ghadley

We are planning a two week trip to Rome and the Tuscany area. I would like to take some of my gold and diamiond jewelry, but I'm worried about wearing my 5 carat diamond solitair wedding ring. I've always traved throughout the US, any worries in Italy?
GH

barbmike

My wife took her 10 carat diamond solitair wedding ring and had no problems in Italy. You should feel rather safe with only a 5 carat ring. Have a Nice Trip!! Mike

grsing

You're not going to get it cut off your finger, if that's what you're worried about.

suze

If you always wear it, it should be safe enough. I worry more about when ytou are moving around and staying in different places, more that it might get lost, fall behind the dresser or down the sink, like that. If it's the monetary value that concerns you, can't you insure it? If it has sentimental value I might consider leaving it at home and wearing a plain band.

Nora_S

Mike, you were lucky, but you are experienced travelers. These people haven't traved in Italy before and should be careful with their diamionds.

SusanMargaret

I think you will regret it if you don't take the jewellery that you normally wear. Your hotel will probably have a small in-room safe for valuables. However, before you leave, make sure that your insurance company has up-to-date appraisals of everything.

Underhill

If something disappears from an in-room safe the hotel will very likely not be liable. If you're worried about something being lost or stolen, leave it at home.

5alive

I would not wear anything more than a wedding ring on the public transit, particularly in Rome.

LoveItaly

Hi ghadley, always a question regarding jewelry when travelling. No sense having it if one can't enjoy it and yet noone wants to "lose" special jewelry. And I have a few times, but except for an earring it was never when I travelled.

A 5 carat diamond might attract more attention then you want. Something to think about. But you can always turn the ring around if you feel uncomfortable, I have done that with rings.

Regarding safety of jewelry this is what I do. I don't take a lot. What I don't wear I have in a special place in my purse so it is always with me.

I never ever take any jewelry off and lay it on a bathroom counter, a hotel bedroom dresser, nightstand, desk etc. If and when I take any jewelry off my person it immediately goes in the zippered place in my purse. And it stays there until I put it on again. That way I never have to worry about "forgetting it". Of course if my purse was stolen from me while out and about I would lose any jewelery I was not wearing but would also lose everything else, money, credit cards, atm cards, passport etc so life would be a big problem at that point.

Regarding travelling in Italy, Italian women love to wear jewelery, especially their 18K gold jewelery and do wear it all the time (those that own it). I know people will say "well they are not tourist and it is different" but really is it. If there is a person who is going to steal jewelry off your body they will do it no matter who it is.

Anyway, I am sure lots and lots of people here will disagree with my thoughts, but just wanted to share mine with you. And I have travelled many times to Italy since the 1970's and the only piece of jewelry I ever "lost" in Italy was a small hoop gold earring that went down the shower drain.

wren

You are just as safe there as anywhere, but why bother with it?

LoveItaly

Well wren, since you stated that "you are just as safe there as anywhere but why bother with it" I would ask..why even have jewelry than? Some people love and enjoy their jewelry, for some jewelry is nonimportant. For those that enjoy their jewelry since you said "just as safe there as anywhere" they why not take it on a trip?

Again, this is a touchy subject it seems. But not as touchy as some other subjects such as bullfights etc, LOL.

It is all a matter of opinion and thoughts, not hard cold facts. Each of us travel as we prefer and live with the final consequences.

Scarlett

I wear the same rings & watch on my travels as I do at home, and they are not "plain"... If a big diamond worries you, leave it at home.

RufusTFirefly

I don't know that possessions are just as safe while traveling as at home. People are out of their routine--at home I know where I put my billfold, watch, wedding ring, car keys, etc. every night. I can find that stuff easily in the dark every morning.

For many people, being in strange rooms, moving from one location to another, experiencing travel stresses and "emergencies," rushing to get out of the hotel to catch that train, jetlag, and insufficient sleep--could make it more likely that something could be left behind, forgotten, lost.

Nora_S

Possessions and comfort of familiar things are one issue---but have any of you looked at what a 5 carat diamond is actually worth? Personally, I've never heard of such a wedding ring. An engagement ring, OK, if you are a celebrity or someone. But a wedding band? NO. And really!!! If you have such a valuable ring, why would you be asking questions about its safety here? They should be asking their insurance agent. IF they actually have one, and they truly care about how they will be treated in Italy.

alya

Nora,

it's not a wedding band - It's a solitaire! A single diamond

Mike's wife ring could probably be used to take the eye out of any thief who tried to take it

ghadley - I only wear my wedding band when we travel, not because my rings might attract the eye of a pickpocket but simply because I prefer not to worry about the fact that I might lose them. I use hand cream every night and take my engagement and eternity rings off when I apply it - also, I'm very forgetful.

This is a rule I follow in the US as well as Europe.

If you have to ask the question, then you have YOUR answer

>-

laclaire

Unless I am wearing earrings to coordinate with what I have on, I wear 2 carat diamonds, one in each ear. The only way they are getting taken off of me is if someone actually attacks me, and frankly, I think that thieves have bigger fish to fry and can make easier scores.

In Italy I wore them, as well as other more expensive jewelry, particularly on the nights we went out to gala dinners and events. No problems.

Here are a list of the places where I chose to leave the expensive jewelry at home:
Jamaica
Venezuela
Morocco

Yes, there are thieves all over the place, but jewelry is actually pretty hard to steal unless there is violence involved and that could happen anywhere.

Wear what makes you comfortable, and if it makes you angry to think you have to go without, then don't.

Nora_S- 5 carats is big, but not at all unheard of for an engagement ring, even on the non-celeb level. As for a wedding ring. . . my family has always done bands and I assume that I will have that, too, but if he wants to slap a 5 carat on my hand and call me sweetie, far be it from me to say no.

Nora_S

Laclaire--I have read all your posts and you are a dear, but if he slaps that rock on your hand I hope it is when he asks you (and you will say yes), not when you say "I do." That one should be a band. And the OP said this 5-carat "solitair" (sp) is the wedding ring. I still think this post is a phony.

laclaire

I see your point.

And if he slaps the 5 on and I say no, I am still running like the wind. . . so maybe I will be seen wearing it in Rome.

alya

Claire - LOL

Intrepid1

I ahve yet to hear of a pickpocket who actually took a wedding ring off someone's hand but I suppose it is possible.

I have a hard time believing anyone who wears a five or 10 carat diamond ring doesn't do so "to be noticed." I thought these were the "outward and visible signs."