august

I have read some old posts saying that if you have diamond engagement and wedding bands you should leave them at home? Is this still true, I just thought that sounded a little paranoid because honestly they could be stolen just as easily in my hometown but it seemed to be mentioned alot so I thought I would ask for opinions. I was planning on wearing mine but just wanted to ask the question.

Diana

You may have seen some of my responses among the old posts that you read.

We travel to the Caribbean frequently and have been for years. (Just got back this past weekend btw.)

I am fortunate in that I have some nice things that my wonderful husband has given me over the years that I get a lot of enjoyment from wearing.

We've been to 25-30 islands, and all over Caribbean Mexico, and I've worn my rings/watch everywhere we've been except Jamaica.

I've never felt uncomfortable - whether on or off the resort property or at local parties or downtown or anywhere. It's all insured, and in the remote chance that someone DOES rob us, it is theirs without a fight from me.

I've had it all down to 125' when diving, and never take it off but to clean it a few times a year.

Use the common sense you would in your day to day life and you will be fine if you want to wear it. If not, leave it in a safety deposit box and don't worry about it.

Do be sure rings are well-fitting if you do decide to wear them. I wear a size 4 1/2, and I make sure all of my rings are quite snug since I do wear them in the water.

august

Diana - Thanks so much, that's exactly what I figured, that I would be fine wearing them but I wanted to ask for my own piece of mind. I also wear a 4 1/2 and my wedding band is a little loose so I won't wear it without my engagement ring on top of it to hold it in place.

Iza

I leave my nice jewelry and expensive watch at home when I travel. Not because I feel uncomfortable wearing them or I fear robbery, but I would be afraid of misplacing them. I just wear my wedding band and a cheap Timex watch that can go in the water. This way I can have a worry free vacation ;-)

MonicaRichards

I do the same as Iza. Just wear my wedding band (straight gold band with no diamonds) and a waterproof watch. No worries about loose diamonds (had that problem in the past), dirt, or losing the good ring.

Patty

I wear both my wedding band and engagement ring everywhere I go. As far as watches, I usually decide which one to bring based on my destination. For me it's more of a factor of not wanting to flaunt something rather than fear of losing the watch.

august

Thanks everyone for your advice...I am going to wear both my engagement and wedding band even though they both are diamonds. I really would feel weird without them. I tried to convince my hubby to buy me a plain band for when we travel but he didn't seem to think that was necessary even though I had heard that this was a good idea when going to Costa Rica. I feel much better now about wearing what I have. Thanks again.

Annabel

I wear my jewelery everywhere we travel, and we have ben most everywhere. My engagement ring is over 4 carats and my wedding band is diamonds, I always wear my gold watch as I never take it off. The only people I have problems with is US customs agents! I have encountered some pretty nasty agents and ask some very pressing personal questions. I bring all my jewlery with me and wear all of it (not at once however) I have a leather travel jewelery box and I pack it in my carry on and lock it in the hotel room safe. My husband also takes 6 watches with him, also in a travel watch case. We have never ever had a problem. So wear your jewelery and enjoy it.....

Pausanias

Doesn't it depend on your destination? If you will remain in a luxury resort the risk is probably less than if you wander through markets or frequent lonely roads or trails in countries where even a modest and tasteful engagement ring may exceed the annual per capita income. Most people are honest even in thosr circumstances, but that doesn't help you when you meet a thief. Make certain you can get the ring off quickly.

SandyD1

I agree with Pausanias. Particularly in areas of lower income, the problems is not one of theft or robbery, but lack of consideration. Having talked with locals, there can be misconception about Americans- how they flaunt their wealth with their flashy jewelery. I know that many people don't have this in mind at all, it just can come across this way, particularly when we assume it is modest to us, but not at all to them. In general show consideration, and take on the jewelery habits of the location you are visiting. A diamond ring will generally not be noticed in Florence or Paris, but jewelery made of wood or simple silver might be more appropriate in Bolivia.

shillmac

Totally agree with Sandy. It's more a matter of sensitivity. At least for me--not because I am such a sensitive person and others are not--not implying that at all. Wearing a lot of jewelry in a country where people don't have a lot of material possessions just makes me uncomfortable, for reasons other than fear of being robbed.

sandy_b

OK, I'm at the other end of the spectrum here . . . the only jewelry I wear is a plain gold band and a Timex watch and sometimes, silver earrings (silver is cheap worldwide, no one steals silver). I leave my good stuff at home.

Yes, it's insured but I don't want anyone to look at me, see expensive jewelry, and single me out. I stand out enough being small and blonde . . . I just never blend in.

I thought I was "smart" wearing fake gold earrings . . . I was mugged in broad daylight, in front of a lot of people, near downtown Guatemala City . . . seems like I was the only one who knew my 10¢ gold(tone) earrings were fake!

The guy ran up behind me, grabbed my head and ripped the earrings off . . . I was just lucky he didn't break my neck . . . taught me a valuable lesson. Leave jewelry (real or fake) at home . . . let the thief look someplace else for a victim.

If you still want to wear (and risk losing) your jewelry and possibly being hurt in the process, don't say you weren't warned . . . afterall, whom are you trying to impress in 3rd-world countries?

Buen viaje y buena suerte,
Sandy (in Denton)

Diana

sandy_b, I find your tone a bit patronizing.

Feeling free to wear jewelry in my case doesn't have anything to do with "trying to impress" someone.

I don't take my jewelry off - ever - except to clean it a few times a year.

I wear it even if I'm sitting alone at home reading a book.

If I did not wear it because most people cannot afford it, I would never get to put it on as that is the case everywhere in the world.

I think most locals know if you are traveling and on vacation, you have a certain income level that allows you to have that capability.

A lot of the (many) locals I have spoken with over the years think ALL Americans are rich.

And I especially find your comment "If you still want to wear (and risk losing) your jewelry and possibly being hurt in the process, don't say you weren't warned" unwarranted and rude.

In this day and age, most people are smart enough to realize they need to keep a heads up EVERYWHERE and not flash cash around or put themselves in a situation.

After all YOU are the one who was mugged, so perhaps your judgement is not the best?

It all comes down to its being a personal choice, and being aware of your surroundings.

august

In no way am I trying to offend anyone by wearing my rings or risk having them stolen. But in the same token they mean a lot to me, my husband gave them to me out of love and to take them off and leave them at home is a big decision for me. I never take them off except to clean them occassionally. I asked this question only to get some feedback as to safety precautions, not to be judged.

Sandy - I don't believe wearing a wedding band/engagement ring, no matter what it looks like - diaminds or not, is done to impress anyone, that's not what it is about, so I do take offense to that comment.

I plan on leaving all my other jewelry at home so I do not offend people but my wedding rings have a lot of meaning to me and I am not taking this decision lightly.

sandy_b

Sorry . . . didn't mean to be patronizing or rude, please accept my apology and I wish you all a great trip.

Sandy (in Denton)

dfarmer

August, I too have considered this question with much thought.

All the ideas here, I have considered - from robbery to offending someone.

In the end, I always wear my wedding band, my timex watch and a dirt cheap pair of earrings. Everything else stays home.

When it comes to my wedding ring, I just can't seem to leave it behind. It is a simple diamond band, but it never leaves my hand, even when I am gardening.

Probably a foolish idea that gives me a false sense of security, but when I am out and about in a foreign country (and sometimes at home!), many times I turn it around on my finger, so from a glance it looks like a simple gold band.

I know I am taking a chance, but I am also taking a chance with my camera and I wouldn't travel without it. I guess it boils down to be knowledgeable of the area you are traveling, knowing the risk, trying to stay alert and doing what is comfortable to you.

Have a great trip!

Annabel

I really do not think wearing jewelery is a problem but being aware of your surroundings is what you should be concerned with. Like Diana stated, everyone thinks Americans are rich. You stand out in a crowd not by your jewwlery but by how you are dressed. I live near and am always in NYC. I have never had a problem, but I DO take precautions not just in Manhattan, but everywhere I go. I am always so surprised how stupid people are when I see shows on TV with professional pick pockets. Most people do ot pay attention. When I travel I always bring my purse that has a lock...and I lock it! It is lockeed when it passes thru airline x ray security (that it allowed to be locked). You would think that because it is a Vuitton it would attract attention, but it is always on my shoulder. I keep valuables locked in the hotel room safe (cash, jewelery, and passports). When visiting a rest room, I never ever put my purse on a hook on the door. When in Vegas for example, I carry a small purse that goes on my shoulder, that stays there. When walking around I go as light as possible, an AmEx card and a few 20's tucked in a front pocket. Wearing jewelery is not the problem, it is the decisions you make...be wise and be aware.

Pausanias

"I don't believe wearing a wedding band/engagement ring, no matter what it looks like - diaminds or not, is done to impress anyone, that's not what it is about"

Maybe a bit off topic, but in my neck of the woods, a social-climbing snake-pit of a suburb near New York, women have been known to trade in their first engagement ring for something a tad more impressive when hubby brings home the first million dollar bonus.

bondgirl78

hehe i just got engaged in nyc last weekend!!! i had my shiny ring on for the first day and we were all dressed up on the subway on the upper west side. i was scared and turned my ring around so the diamonds were inside my palm.

missypie

I've never considered traveling without my engagement ring (maybe because the stone is not very large). I do switch to a cheap watch, however. I ordinarilly wear an 18K Ebel and I don't want any customs agents nessing with me, so I wear the cheap watch when I leave the country.