I always take it - but I buy most of my jewelry in Paris, and a lot of it is... how do you describe this? better costume jewelry? I'm sure somebody might want to mug me for it someday, but I live in Chicago, so that could happen here. <BR>Does it occur to anybody that the answer to this depends on where you live, and the level of "crime risk" you're used to? I'd be interested in opinions about this.

I have traveled to Europe several times and never take my good jewelry with me. My husband purchased a beautiful, chunky designer silver necklace in Spain last year as a gift for me. I wore it only once before a thief came up behind me and tried to rip it off my neck. He hurt my neck badly. The necklace ends screwed together so it would never have come off by pulling. My husband is 6'4" and grabbed the guy. The thug took off and we were okay. My neck still bothers me even now, however. <BR>Last year my girlfrind and husband were on one of those dinner cruises in London. A man approached them with a knife and demanded their wallets and her jewelry. He is over 300 pounds and 6'4"! I couldn't believe it. <BR>We don't look nor act like tourists. We dress discreetly except this one time with my silver necklace. <BR>I will not take anything flashy or of value. Anything I buy there will go to the hotel safe immediately. <BR>I wear nice jewelry in NYC or DC and have never had a problem... <BR>Be safe, Ladies. It just isn't worth losing your jewelry or your head. <BR>

Topping for the folks on the new "jewelry" thread.

Tourists are easier marks because they are distracted by looking around, they will not be around long enough to identify the person who robbed them, and they tend to have more money than the average person on the street simply because they are traveling and have more cash. If you live in a city, you will know where to walk and where not to walk, and the safe and non safe times. As tourists, you may have jet lag and not as shape as usual, plus it really is hard to not look like a tourist if you are enjoying looking around. So, don't take the good stuff- is it really that important to have the jewelry!!???