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:

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,
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Karen Walker?

Gee, Karen, you're a riot!

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?

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?

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.

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:

- 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.)

- 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).

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.