. We traveled without any concern in Lake Como, Lugano, and Venice last year, but is Rome and Florence different in this respect?

Thanks alot for your feedback. I might feel a bit naked without my rings, and I'd miss my nice handbag for 3 weeks, but if it's no big deal security wise, I'll bring them all.

:o) "Us in Italy last year":
http://photobucket.com/albums/v287/s...0Italy%20Pics/


Julia R
Silver Spring MD

Dare to live a little - go "naked" without the the jewelry and expensive handbag. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I agree with Cato. I have a similar engagement/wedding band set and always leave it at home when travelling far away. Why take the risk that something may happen? I don't even mean someone stealing it, as obviously Italians have nice jewelery and wear it all the time. However, if you take it off for any reason you may forget it, etc. I have a simple wedding band I wear and bring my less expensive jewelry.

About the handbag, if it is your favorite handbag and it wouldn't be a problem to carry it around all day, then by all means bring it. When we were in Italy last March there was tons of Louis Vuitton (real and fake).

Louis Vuitton has become so ubiquitous that it is vulgar. Create your own style and try not to look like the "ladies who lunch" at Olive Garden.

A group of women I knew went on a cruise and left their handbag on the chair as they went to the buffet table. When they returned to their seats only one bag was missing, the Vuitton.
Yet the other ladies'bags were beautiful leather, no name showing obviously and much more expensive.

I always wear my real wedding ring (large, like yours) but the rest of my jewelry is costume or fakes. I'm not worried about being robbed, but rather losing a stone or damaging it in some weird way while traveling, etc.

As far as handbags, I go fake or cheap there, too. In fact, anything that's one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, including clothing, is left at home.

PS: I've never had anything stolen from my person or my room while traveling. However, I have lost jewelry.

While I do agree with Balenciaga on the LV bags, I would say that you would have absolutely no problems at all with carrying one on your trip. They are not considered a big deal in Europe (or here in NY, btw) so your chances of having it stolen would be no greater than with any other bag. I would leave the diamond at home, for sure.

Do you wear your jewelry in Baltimore? As far as the bag! You really are kidding, right! LV's are everywhere. I'm sure you will see several of them being sold at every fake vendor stand.
I really would not worry about either and I don't think LV's are in high demand in Europe. 2 carats really isn't that big anymore! either have fun!

I agree with the LV bag responses--they're everywhere now, and I don't think thieves would bother. As for the diamond, wouldn't you be worried that a rock that size would get lost somehow? My advice is to wear a plain band and keep your jewels at home in the safe dahling. My ring came off one time in the pool at a hotel in Zurich and I just about lost it.

My opinion:
I wear what I wear at home, so whatever makes you comfortable is what you should wear too.
All of my bags are good bags, I carry the one that will be the most comfortable for days of sightseeing and shopping, something that is secure and not easily picked..Something with a long strap that goes across your chest is good, hands free and not so easy to pull off of you.
From all that I have heard and know- Italy, like France and England and many US cities, has women that live there who carry expensive handbags and wear nice jewelry- they even carry it when they visit the US.

* I cannot figure this one out whenever I hear it*
"wear fakes"....if a thief is walking down the street and sees a pair of 5 carat CZ "diamond" studs in your ears, how in the world will he know they are fakes?
I always wondered about that :)

lol, so true Scarlett. The woman on the cruise had the only fake!

I agree with others...Luis Vuitton, who cares??? they're all over the place, the most common thing in the world!

2 carat?? honestly, no big thing either, quite common and I don't know why you think you would stick out. Do you think everyone in Italy are little paupers that don't have jewelry?

Relax, I don't know where you live, and maybe having a Luis Vuitton Bag and a 2 carat ring is special or rare in your town, but most places now, it doesn't get a second look.

Are you nuts? Talk about "Easy Mark"
Why have the worry of losing your treasurers or having them stolen. The only thing I ever take when I travel is my $5.00 barn watch I wear when working outside. I think you will find others agree.

Hi Steve's wife. Every woman friend I have in Italy wears their jewelry and has a beautiful handbag, no matter where they go.

I have always worn my jewelry in Italy..I don't see why it is anymore dangerous than wearing it in the US.

Agree with Scarlett regarding wearing fake jewelry. Good question Scarlett!!

When I travel there is one thing I always do which eliminates the worry of losing any jewelry. Before I go to bed at night I put the jewelry in my handbag. I never lay it on the nightstand, the dresser, the bathroom counter etc. But I do that at home also, when I take my jewelry off it goes into the jewelry drawer.

What I do not do is take an excessive amount of jewelry. Just one extra pair of earrings and one extra ring (for evening wear). That is always in the zippered pocket of my handbag.

Have a fun trip!

Scarlett & LoveItaly,

I think the idea of wearing "fakes" is that if they get stolen, you haven't lost anything of great value, yet, you still feel like you're wearing your own good jewelry.

Un;ess you're planning on hanging around train stations at night - or frequenting bad neighborhoods - why should you have any trouble? Just be alert - the locals do this all the time.

(As for the woman whose Vuitton was stolen on the cruise - what do you expect if you walk off and leave a handbag unattended?)

And 2 carats???? Hardly the Hope diamond!

NYtrav. Agree, but the point was the thief didn't know an expensive bags as the rest were. He or she only were familiar with the Vuitton pattern and didn't know workmanship.

I am comfortable with wearing the same jewelry I do at home with the exception of my favorite necklace. It's too easy for someone to come and rip it off my neck. It's valuable (inherited) but more than anything it has a lot of sentimental value, it was my mother's. I wouldn't worry so much about the handbag because, these days, there are so many fakes floating around, especially Louie Vuitton.

lyb....Ooooh! Thanks for the explaination, LOL. I, like Scarlett, always wondered. I always thought people wore fake jewerly so they wouldn't be robbed etc. Take care and have a lovely holiday!

Thanks for all your helpful responses. After reading them all with my husband and thinking about it... I decided that I WANT to bring my newest white patent leather Louis Vuitton that I got in Honolulu this fall as an extra handbag for the trip. It would be put in my carry on. I'd use it only at night for nice dinners.

Then I guess I'd bring a second bag, my new burnt orange Chanel bag for the day. Hope this is a good idea because one or the other will always be in my hotel room or luggage.

As for my jewelry, and I know that 2 1/4 carats isn't really a big deal, I guess I'll just bring it and my wedding ring, and wear them as I always do. I can always turn the ring the other way if a certain time of night or area of town starts feeling sketchy. As for my other jewelry, I'll just bring my one diamond necklace and my diamond stud earings and leave it at that.

I appreciate ALL your quick responses so far...

Julia R (Steve R's better half :o)

As f

Obviously, the thief wasn't a discerning thief ;)

Then again, most thieves aren't. Take what makes you happy, but safeguard it like you're at your normal stomping grounds. Thieves don't take vacations, but they do take advantage of opportunities. Don't give them a chance.

And to all Fodorites, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Season's Greetings. :)

Don't worry about the handbags. Everyone will assume that you bought them from one of those enterprising chaps with their blankets.
My wife usually leaves her 12 carat diamond ring and very heavy gold necklace at home when we go to Venice.
She worries that the weight will cause her to topple overboard into the canal/

I own the Alma and Riviera in Epi Leather and I don't see my bags everywhere. Many people ask me where I got both bags because they don't immediately recognize the understated LV logo but the refined style seems to catch the eye of certain strangers.

I love diamonds and always travel with my favorite pieces. When I go out with friends I like to look my best. However, I do look European. A common thief would have a challenge pegging me for an American tourist. Even so, there's always a risk when you step out of your house and that's life. At a certain point you have to decide how much fear will control your actions.

Smart, sophisticated women know how to handle wearing expensive accessories in public. Even though your question seems terribly naive and appears "showy," I'm disappointed that some posters, probably female, felt the need to be so catty. I'm afraid catty behavior among women is far more common than any LV bag I've ever owned.

On the other hand, humor is far more charming and oldie's post made me laugh.

Louis Vuitton makes white patent leather bags?

But of course... ((@))

;)

I'm sorry. I don't get it. WHY do you want to take the "good stuff?" Why add that element of worry to what should be a relaxing vacation? If you have to even have a discussion about whether it's a good idea, then mention "turning the diamond to the inside" in certain areas, why are you wearing it? Surely you don't care about impressing strangers (and, as mentioned many times, Italians are very chic and won't give your bags or rings a second glance). Pickpockets, however, will see that burnt orange C from a mile away. So why take it?

I have several really good handbags but I take a $10 Old Navy nylon bag with lots of compartments and a strap that goes across my chest--and I relax.

Several years ago I had a big Burberry purse (and lots of other stuff) stolen from my luggage. I had only taken the darn thing because it was so big it made a nice day pack. Well, that taught me how foolish I was.

I just returned from a cruise and the second day I noticed my diamond was a tiny bit loose. It drove me crazy the rest of the trip. Next time it stays home.

I got to say when my wife and I travel we don't worry much about our or her jewelry! We usually have our bodyguards a step behind. If we want some private time and don't want to be bothered or noticed. We will relieve them of their duties. We will have George V Rolls service drop us off in a safe Paris neighborhood. While walking the streets of Paris; If we see someone that looks a little sketchy I immediately tell my wife to take off her 4.67 vvs g color stone and we put it into my black with gold lock YSL european mens across the shoulder satchel. I really love that one!!!! Oh I forgot about the Gucci I usaully wear that I got in Florence last September. (Gucci outlet) It's beautiful black suede with beige Gucci stripes and what a great price.

I decided I may just buy one there so I'm going to bring an inexpensive leather handbag and my small white patent leather Louis Vuitton bag for the evening. And yes, the white one is a new bag for LV :o) I think they call it the Houston Bag in monogram vervis, whatever that means :o)
http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flas...p;langue=en_GB

Jewelry? I'll just bring the regular stuff I usually bring when going to Florida or anywhere else. I'll will be careful with it!


I certainly didn't post this topic to be flashy as one poster suggested, I was just curious as to what I should do. Hope no one took offense.

Who cares?

The thing is when you're traveling, you may be jetlagged, confused, and/or lost. You may have stumbled into an unsavory area. You have to keep track of your luggage, your camera, etc. None of this is true at home. And none of this is true for Italian women.

So play it safe. The same argument holds for using a money belt.

Good Lord. Is all of this for real? I'd be embarrassed if my wife's self-esteem was wrapped up in handbags.

faa-lalalala-trollll-lololo-lololo

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34620221

Mrs Stever, are you the wife of this STEVER ?
Does he know you are posting with his screen name ? LOL

Yes, that's the Steve R. I haven't created my own screen name yet, but perhaps I should, and soon!

Julia R
Silver Spring, MD.

I would say take everything you want to take. I've traveled all over Europe with my "good" purse and some nice jewelry and never had a problem. Although my first impulse would be to leave the LV at home and buy a nice Italian bag while there.
As for your rings, I'm a bit mystified about all the worries over stones falling out. I don't know anyone whose diamond has tumbled out of their engagement ring while doing ordinary traveling. You can always pop into a jeweler before leaving and ask to have your setting checked to make sure it's secure.
The odds of an engagement/wedding ring being stolen are highly remote if you're like most women who wear their rings all day except perhaps for showering. And you're not likely to forget to put them on afterwards.
As I noted on another thread, my nice diamond and gold engagement/wedding ring made it through all our travels with no problems, but then disappeared at home down a crack in the floorboards! And don't you have insurance for your ring? If not, perhaps you should get it.

Leaving your favorite nice things at home while you're traveling to a fashion-aware place like Italy reminds me of people who are always saving their "good" clothes for special occasions that almost never come up.

Btilke: Great reply. I'll just bring what I want to bring then. The only reason I started this thread is that I just wasn't sure if it was a smart move to bring the "good stuff" ($1200 purse and diamond rings due to perceived crime risks) or just a cheap handbag and a silver ring, due to travel in Rome, Florence and Naples, but apparantly it doesn't matter.
I certainly would miss my pretty handbag!

That's it! Thanks everyone for your comments, whether they were questioning, answering or just stupified at my initial question :o)

Julia R
Silver Spring, MD

I guess it was for real. Wow.

Maybe I could suggest getting a IN STYLE subscription! This past May issue an article " what bags and diamonds to wear when traveling abroad" It said to wear Gucci in Italy and LV in France! Also you cannot enter Europe if you have a Dooney& Burke because the thieves know it's american along with your Levi's. They will just drag you into an alley take your bag steal your Levi's and beat you with a big unsalted loaf of bread!!!! Diamonds out! Topaz in!

I'm sorry to all my Fodorites. I have not been very nice, but I just couldn't help myself. Please forgive me thou I have sinned.
Wishing everyone a safe and Happy NewYear!