Jewelry
 

I will be in Paris for 4 days and am wondering what Jewelry to take. I am leaving the diamond bracelet at home, but regularly wear my mother's diamond engagement ring on my 3rd finger, right hand and my engagement and wedding ring on my left. I regularly wear another bracelet given to me by my mom that's 70 years old. it's gold links with tiny diamonds set in each link. It's very subtle, but people often comment on it because it has a certain charm about it. I had to have 1 link removed to fit me and had the jeweler fix it so I could wear it on a thin gold chain around my neck. I get complements on that too.

Is it safe to wear these items as they will always be on my body, or should I leave them except for the wedding/engagement rings? I could just take junk jewelry. I have a nice set of fake pearls for evening.

Take 2 or 3 pairs of earrings and a watch; leave the rest at home. Never travel with anything you would be heartbroken to lose.

Suzabella I don't take anything that I need to take off, only because I worry that I'll lose things or accidentally leave them behind. I did exactly that on our last trip. I've left a favourite pair of earrings somewhere which is upsetting.

Usually I wear my diamond studs, my wedding ring and my watch and anything else is just inexpensive bits and pieces that I wouldn't be distraught about losing. I don't take my engagement ring because I take it off at night.

You will be safe enough, I doubt you will be robbed in Paris, or your next stop which I think is Croatia?

Adrienne we posted at the same time - great minds think alike!

cathies - YEP! I'm thinking of all the things I've forgotten in hotel rooms.

I once found a diamond ring by a sink in a hotel bathroom in Berlin. Luckily for the owner, I knew that she had visited the bathroom just before I did, and I returned it to her.

I asked her if she had lost anything, and she shrieked, "My diamond!"

My point there is that it's very easy to lose jewelry--or have it stolen. I wouldn't bring anything valuable.

Do not travel with anything you aren't willing to lose - and certainly not something people will notice.

I wear my engagement and wedding rings (never take them off), a toy watch and a couple of pair of plain gold earrings, Anything stuffed with stones is just asking for trouble,

(And I know this is none of my business - but do you always walk around dripping with diamonds - IMHO in my opinion they are for black-tie events.)

Buy costume jewelry at a dept store, or better yet, at H&M. I left a favorite necklace in a hotel,room once. Don't take anything that has sentimental value to you.

I don't wear my nice watch or any jewelry that I wouldn't want to lose. Things can get lost or stolen no matter how careful we are.

All good advice! I only wear my wedding rings, gold hoops or studs (or sometimes small fake diamond studs), no bracelets for fear of losing them in the hustle bustle of traveling in a strange place. I wear one necklace, again, something that I am willing to lose (either to theft, misplacement or breakage).

All in all - I only take what I can wear at one time. I accessorize with scarves instead of jewelry.

In fact, I extend this to my clothing. I don't bring things that are irreplaceable like really great bargains, or something I picked up at a flea market while traveling or any delicate items. I am not worried too much about theft in this case, but rather me damaging them or leaving them behind accidentally, although I suppose it is possible that someone could snatch something from my baggage during transit.

Above precautions seems reasonable, but the precautions are prudent not because you are in Paris, but because this is outside of your normal routine, location, schedule, thus making it easy to forget or misplace small items.

Cynthia, you make a very good point.

I agree with all of the above having lost jewelry through my own negligence in Paris. Now I don't even take my Venetian glass necklaces when I travel. Your mind will be on many new avenues, don't wear anything that you ever take off except for your watch.

Rule of thumb about travel: take no valuable jewellery. One ring that you are constantly wearing - okay, if you must. But leave the rest of the bling in a safe spot at home, especially your most treasured darlings, and carry some cheaper, plainer pieces or best, fashion jewellery.

I leave all jewelry including diamond wedding bands at home. I have a plain gold "travel" wedding band that I wear even for domestic travel. All are insured, but why take the risk?

But then your house might be burgled while you're away.

Exactly, Cynthia !

Thanks for the advice. In the past when traveling to a foreign country I usually leave most at home.

At one point I thought they might be safer on my body since I never take them off. But I can see that they would easily "mark" me which I really don't want.

I guess I never thought of myself as walking around dripping in diamonds. My mom's emerald cut engagement ring is sentimental, and the bracelet gold "links" are much bigger than the tiny diamonds imbedded in them. However that piece is unique in design and consequently gets much attention. You have to squint to see the diamond embedded in the link I wear on a simple gold chain around my neck. But since all these pieces are sentimental they will go in my safe deposit box for the trip.

Thanks again.

And NEVER pack jewelry in checked suitcases! IF you decide to bring extras with you. Anyone interested in it may not know the difference between real and costume and it could be taken out of the luggage.

I never bring a change of jewelry when I travel. My wedding band and my small diamond stud earrings. I don't even bother with braceletsor necklaces. A scarf is the best accent piece.