I leave it at home, always. My husband leaves his wedding band as well. When we're traveling, we're usually moving around quite a bit, or on the beach or hiking, and there's just too much of a chance of a) damaging it or b) losing it. So it stays home in our safe.

If you are travelling solo, do not wear your engagement ring: you will meet a lot more interesting people...

It's so funny. After posting here a couple of weeks ago that I never wear my rings when traveling, I just realized that I wore them in Barcelona without even thinking about it.

Interesting thread, with every possible reply! After reading it, I think the biggest threat (short of being mugged, which probably happens no more frequently than in the US) are pickpockets, but they'd have to be very slick to get something off your finger. In Italy, I was going to the train station in a subway tunnel, and two small kids ran up to me on both sides - one of them PINCHED me hard above the elbow (so I wouldn't notice the rest of what he was doing) and tried to stick his hand in my pocket. I yelled and shrugged them off and no harm done.

I made the mistake of carrying something in each hand. I was later given the advice never to do that -- to always have a hand free, especially in underground metro tunnels near train stations.

I have a travel wedding band I bought for $25 at a flea market. I travel alone a lot and my engagement ring is what we in NY politely call 'significant.' I don't like to be a target.

When visiting developing countries, and especially those with large Muslim populations I always wear the travel wedding band. Culturally, a married woman is more respected and why tempt people with a diamond on your hand.

Funny, about the comments on the Swiss, I rarely wear my diamonds to work here in Switzerland. They would be rather showy to my work peers. My husband bought me some gorgeous diamond studs for my 50th but I have never worn them to work.

gruezi

Yes. I never take my engagement ring and wedding band off. If I am in a place where I am afraid it might draw attention, I turn it so the solitaire faces the inside of my palm.

I think it is not a good idea to be 'flashy', so if the size of your diamond(s) falls into this category I probably would leave them home.

Besides that I'd worry more about loss, like if you ever take your rings off to shower or whatever. If a ring has sentimental value and could not be replaced with insurance money, I would not travel with it for that reason.

I'm surprised no one has suggested converting it to a nipple ring where it could be worn discretely and kept near and dear for sentimental value without any ostentation. ;)

I have no engagement ring and no piercings, so I wouldn't personally follow through on this suggestion.

In general, I think it is best to leave the bling at home. If traveling alone, a wedding band is a good idea, though.

Yes, I wear mine but it's pretty simple and not flashy. And I generally mainly travel to Western European countries where i don't have to worry about theft or being mugged.

I have a simple (but beautiful) diamond solitaire ring on a gold band. So there's not much reason to leave it behind or wear a fake.

Ring Wrapper....I always bring one when I go on vacation, and my husband does too...it's small, light and cheap and protects our rings when we travel. perfect for me b/c i love to have it on my finger, not at home :)

This is a nice thread, with so many valid opinions. I always wear my wedding ring and engagement ring when I leave the house or travel, even though they are a little bit flashy. I do turn the engagement ring around sometimes if I feel uncomfortable, but that is very rare.

I also bring some of my nice jewelry when I travel, but not that much, and not the heirloom ring from my great-aunt. I enjoy wearing the jewelry and don't wear some of it that much at home.

No one has ever bothered me anywhere, but if someone did, I'd give them up rather than fight it. Even though they have tremendous sentimental value, in the long run they're just "things" (and they're insured).

I'm also one of those who believes in using the good crystal and silver if I'm in the mood to wash them by hand. Life is too short not to enjoy them!

My youngest daughter has a scar across her face where I scratched her with my ring when she was a baby. Very faint but it's there. I stopped wearing my ring daily when that happened. I wear my wedding band all the time and then my engagement ring (gold) or 10 year anniversary ring (white gold) if I'm going somewhere special, and then I pick the one that matches my outfit better.

Oh no, another resurrected post!

depends entirely where we are going...

london, yes, 3rd world no..

ZOMBIE THREAD...(queue the scary music)

Funny this should come up. I left the engagement ring at home, but wore a gold chain and, since I couldn't get my Celtic cross onto the chain for my current trip, I wore a Celtic square pendant instead.

Usually it's under my shirt, but can slip over.

Coupla punks ripped them off my neck outside Brussels train station the other day. :(

Could have been much worse....

I don't wear wedding or engagement ring ever.

I had to have both cut off my finger the last week of pregnancy--did not heed the advice of others that I would swell when least expected.

I just never got them repaired--and my husband sure doesn't care.

Yes, I wear mine everywhere. Years ago I took my rings off once while shopping because they felt tight. Put them in an envelope in my purse. Then tossed the envelope. Now I wear the replacements always.

I don't understand the idea of wearing a fake rock. Do you wish to give the impression that you're wealthy so they will rob you and only get the fake? If you are worried about being robbed, why wear any stone at all?

Seriously, I don't get it.