Take jewelry???
 

Using the train to travel from Stockholm, with overnight stops in Copenhagen, Bremen, Cologne, Brussels, should I wear my expensive jewelry or leave it home in safety deposit box? (specifically, 2.5 ct diamond solitare ring.)

>...should I wear my expensive jewelry or leave it home in safety deposit box?<

If you normally keep it in a safe deposit box, why are you taking it out now?

Don't take/wear anything that you'd have your heart broken over losing, or can't easily replace.

Are we talking about your engagement ring? If so, of course wear it - just never take it off in a public place - just like at home. No one is going to chop off your finger!

On the other hand - unless you're going to be entertained by Marie Antoinette - there's no need to pull any jewelry out of a safety deposit box.

I took a pouch of jewelry (not expensive just ready for any occasion); wound up buying one necklace in Ireland from the designer, wore it the whole time (3 weeks total traveling) and never took anything out of the pouch. I wear the rings, I usually wear and anything special I leave at home.

I left my jewelry home on one trip and missed it, since I am accustomed to wearing it. Brought it the next trip and was much happier. If you are used to wearing your good jewelry, don't change your habits just because you're going to Europe. (My opinion only!)

I would suggest to wear what you wear every day at home. I agree as above, if it is your engagement ring, certainly I would continue to wear it. If it is "extra" and like the pouch of jewelry mentioned, then I'd leave it at home.

My concern is about something you would be heartbroken if you lost. I seriously doubt a ring will be stolen from your finger, but moving about so much, strange hotels and bathrooms, etc. it is more likely while traveling then at home that you might misplace it, drop it down the sink (whatever) than have it stolen from you.

Personally, when I travel in Europe, I change out to really nice silver jewelry ( ie. David Yurman etc) and leave the good stuff at home...

I , personally, get paranoid if I am in an unsure area wearing my engagement ring--even tho I wear it at home and on cruises..but walking around in major cities in Europe, I don't want someone to follow me and rob me..

Call me nuts, but that's just what I do..

I do wear my ring all daily, it's never been in safety deposit box. It was given to me by my husband after 30 yrs of marriage, so of course it's special, but I wear it. I want to wear it, but I've just read not to take expensive jewelry.
Just wanted advice and I knew I'd get it here.

Here's a horror story.

My Grandmother took all her valuable jewerly on a trip once. Was it stolen? No, she apparently dropped it out of her bag someplace in the airport. It was gone!

I only take costume. The real stuff stays home, but then I don't see a big need to impress folks anyplace with this.

Leave it at home!!!
Even the Hollywood stars confess that they wear faux diamonds and gold when travelling. Surely you could find a faux diamond ring that large at Penney's, etc. But I wouldn't even tempt anyone with a fake.
I never wear/take/carry anything I would not feel terrible about losing. It makes for a more relaxing trip. You will see gypsys/pickpockets, etc. in your travels, and then there are those who aren't so obvious... I have never had anything taken but know many who have.
Put just enough money in your pocket for the day's gelato and tips/postcards. Otherwise wear the little pouch (Wal-mart sells then in the suitcase area) under your waistband, or around your neck for your passport/credit cards, etc.(Under your clothing - you won't believe the number of people we saw with them hanging out like a necklace...duh) I carry a big, old purse for camera water bottle, brochures, travel book, etc. or small backpack when touring and pack a small, nice looking but cheap evening bag for dinner, etc.
Relax, absorb as much as you can and enjoy. Take nothing expensive or precious.

That is a horror story, CarolA! And, like suze, I worry more about leaving my jewelry somewhere than I do about having it stolen. So I've started not taking any on a trip, except for wearing some silver jewelry that will go with any of my clothes. Saves a lot of anxiety!

Just make sure that you are insured to travel with it. As for sentimental value, obviously that is an individual thing.

Recently I lost a watch while abroad walking along a beach, reported it to the local police (you must always report any loss/theft) and the insurance covers the loss.

We have been travelling for years and I never take good jewellery...maybe a gold chain or bracelet that I wear even in the shower...that's it. Personally, I don't think it's wise to draw attention to yourself (or myself!) with diamonds. Anyway...nobody knows you. (I feel that way, even on a cruise.). It's a vacation so why take along anything that may cause worry?

I meant to say that I never take/wear/carry anything I would hate to lose - sentimental or dollar wise. :o{ (I used a double negative the first time and that meant just the opposite, sorry.)

"Easily replaced" is the operative word for me. A pair of pearl studs or gold hoop earrings might be a bit expensive to replace, but they are easy to find. A unique or antique piece would be a heartbreaker to lose.

LOL David Yurman IS good jewelry!

dovima, that is so true. I have so many pieces that are priceless in their sentimental value. Those I never travel with.

I wear my "good" wedding ring and watch that I wear every day wherever I go, a bracelet that the Yankee bought recently that goes with Everything :) and I take a few different earrings to change over to. I find that when I bring necklaces or extra bracelets, I don't think to change.

I would wear the ring, if you normally wear it. The problem (I find) when wearing something unfamiliar, especially with a bigger stone, is that you're not as careful, don't remember you have it on, and it might get knocked about. But if you are used to it, wear it!

I usually take one pair of good, all-purpose gold earrings, a watch, three bracelets (two for one arm, one for the watch arm) and one heavy flat gold chain. They can go from day to evening very easily, unless you have a really dressy event to attend. In that case I might bring paste earrings for that occasion, as you would not be wearing them daily and they'd be at risk for theft in your bag if you carried them everywhere.

I couldn't live without my tiara. I need something to hold back my hair.

Sharon, isn't that what Le Clip is for? \:D/

I sometimes turn my diamond wedding ring around so that only the band is showing. This was my concession to all the Naples-is-dangerous hoopla. We also encountered some shady characters one evening in Cherbourg several years ago, and I was glad my ring was turned so that none of the jerks saw any obvious valuables.

I would say if you were staying in high end places or an exclusive resort I would say just wear your jewelry. If your bling is flashy and since you will be on a train with the common folk I say wear costume jewelry.

I have seen women flashing their loot around any city really and it makes me wonder what they are thinking.

I had this very discussion with a young upstart at a picnic recently.. I said I wasn't going to wear my rings and she said "Ive been to Naples and I wore mine"...well I wanted to say who would want your chip of stone?? I didn'tay it but let's face it, a 2 carat diamond is not the same as a 1/4 carat..it all depends if you are using the public transportation, the train station ect. and what areas you are going to and how comfortable you will feel..and if you are trying to impress anyone

I hear that Sharons Tiara is a bit less flashy than Le Clip LOL

Early on I learned that you either wear subdued modest jewelry or go for it and wear the real stuff. Most robbers, are not gonna stop and pull out the jewelers glass to check and see if that shiney stuff is real or CubicZ or whatever they call it.
And keep in mind, most women in these countries also wear their wedding rings and jewels every day so you will not stand out as the only woman in Brussels ( etc) to be wearing a diamond ring.
I admit to being quite a bumpkin one day in a cafe in Paris, sitting beside a lady who had stopped in with her child for a drink and snack. She was wearing the biggest most colorful jewelry, really nice and I wanted to ( 1- have it for myself 2- figure out who made it 3- memorize it so I can find it here)..

I never take anything valuable when I travel. Who are you trying to impress? I also work for an insurance company and see too many claims for expensive jewelry left on the sink in airport washrooms or stolen from a hotel.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that some of you are mocking Le Clip! Luckily I'm a psychologist so I can help you all with your clip envy.

If the thief had his glass, he might not necessarily want your diamond.
Size isn't everything in diamonds as in other things. You have to consider the four Cs, cut, color, clarity, and carat
A half-carat diamond of good color and cut, might be more desirable than a huge badly cut rock.

I wear my wedding band, anniversary band, small gold hoop earrings and my $40 watch. I love them all and only ever take off the watch. Fortunately or unfortunately, the value of that and all the rest of my jewelry is sentimental and I couldn't bear to lose a piece of it, so home it stays.

If a hotel room safe is not safe, (many previous threads on that here), would one keep it in the hotel safe? I would hate to be such a pest to keep asking for it.

If you decide to take that rock on your travels, have your jeweler check the setting VERY CAREFULLY before you leave. A few years ago the beautiful center diamond fell out of my wedding ring (it had belonged to my husband's mother) and never reappeared--and that was at home.

Sharon- I was happy to hear that you DO bring your tiara because as you know I just returned from ABROAD and I simply dripped with gems....plus clip envy schmlip envy I want the tiara

Well darlins, I have my Tiara right here, never far from my side. One year I allowed Pup to wear it for New Years, we have photos and I must say, he looks fine in it. ((&))
Sharon, I would never ever mock that clip. I just seem to remember that it had a bit of sparkle on it? Or is that just in my Clip fantasy?

As for the poster who asked..."who do you want to impress?"
Some of us have nice wedding rings that we wear to the market and to do laundry and gardening and those are the rings that go on trips with us..even the ones that might impress someone..I must admit, I was mighty impressed when the Yankee gave it to me..if that means anything :D

I really think it depends on where you are traveling, what style you are traveling in, and what you are going to be doing on the trip. We are often going to a conference where we do know people and where there is usually a semi-formal dinner. On those trips I do take some good jewelry.

Also, are you the extremely careful type who NEVER leaves jewelry on the bathroom counter? Or are you forgetful?

No one answer for all, IMHO.

I don't ever forget the ring. I didn't include this in my first post, but we are going on the Radisson Seven Seas Voyager 10 day Baltic cruise prior to the train trip and I would like to have it for sure on the cruise-just because we will be dressing every night for dinner. It's just a part of me. OH, i will take the tiara for sure!

Scarlett, LOL, I bet dear Yankee gave you that impressive ring because he was very impressed with you!!

Swamom, I always wear my wedding ring set or my gold nugget wedding band (I got that because I kept hitting my engagement ring on my desk at my office and knocking the diamond loose and the jeweler really yelled at me, LOL, so that Christmas I received the gold one to wear at my business). Smart fellow that jeweler, he always knew how to get money out of my DH. I consider that kind of jeweler a gal's best friend.

Anyway, as I was saying, I also wear a watch, one of my rings on my right hand, usually simple smallish hoop earrings. I take a diamond/braclet and diamond studs and perhaps one necklace in my purse. I have never had a problem except for one time years ago I had jewelry stole from our cabin when we were on a cruise.

I never leave my jewelry in my hotel. I take all my jewelry off at night, except for my earrings) and always put them in my purse. I put them on the very last thing when I am ready to leave my hotelroom.

The only jewelry I have ever lost (a total of three rings) has been at home. And as far as losing the diamond that can happen anywhere. It is good to have your rings inspected on a routine basis so hopefully you won't lose a diamond or gem.

Just noticed Marilyn's post and I agree. If you are not one to be real careful with your jewelry then I would leave anything of value at home.

Now, I personally do not take my diamond tiara on trips with me. I just use it at home. I do not want to make people feel as though I think I am overly special when I travel. I think that kind of attitude can cause a lot of snotty attitudes from the natives of places you are visiting. And that can definately put a damper on one's trip. So in my not humble opinion, the tiara should never be worn unless one is in one's own home or with very close family or friends.
They already know what a "little princess" attitude you have already so why not don your tiara I always say.

I usually travel in summer and I find wearing jewelry makes me feel hotter.

I thought about this on my first trip abroad after reading all the postings on different sites and guide books. So before our first trip I bought myself a plain silver band that matched my husbands as I want to still wear my “wedding band”. We had talked about buying new matching bands while we were traveling. Then my husband lost his real wedding band 3 days before we left while playing football…..convenient huh?? So since he didn’t even have one we found a beautiful new band for him while we were in Switzerland …… I think it was a plan all along!! So I wore the silver band that first time but after that I have worn my band that matches my 1 ½ carat engagement ring. I just don’t want to bring anything that I need to worry about, that will draw attention or that I cannot replace.

Wear the ice! I don't know about you but I feel naked without my diamond ring. It's absence from my finger would be more stressfull than worry about losing it since it would be like losing it to not wear it. Does that make sense??? ((?))

Yes, poet, that makes perfect sense to me!`I succumbed to "jewelry theft fear" on my first trip to Italy and left my antique 3.5 carat sapphire at home. We saw the Mediterrean and I thought to myself that my stone was the same color and I nearly cried because I'd left it behind. I brought it the next year to France and was so happy!

Wearing jewelry on a trip is really a matter of personal choice--if you have beautiful things, you want to wear and enjoy them as much as possible. That said, I echo the opinions of several posters that you should think twice about wearing pieces that carry a heavy sentimental value, as no insurance check can replace your memories of Grandma's Art Deco ring(or whatever). I manage a jewelry store and hear sad stories all the time. One word of caution, however--your insurance may only cover you in case of theft, which must be substantiated with a police report(think of the red tape and time involved), and may not pay for mysterious disappearance. Be sure to check your policy. Also, be careful about wearing fabulous fakes, since they will draw attention to you which may be unwanted.