Jewelry Question for Women...
 

An approaching trip to Mexico made me wonder how many married women wear their wedding rings/bands on vacation? Do any other women worry about their rings getting stolen/robbed/ or loosing them? Do many of you leave them at home?

I always wear mine but I read somewhere that chlorine is bad for gold (any jewelers out there that can confirm?) and can damage it so if you have gold, maybe not such a great idea?

I would be careful if your ring is expensive or flashy. That might make you a target for theives. I think anyone flashing a lot of jewelry/diamonds is asking for trouble while traveling anywhere. I have always worn my wedding band that has a small diamond in it. If you are really worried, I'd just get a cheap band and leave the good stuff home. JMHO

I have an el cheapo ring from WalMart that I substitute for my good, valuable wedding ring, which I leave home. I would never travel without a ring on (esp. to Latin and Mediterranean countries), but with an inexpensive band, I have less to worry about.

I have only two pieces of good jewelery: my engagement diamond and my grandmother's diamond. I always leave Nana's at home, but wear my wedding band and diamond everywhere.<BR>

Grace,<BR> I wear a lot of gold at home, but when I travel it's inexpensive sterling and costume stuff only. I even revert to the stainless steel Medic-Alert bracelet! I'm not married, but as I travel with my boyfriend I wear a silver Claddagh on the pertinent finger when we visit Latin/Mexican/European countries.<BR>ja

Hmm, replacing it with a cheap one is an interesting idea. I like the idea just so people know I am married(not traveling alone and single). But I wonder if someone could mistake it for being more valuable? I think I may have to do that as my ring and band are fairly valuable. I just don't want to take the risk.

I always wear my wedding rings and watch and one pair of earrings, everywhere I travel.<BR>I have never been robbed, although I never take them off either.<BR>Why would you lose a ring or jewelry on vacation anymore than at home?<BR>

I have a travel horror story for you. Three years ago I was at the Miami Seaquarium with hubby, two young sons, and in-laws, whom we were visiting.<BR><BR>It was unseasonably cold, and I hadn't brought anything warm enough along, so I was wearing my sister-in-law's jacket. In one of the restrooms, I took my wedding ring off to wash my hands, putting it in the jacket pocket.<BR><BR>I didn't remember to retrieve it until an hour or two later, when we were leaving. Lo and behold, the pocket had a hole in it, and the ring was GONE. We searched the entire park, with no luck. I cried all the way back to Ft. Lauderdale. We were all in a rented van, and no one said a word. The worst part was that the diamond had come from my mother-in-law (she gave it to her son to give to me). I felt horrible!<BR><BR>I have a replacement now, but of course the ring wasn't insured for its true value, only for the standard "household item" value. Ladies, have your jewelry appraised and insured!<BR><BR>(And yes, to this day I still take it off to wash, but you can bet I am VERY careful with it!)

Oh, a post script; While I was waiting to replace the ring, I bought a less-than-$100 plain gold band to wear, since I too felt uncomfortable without one. I highly suggest buying one and leaving the good stuff at home.

I agree with carly. If you're taking your rings off every time you wash your hands, you could lose them just as easily at home as you could traveling. I don't bring much jewelry with me while traveling, but always have my rings and watch. I also have a rider on my insurance policy that covers jewelry/watches for their full replacement value.

I have 3 friends who lost their rings due to removing them to wash their hands, so I never take them off...who wants dirty rings on your fingers anyway? I also wear mine in the the pool, and after 30 years of marriage, the gold and diamond haven't disolved yet! <BR> I do leave it in the safe deposit box when travelling to high crime areas. I replace it with a plain gold band, as opposed to wearing a flashy fake. I was robbed once and never want to feel that way again! The whole point is to not attract theives. You may have some satisfaction knowing how dissappointed the'll be when they realize it's value, but meanwhile you may be out you wallet or worse.

Anyone have a recommendation where I can buy a cheap fake-but-realistic-looking ring for my solo travels? Since I can't find anyone to buy me a real one boo hoo!

QVC sells Diamonique that looks pretty real. QVC.com

The point is not so much about the value of the jewelry itself--that's what insurance is for. The real issue is that you may well be putting your life in danger. That's a risk not worth taking. I usually take a plain silver wedding band and some fun costume bracelets & necklaces. And to answer Carly's question as to why vacation is different from everyday: Certain vacation locales are known to be high risk for theft. Local thieves will target unsuspecting tourists who may have their guard down. Likewise, if you work in a high crime area, it also makes sense to be cautious about flashing big jewels. It all comes down to common sense.

Grace - <BR><BR>I can understand the concern about not necessarily wanting to appear to be alone (if in fact you will be),but how does wearing a ring clue someone in to whether you are traveling alone, or alone at any given moment? And why do you want to "look married"? How does that make you any safer?

Grace - <BR><BR>How did you handle this "looking single" issue when traveling before you were married?

When I hear a story about travelling with jewelry, I always think of my well-heeled friend Amanda. We were travelling to Hong Kong together, I for the first time while she was a regular visitor. I asked her about bringing jewelry - was it safe? She told me to just bring what I could wear. I took this to mean that there was a safety issue, so I wore my dinkiest pearl studs, cheapie silver ring and a thin gold chain. We meet on the plane and while the safety blurb is going on I see that she is sporting 3 carat (each!) ear studs, a 5 carat emerald cut diamond ring and a bangle bracelet with diamonds big enough to choke a horse! I stammer..."Is this what you meant by 'only what you can wear'?"

Before I was married I didn't wear any Jewelry so it wasnt really an issue. I bring up the "looking single" issue because I was reading some threads about safety (particularly for women)in the Mexico Board as well as some travel books. I want to limit any unwanted attention (it may or may not help).I am not a very paranoid person about safety but I definitly don't want my ring stolen for sentimental and monetary value. And I also like the idea of wearing a fake because my finger would feel naked.

Ana: and your point was.....?

Just wear a plain narrow gold band or a silver band.no stones.If you want to buy a "travel" ring.

I have a fairly large diamond engagement ring and a wedding band with small diamonds. I travel to Mexico quite often (I was married there, in fact) and I always wear my real jewelry. When I'm at the airport or somewhere that could be questionable, I simply twist my engaegement ring around so the diamond is next to my palm. My rings are insured for the full value; however, I went to Mexico right after I got engaged and I did not yet have the insurance floater for the ring -- I called my insurance company from the airport and they said it was only insured up to $1000. I almost had a heart attack, I couldn't go back home so the ring was going to Mexico whether I liked it or not! I was nervous, but I wore it the whole time. I think you are more likely to have your ring lost/stolen in Mexico if you take it off. I suppose if I was driving across Mexico or really going off the beaten track I might leave my engagement ring at home.

I never travel with jewelry of any value. I just wear simple silver earring. It is a safer way to travel.

I think I would be more likely to lose my jewelry than to be robbed but to minimize the loss in either case, this is what I do...one pair gold hoop earrings (they go with everything) and my plain gold wedding band.

About taking off your rings to wash your hands: <BR><BR>I lost a very cherished ring many years ago doing just that and ever since I have kept my rings on to wash my hands. But this often means that my finger stays wet under my ring, so what I do is dry my hands as best I can, then switch the rings to my little finger on the opposite hand to dry the ring finger. No way to forget to switch the rings back and no way to leave them on a sink.

I have a very expensive engagement and wedding ring (antique and over 100 years old) I wear both all of the time along witha watch and earrings. I live in chicago and doubt that many of the places I travel on vacation could be mucch worse than certain parts of Chicago and Gary where I have to go frequently for work so what is the diference? What I don't do on vacation is take any jewelry with me. I wear the same rings, earrings etc the whole trip, while swimming, while sleeping, while bathing whatever. I think the chance of loss runs when you are removing jewelry which I never do unless I am at home or having it cleaned. I do the turning the stone to the inside thing when I am in bad neighborhoods though. I think I would feel less safe leaving my rings at home hile on vacation. There is a much greater chance of someone breaking into my condo while I am gone than me losing the ring that I never take off.

Grace,<BR>I wear my 1.75carat diamond engagement ring, plain platinum band and diamond stud earrings when traveling. I never take them off, even for bed. Even at home, unless cleaning the engagement ring it also is always on. There is less chance of misplacing it, lossing it, droping it down the drain or having it taken from its "holding area". I also turn the stone in if that "gut" instinct kicks in. My mother has always also done the same. Knock on wood...we have both been followed by the jewlery gods! PS. If the loot is worth that much, having it insured will help the monetary value, but the sentimental value is another story. If you normally feel comfortable valuables in the more "urban" areas then I think a resort vacation is ok.

I always wear my diamond engagement ring, band, and diamond studs when traveling. All told that's about $ 20,000 worth of jewelry. What if you are robbed when you are traveling? The rest of my jewelry is very well hidden at home, and would take a complete ransacking to discover. <BR><BR>Besides, I won't wear the fake stuff.

I have a nice sized (3.10 carats) diamond engagement ring and a simple gold wedding band - because nothing looked good next to the solitaire stone. That's really the only ring I wear because it is very classy and makes a statement alone. <BR><BR>However, I feel it is safer on my hand than home in a safe while we travel. I have a ton of other expensive, antique diamond, platinum and gold jewelry and unlike some women, I don't have the need to wear it all at once to prove my husband's wealth. :-)<BR><BR>I think the QVC stuff looks like crap. I work with a woman who said all of her stuff is real and I told her it isn't - looks like Diamonique to me - then she finally confessed since I told her in front of all of the girls at lunch. Plus, I invited her to the jeweler with me at lunch the next day since I needed to get an updated appraisal for our insurance.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>

I did extactly that, so worried about losing my jewelry, took it off & left it home. Then got robbed while away and all my jewelry & momentos were stolen never to be seen again. Now I put my jewelry in a safe deposit box when travelling.

Wow Karen, with friends like you who needs enemies?

Gee Karen, you sound like a materialistic jerk.

Nope - not a materialistic jerk. I just call 'em like I see 'em. Especially when someone is trying to pull off fakes and say they look like my almost flawless stone. :-)<BR><BR>

Karen Walker?

Gee, Karen, you're a riot!<BR><BR>You state "I don't have the need to wear it all at once to prove my husband's wealth. :-)" in the same posting that you feel compelled to brag about the size of your ring, and in a subsequent posting you feel the need to let everyone know that your ring is "almost flawless." Is your husband as big a jerk as you are?<BR>

I have been compared to a Karen Walker but I do not know who that is. Anyone care to let me in on that one?<BR><BR>Almost flawless is making a reference to someone trying to pass of WVC to a real stone - saying they look exactly alike. I gues you would not know flawless if some carbon hit you on the pea sized head of yours.<BR><BR>Off to the country club for some lunch and martinis. Then into my S Class MB to get my dog from the groomers..

I don't think the issue is one of substituting fake (i.e, QVC, Diamonique, etc.) items so much as it is one of deliberatly choosing to leave to the big stuff at home and wear only plain pieces. As I previously mentioned, the object is not just to prevent theft, but to protect yourself from harm. If you wear the fake stuff you still run the risk of getting injured because some dumb thief left his jeweler's loop at home and decides to slice you up for your cubic zirconiums.

Hey karen, you know what they say: if you got to brag about it (to strangers on the internet no less), you don't have it. By the way dear, don't forget to scrub the toilets real well this time before you finish cleaning my house. And don't worry, I'm leaving you a little extra cash since you said your trailer sprung a leak and your "husband" spent the welfare check on liquor.

Two main reasons why I DON'T wear my diamond wedding band:<BR><BR>- When on vacation, I engage in a lot of activities where the risk of losing my ring is higher than at home. Snorkelling, swimming, grinding winches, raising sails, etc. increase the chances of damaging or losing the ring (Also, I have heard that barracuda and other sharp-toothed fish are attracted to shiny objects.)<BR><BR>- Since much of my travel takes me to countries where the people are less affluent than in the U.S. (or have different values), I don't want to give the impression of flashing my stuff for everyone to see (even though, from reading some of these responses, mine sounds fairly modest).<BR><BR>The places I travel tend not to raise security concerns, but why risk it? It's not the dollar value (the ring is insured for appraised value), but the sentimental value of still having the original stone from my engagement ring is priceless. So I wear a plain gold wedding band, modest earrings (which screw in and won't fall out), a simple gold bracelet, and a watch -- none of which I need to take off to swim, sleep, bathe, etc.

My parents always taught me that people who brag about their wealth and possessions are either lying or have NO CLASS. Karen, I suspect you fall into both categories. I pity the thief who would try and rob you - you would have the advantage being armed with those claws and that knife that you are apparently sticking into your "friends'" backs.