Hi - <BR> <BR>I was just reading another thread and saw a mention of jewelry which got me thinking... <BR> <BR>Do any of you wear your good jewelry while overseas? <BR> <BR>Myself, I leave all of my good stuff at home. I bring a few different pairs of nice earrings (such as crystal or the like but nothing valuable) and wear a simple ring or two, if any. (And I'm a ring fanatic believe me) <BR> <BR>My cousin (whose husband is a jewelry designer) has an incredible plantinum wedding set (the center stone alone is over 2 carats) and she always wears it. I told her she's crazy! Even though it's insured it just makes anyone who sees it think you can spend more money. What's the point? I told her she should go for something nice but more modest but she won't hear of it. <BR> <BR>So, what do you do? <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR

I wear all my jewelry, all the time. I do it at home and I do it when I'm away. The only time I've taken off my engagement ring (close to the size of your cousin's) and my watch was when I was shopping in Naples. I only did that when my friend, a local, insisted. Although, to be honest, I often turn in to the palm side when I'm walking and when I'm driving.

Hi Stacey - <BR> <BR>I hear you about the "palm" thing. I don't have a big wedding ring but have a couple of large (one ruby and one pink tourmaline) rings and if we're in L.A. or walking around somewhere unfamilair, I always turn mine around! <BR> <BR>Just stay insured! <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR <BR>

Quite a lovely problem to have, yes? <BR> <BR>My wedding ring is one-of-a-kind, so not only to guard against theft but also my own occasional fogginess when traveling, I wear an inexpensive plain band when traveling. <BR> <BR>I take three pairs of costume-quality earrings -- one simple gold, one silver, and one pair of bone/mother-of-pearl sort of button earrings. <BR> <BR>I buy the good stuff once I'm there and decided on an evening-by-evening basis whether to wear it or leave it in the safe. Sometimes it's a nice part of celebrating the trip; sometimes it's better to be prudent.

I take no jewelry. It's just one more thing (or collection of little things) to take care of.

I never, never, never take my GOOD jewelry with me. Just one more thing to worry about. However, what I do wear never comes off. My watch, plain stud earrings, a gold necklace(not to loud), my rings (plain wedding band, no engagement ring), and a bracelet or two. I may bring a cheap pair of pearls to dress up an outfit, but usually rely on scarves.

I leave my good stuff home because of its sentimental value; I'm not really concerned with theft, but with losing it. If I lose my grandmother's pearl earrings at K-Mart, I think "damndamndamn idiotidiotidiot"; if I lose them while traveling, I'll remember my vacation as the time I lost Gram's earrings...not what I want in my memory book.

I agree with the folks above who err on the safe side. And I sympathize with those who want not to have one more things to worry about! <BR> <BR>My first few trips into Macedonia and Eastern Europe I left my [not expensive] engagement ring home. Now that I am more comfortable I wear it with the occasional "turn-under" as mentioned. <BR> <BR>I have taken my [small] diamond earrings, but if I do they are THE earrings for the trip and never leave my ears <BR> <BR>I like to look nice so I usually bring one necklace, a couple of pins and a few pairs of earrings keyed to the clothes I am bringing. Other than a few rings nothing I have is of anything more than sentimental value, but then most of what I have falls into that category so I take just the amount I mentioned. Sometimes I need to bring/wear something that has been given to me by the people I am visiting. And I know my husband enjoys seeing the simple, but treasured, things he has given me. So it's a "rock" and a hard placeI always carry the little jewelry I take in a very small satin zippered envelope that is kept in the zipped pocket inside my purse.

I guess I should have added that while I wear what I wear at home, I don't change my jewelry at all. I leave it all on, all the time, even at night - so there's never a chance of forgetting it someplace. I don't even take anything off to wash my hands. That takes some of the worry out of the trip.

Those of us who practice the art of lightly lifting out of pockets really like to target subjects who give external indications that they are loaded with money. So look at in this light. <BR>Assume that I am targeting two potential victims. One is well dressed with real jewels, rings, etc. The other is not well dressed and has no visible rings, bracelets etc. of value. Which one do you think I will make the priority target? You have a 50% chance of guessing the correct answer. <BR>

I'm not a huge jewelry freak but I do have a couple pieces I wear everyday at home and do wear while travelling. <BR>First of all, I always wear my wedding ring. It's a 2 carat diamond band and I don't know if it attracts unwanted attention or not, but it's my wedding ring and I'd feel naked without it. <BR>I also wear a pair of diamond stud earrings that I almost never take off except to clean. I 've had them for years and they've never come loose or fallen out so I don't worry about losing them that way. <BR>As far as theft is concerned, they are insured. Obviously, there is much sentimental value attached to them but I live and work in New York City and haven't had any jewelry related misadventures yet so I don't worry about it when I'm on vacaion. <BR>Necklaces and bracelets, I feel are much easier to lose so I don't usually bring anything except maybe a simple gold chain or something. <BR>The rest of the good stuff stays at home.

I am one who really likes jewelry both fake "fun" jewelry and the real stuff, but I just don't like to keep up with a bunh of stuff on vacation. I usually wear one pair of silver hoop earrings that I sleep in, shower in, and basically never take off while I'm traveling. These are not expensive just simple and nice. However, I do travel with my wedding set which I have taken off less than 10 times in the 6 years I have been married. Even though it is not replaceable (3 carat solitare set in platinum and over 100 years old) I have no fear. As long as I don't take it off, how will I lose it? As far as theft goes, I live in NYC and am in questionable areas quite often but have never had a problem.

Great question and so far no trolls, mean or rude people! I LOVE IT! <BR>Lynn, I take my REAL jewelry and I take the fun stuff too. I have never been the victim of a crime but have felt that "people" thought that we could pay more for things from time to time. I sometimes turn my diamond to the inside of my palm when my instincts say so. I do that more in America than abroad to be real honest. <BR>I removed my wedding ring once while travelling in Marrakesh with my husband. <BR>We had been warned about the robbers etc. I put my wedding ring, like the one described above in my money bag inside of my purse. We were going to dinner so I went into the money bag to put it on, it was GONE. I was a wreck and really felt like death was on my doorstep. We re-traced our/my steps, went back to all the shops where I had been shopping( about 15 of them) and still no ring. I felt like you know what. We sat on the sofa in the lobby in stone cold silence and pain...for some strange reason my husband decided to take apart the sofa in the lobby...the 2.5 carat wedding ring was in between the cushions...thank God they did not vaccum(sp?). I have not removed the ring during my travels since that time.

I think I'm in the minority... <BR> <BR>I always take my jewelry off when sleeping/showering etc. and I rarely wear the same thing for more than a few days. Sometimes I change it daily to go with my outfit! I'm a real nut. <BR> <BR>My husband knows this and understands. What jewelry I'm wearing has nothing to do with my love for him. We're 12 years and going strong and he willingly indulges my jewerly habit. Thank God! <BR> <BR>As mentioned above, I also shop for jewelry while on trips (especially to Asia) and will sometimes wear only a watch knowing that I'll have something within the first 24 hours of being there! <BR> <BR>Viva La Gems! <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR <BR>

I NEVER, EVER wear any good jewelry, I don't even wear any gold . . . I try to stick with little silver earrings and a timex watch. I have lots 'o insurance and I'm not worried about it getting stolen per se . . . I'm worried about getting hurt. <BR> <BR>I was mugged for my gold-tone earrings that I bought at a garage sale for 10 cents (thief didn't know they weren't real). He grabbed me by my neck from behind as I was running to catch a bus and almost broke my neck . . . I was VERY lucky. <BR> <BR>But it taught me a very valuable lesson . . . no jewelry, real or fake. I'd rather worry about what I'm going to have for dinner than about getting hurt. <BR> <BR>Just one less thing to worry about . . . <BR>Sandy

I don't have pierced ears, so no earrings, and I left the wedding ring and all jewelry at home, just brought a plain watch with leather band. <BR> <BR>Now whether this had anything to do with no wedding band or not, I had more attention from males in France than I've had in years! At age 33, I'm an old married woman, and certainly not used to having the inside of my forearm kissed by a french waiter, or some gorgeous hunk of a half French, half Chilean guy struggle to speak to me in French, Spanish and English. My husband was right there when these things occurred, and his response was "Do they GET that I'm here?" <BR> <BR>So am I going to wear my jewelry when I travel? What do YOU think? *grin*

i do not understand why common sense does not rule. the best way to get unwanted attention,either planned or on impulse, is call attention to yourselk. showing expensive items on ones body gives the wwrong impression to some people. when you are in a country where there is much unemployment or a large class of people who do not have much and you flash money it makes you a target. this could easily lead to robbery or worse. its more than your individual choice here- someone else who may try to help you could be injured. why do people have insurance-to cover unseen circumstances hopefully not ones that they well could have prevented with some descression and common sense. it also makes you a taarget for someone to try and charge you morre than the going rate. it seems to me that here is the best and most sensible way or proving that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. <BR>

Jesse, <BR>What do you mean <BR>"an old married woman"!!! at only age 33. <BR>Oh , to be that young again. <BR> <BR>I read on the U.S. customs site, that in order to avoid having customs tax one on jewelry upon leaving the country., one should bring an appraisal, or some proof you came into the country with said jewelry. <BR>I have a very nice italian bracelet, and I always wear it. <BR>Should I really bring my insurance appraisal, so I do not get stuck in customs, (leaving Rome/entering the States?) trying to prove I did not purchase it in Italy.? <BR>(did I make any sense with this?) <BR>Thanks. <BR>

Sandy - <BR> <BR>I couldn't agree more. <BR> <BR>I always wear my stainless Swiss Army watch and usually silver or crystal style earrings. Plain and basic. <BR> <BR>Whatever jewelry I wear, I always make sure it looks nice but not like it's worth much. I remember once (about 10 years ago in Vegas at New Years) I was wearing a nice piece of costume jewelry that looked like a real gold necklace and my husband told me to put it under my shirt after he saw two different people eyeing it. Like your earrings, it was fake but the bad guys don't know that. <BR> <BR>Since then, I'm pretty careful about what I take on trips. <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR

NEVER wear the good jewelery on vacation-too sentimental and waited too long to get the stuff. I always travel abroad w/ either silver jewelry and scarves or a small gold bracelet that if I lost,I wouldn't be upset about. However, on a cruise to the Caribbean, I DO wear the good stuff--but only on the ship...because the cabins have safes and how can you get robbed on a cruise ship?