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Wearing Bling Abroad -- Would you or wouldn't you?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lula
  • Start date Start date
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Lula

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Okay, so I'm torn. DH and I have a trip to Europe planned for this fall to celebrate the ups and downs of 20 years together -- marriage is definitely a marathon, not a sprint! My halo is an anniversary present for me and the trip is an anniversary present for him (and me - I like how this worked out!).

Anyway, earlier this year I ordered a WF scattered diamond band to wear as a "travel ring." Well, I've lost weight and my finger size is different, and it cannot be re-sized without wrecking the ring. So it's on its way to a new owner.

I'd like to wear my halo on the trip -- it's insured -- but am I crazy to do this? We're going to Lugano and Amsterdam, if that matters. What have your experiences/choices been -- leave the bling at home or wear it as per usual?
 
I would wear them in this case. Western Europe is no more dangerous than the U.S. If you wear your rings here, why not wear them there? Theft is a risk in any major city. You can always rotate the diamond to your palm and walk with your hands in fists or hand in hand with your DH if you are walking through a seedy area.
 
Thanks, Katamari, I'm actually less worried about theft in Europe than I am in the U.S.! Especially the part of Europe we're going to -- it's very safe. I'm more worried about banging it around and losing it -- just because I'm out of my familiar routine. Does that make sense?

ETA: If I do take it along, I'm using Kenny's rubbing alcohol and Q-tips method to keep it clean -- ha-ha.
 
Well, I live in what is technically Europe and my insurer is happy for me to wear my jewellery anywhere in Europe but will not cover me to wear it in the US. ;))

I'd wear it if it's insured, and enjoy it. I wonder about this every time I go away, since our house was burgled a few years back. Would it be any safer at home?

Jen

eta I just saw that it isn't theft that worries you. Hmm. Only you can decide, but on balance, I'd probably wear it. Life's too short not to enjoy a diamond ring!
 
I wore mine when I went to Sweden recently on a 2 week trip. I've left it behind on other trips, though. I would check with your insurer and see if it will be covered while you're in Europe. If so, I'd bring it.
 
I am leaving mine at home so as not to attract attention. Won't hurt not to see it for 2 weeks.
 
Jennifer W said:
Well, I live in what is technically Europe and my insurer is happy for me to wear my jewellery anywhere in Europe but will not cover me to wear it in the US. ;))

I'd wear it if it's insured, and enjoy it. I wonder about this every time I go away, since our house was burgled a few years back. Would it be any safer at home?

Jen

eta I just saw that it isn't theft that worries you. Hmm. Only you can decide, but on balance, I'd probably wear it. Life's too short not to enjoy a diamond ring!
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Hmm, good point on the insurance, Jennifer. I should check with my agent -- there may be a similar rule in place. And I wonder about losing it to burglary while we're out of the country, too -- that was something that crossed my mind! And somehow I think I'd feel worse about leaving it home and then losing it to theft -- or fire, or any other awful thing that can happen randomly -- thank taking it with me and risking losing it on the trip.

I like your comment "life's too short not to enjoy a diamond ring"!
 
thing2of2 said:
I wore mine when I went to Sweden recently on a 2 week trip. I've left it behind on other trips, though. I would check with your insurer and see if it will be covered while you're in Europe. If so, I'd bring it.
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I'm tempted to bring it along -- but I will definitely check with my insurance. Thanks to those of you who thought of this, because it didn't even occur to me.
 
I don't wear my fine jewelry abroad. Amsterdam is relatively safe but you, as a traveller, are less safe than you would be in your home city. There are definitely people that look for tourists (and you gotta admit, we're pretty unmistakable to someone paying attention) and prey upon them. I have been robbed in the middle of a train station in Paris before. I just do not risk my good jewelry outside of the US, and sometimes not outside my own city, insurance or no. (Insurance is great but replacing my OEC would be virtually impossible and I realllly don't ever want to have to try.)

I am going to have to part with my good stuff at the end of this month for a few weeks, as I'm going to be visiting family in Costa Rica. And it would *probably* be safe as I'll be travelling in a huge pack with all my aunts and extended family... but I hate to invite trouble. (And I know I'll be swimming in the ocean and that's just not a risk I will take!)

Travel rings are a good idea... I have a decent quality dupe I made for my OEC to bring (probably cost $200-$300 all together) and I probably will as I am a lot more worried about me losing it rather than getting robbed, so might as well bring it. If you have time to get something else I'd probably do that.
 
AprilBaby said:
I am leaving mine at home so as not to attract attention. Won't hurt not to see it for 2 weeks.
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Yes, I agree, absence makes one grow fonder of the bling. We do have access to a safe and a safety deposit box, so if my insurance says it's not covered abroad, that's where it will go.

I do worry a bit about attracting attention, but again not because of theft -- more of the ugly American thing. Americans can be so crass -- we are a loud bunch sometimes -- and I'd rather just blend in while I'm there.

I guess I'd like to take it for sentimental reasons, though.
 
LittleGreyKitten said:
I don't wear my fine jewelry abroad. Amsterdam is relatively safe but you, as a traveller, are less safe than you would be in your home city. There are definitely people that look for tourists (and you gotta admit, we're pretty unmistakable to someone paying attention) and prey upon them. I have been robbed in the middle of a train station in Paris before. I just do not risk my good jewelry outside of the US, and sometimes not outside my own city, insurance or no. (Insurance is great but replacing my OEC would be virtually impossible and I realllly don't ever want to have to try.)

I am going to have to part with my good stuff at the end of this month for a few weeks, as I'm going to be visiting family in Costa Rica. And it would *probably* be safe as I'll be travelling in a huge pack with all my aunts and extended family... but I hate to invite trouble. (And I know I'll be swimming in the ocean and that's just not a risk I will take!)

Travel rings are a good idea... I have a decent quality dupe I made for my OEC to bring (probably cost $200-$300 all together) and I probably will as I am a lot more worried about me losing it rather than getting robbed, so might as well bring it. If you have time to get something else I'd probably do that.
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Thanks, LGK -- you raise some important points. Yes, any traveller is a target, especially in train stations, crowded areas, etc. Your post also made me think about the type of activities we're doing -- hiking; boat trips -- and um, yeah, having a halo on a mountain trek might not be so fun, and I would never feel safe leaving it in a hotel room, even if we were staying at the Gritti.
 
Yikes, my rings aren't even insured, and I planned to wear them with me in Paris next month!

I did not think of the possibility of being robbed in a big city like Paris, and I definitely don't want to leave them at home. Lot's of stuff to think about.
 
You didn't mention if you are going in early fall or late fall. If it's late fall and it's chilly and you're wearing gloves, they might get in the way. I'm visiting europe in oct/nov when it'll be colder, so i'm not bringing anything. Nothing more irritating than loose rings on really cold hands, or rings squished in gloves!
 
I wear my rings when I travel in Europe... the only time I did not wear my full set was in Spain last year when I was pregnant because it didn't fit very well so I just wore the band which was more comfy and also less blingy. The set is insured so I wasn't worried about that, but when we were out and about in some potentially questionable situations or in a thick crowd, I would normally turn my diamond into my hand and/or cover it with a jacket or scarf or something.
 
I wear mine everywhere. In Europe as well as Morocco, when we go to see my DH's family.

I have to say that I love my diamonds too much to leave them at home. When I am on holiday its my time to glam up, wear my dresses/pretty things and without my sparklies I would feel sad! :((

Only you can decide what you are comfortable with, but where you are travelling to, doesn't seem like it would be problematic.

Either way, Sara, have a great time! :wavey:
 
We didn't wear our rings to our honeymoon in Bora Bora last month bc we were going to be spending so much time in the water. Locked them up at the bank and wore cheap, plain bands.

We're thinking of doing a cruise to the Mediterranean next summer. I'm thinking that I might take it and wear it some places (St Tropez) but leave it locked in our cabin safe to others (Rome). Or is that just a horrible idea?

It's a tough call! I don't know the areas you're going to well enough to give you an answer. I will say that being away from my rings for a couple weeks last month helped with my DSS! :cheeky:
 
I feel very comfortable wearing my wedding set wherever I am, so I'd definitely bring it on a trip abroad.
 
I don't wear my ring when I travel. Just one less thing to think about, ya know?
 
I have zero concerns wearing my engagement ring in western Europe. It's no more dangerous than the United States. I will probably leave my ring behind when I go to the Bahamas this year because I'll be spending so much time on the beach and in the water, but I've taken it to Europe a number of times.
 
I wouldn't even think twice about wearing it to most of Europe and Australia. My only concern is that my fingers swell up like crazy on the plane, making it uncomfortable.
 
Nope.
 
Depends on where I am going. When we went on our honeymoon to Cabo, DH made me leave my ering at home. There had been a lot of crimes and issues with tourists getting mugged down there, so we felt safer with no "flashy" rocks... If I were going to Western Europe, I probably would be ok wearing whatever.
 
I wore Lemony last year when I went to visit my husband in Germany - and we also went to different places like Switzerland...
Definately, "big diamonds" are not the norm there... But hey, i wear the same amount of $$$ on my hand for the same amount of $$$ they sit themselves in ( audis, MB, BMWs etc... ) it's all a question of preference :bigsmile:
 
jaysonsmom said:
Yikes, my rings aren't even insured, and I planned to wear them with me in Paris next month!

I did not think of the possibility of being robbed in a big city like Paris, and I definitely don't want to leave them at home. Lot's of stuff to think about.
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Ack! you are just guaranteeing you'll lose them by not insuring them. Honestly it's so inexpensive there is no reason not to. I have like 16k in coverage through jeweler's mutual for $165 a year. It does cover worldwide according to my policy docs, although the CS rep was ignorant and said it did not.
 
Nope.
 
I would. I just really like wearing it.
 
I don't just because we can be adventurous vacationers, and I don't want to have to worry about banging up my bling or not having a safe place to put them just in case.
 
depends on where I was going. for the most part I dont have any concerns with traveling with jewelry. There are some places where I wear a plain gold band only... esp when I dont need any more attention paid to me!
 
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