Jewelry while traveling

blabla89

Question for you ladies with more travel experience than I have.

I had planned to leave my e-ring at home when we go on our honeymoon and just wear my little wedding band. But now FI is insisting that we not wear our wedding bands either lest we get mugged, and he's instructed me to buy a fake band to wear in place of my real one. This seems a little silly to me, because we're going to Florence. It's a perfectly civilized place and, while I am certainly cautious, I really doubt that wearing a wedding band is going to make us targets for crime (any more so than being American tourists does), or that there's any real danger of our rings being stolen.

Am I being naive here? Is this something I should actually be worried about?

Jells2dot0

I wear my bling everywhere I go, including Mexico, Jamaica, Tahiti, Australia, Hawaii, Cook Islands, Seychelles, Mauritius, everywhere we've been in Europe, all over the US, etc. Even in Johannesburg, although I did turn my e-ring into my palm. I pay $500/yr for insurance for this very reason.

ETF- spelling

amelisha

No, it's not something you should be worried about. Particularly in developed countries.

If you're worried about losing it, that's kind of one thing (although that's why you buy insurance on fine jewelry), but muggings? Lol, nope.

WinstonsGirl

I'm of the more unpopular opinion here and I do have a cheap travel band.  Do what makes you feel comfortable.  There are places I've been where I'm not comfortable wearing my rings, while other places I don't care.  When we go to the US, Europe, I'll wear it.  When we went to Egypt/Turkey I didn't.  

I actually had a random guy in a line up in Istanbul strike up a conversation with me, find out it was my HM and grab my hand to look at my ring.  He seemed disappointed it wasn't bigger.  My fake ring looks similar to my wedding band.  I was very glad I was wearing my fake ring.

For me, I'm pretty sentimental about it being the ring DH proposed with.  Yes, insurance could replace it, and yes, I could get mugged in my city and have to replace it.  I just don't like to flash expensive things in some countries where I am already seen as very wealthy by comparison to the local population for even being able to afford to travel (though we're not, we just save up).  To me, I see it in the same way as I wouldn't pull out a stack of 20's and count it in the middle of the street.  

Personally, I would feel comfortable wearing my rings in Italy.  

JoanE2012

You can be mugged anywhere.  Not sure why travel is any different.  Wear it.  Just make sure it's insured.

ETA - I do agree if you're going to a place like Egypt, like WinstonsGirl mentioned, I'd probably leave the rings at home.

jenna8984

There have been literally dozens of threads about this. Generally about 90% of us say that we wear ours and we find it silly not to. It's bought to be worn, it's insured, it's fine. The chance you would get mugged is no higher than it is in broad daylight in New York City.

southernbelle0915

Does he think Florence is any less safe than ATL? The biggest problem with theft in Italy is pickpocketing. I'd be a million times more concerned about preventing that than a violent mugging.

I usually just wear my band when we travel off the beaten path (and I would not consider Italy off the beaten path). My rings are insured but DH hand picked every single diamond and I would never feel like I could just "replace it" if something happened.

Not that I know crime stats for your area or anything, but if it were me, I'd be more concerned that my house would be robbed while on vacation than I would be about getting mugged on vacation.

climbingsingle

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I wore my wedding band in Florence, along with other very nice jewelry. Pickpockets - yes, be wary of them. But you don't need to be worried about being mugged. 

katiekessler123

I have spent a lot of time in Italy.  Lived there for a year as a teacher, studied abroad back in college for 6 months, and visited several other times with family.  Your rings will not be stolen as long as you are wearing them.  Like climbingwife said, there are pickpockets, but nothing like your fiancé is worried about.  As long as you are smart you don't have to worry about pickpockets either.  Keep your money on your front side always (never in a book bag or a purse facing backward).  I usually kept it in my pocket and kept my hand in my pocket in crowded areas.  Also, I always had a photocopy of my passport, too, just in case.

blabla89

Thanks y'all! If FI continues to push it, I will direct him here

Jeannine12

We have gone back and forth on the topic and decided on our honeymoon I woudl get a travel band for myself.  The reason being is that my engagement ring is his grandmother's and can not be replaced.  So I know I would be a nervous wreck.  But I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable doing.  In Florence you will be safe just need to pay attention to your surroudning wherever you go.

[Deleted User]

 

Jeannine12 said:

We have gone back and forth on the topic and decided on our honeymoon I woudl get a travel band for myself.  The reason being is that my engagement ring is his grandmother's and can not be replaced.  So I know I would be a nervous wreck.  But I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable doing.  In Florence you will be safe just need to pay attention to your surroudning wherever you go.

This would be a perfect reason to have a second ring to wear on vacation or to places where there would be a risk of losing the ring.

 

Also think of what activities you will be doing on your honeymoon.  Would anyof them would you be likely to take your rings off and leave them at the hotel? Even in a safe I'm not sure if I would feel safe. For example I love to kayak but don't like to wear my rings while doing that out of fear that they will slip off and I'll lose them in the water. If I were into rock climbing, that might be another activity where I wouldn't wear my rings.

 

hutchsl

I found a small diamond ring in my backyard and had it on my right hand during the wedding. I use it sometimes when traveling.

When we go to the Caribbean I do not take my ring as I am concerned about losing it while snorkeling, etc. Going to mountains, same thing as we spend lots of time outdoors and very active. For Europe sometimes I have worn it and sometimes not. Generally I leave it home for fear of losing it. In New Orleans we had someone in the elevator (a local) tell us not to wear our rings in the French quarter or at very least turn it around. I took mine off and left it in the room safe.