The Asellus Setting from Naveya & Sloane
So you’ve been in a relationship for a while now.
You’ve met (and love) each other’s families and friends, you’ve discussed your dreams and goals and you’ve agreed you’re going down the same (long-term) road. This thing is for life, marriage is in the equation, and you both know it. So what’s the next step? The ring, duh.
But here poses the eek-so-awkward part: you need to let them know not only are you ready to take the plunge into official-dom, but you want to have a hand in the design of your ring, too. For some people, this will come easily. For others, it could be tricky topic to broach and you won’t want to play your cards too soon – or go about it the wrong way entirely. It’s all about the Art of Hinting; at just the right time, in just the right way.
So with this in mind, here are five steps to letting your partner know you’re ready for the ring (and of course, the fun bit: how to hint at which ring you’d like!)
1. Talk about the future.
The beauty of being in a rock solid relationship is the ability to share your hopes and fears without judgement. Find opportune moments (such as talking about a friend’s wedding or when watching a rom-com) to ask your partner what their views are on your future together. This shouldn’t just encompass marriage – your living arrangement, career progression, if and when you want kids, how to handle your finances, travel plans, life priorities and how to handle difficult times should all come into it, too. This will give you a pretty good idea whether your visions are aligned and should keep the lines of communication well and truly open. Don’t forget to also chat about timing – where does your partner see themselves (and the two of you) in a year from now? Five years? Ten? You don’t need to get into specifics but talking about the big things is a sign of long-term commitment and will give your partner confidence that when they do eventually ask you to marry them, they’ll be getting a big fat YES.
2. Stay chill.
Okay, so you’ve talked frankly and honestly and you both know it’s on the cards. Now you just need to be patient and avoid freaking your partner out with wedding and engagement chat every five minutes. It’s one thing to tag him in one of Naveya & Sloane Jewellery’s dreamy Instagrams, it’s another thing entirely to beg, threaten or bribe. If you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with your partner and they know you’re ready, DO NOT bring it up constantly, or even worse, put the pressure on and give them ultimatums. Play it cool sister. You got this.
3. You do you.
The quickest way to get your significant other to think of you as ‘The One’? Keep up the hobbies and friends you had before you got into a relationship and don’t be on call 24/7. Your partner was attracted to the person you were when you met, and that includes the independent, social butterfly version. Certainly make the effort to let your partner know they’re appreciated and that you’re committed to them. But if they’re going to lock it down for life, it’s definitely an attractive quality to know they’ve also got someone who can stand on their own two feet. You’ll have a ring in no time.
The Asellus Setting from Naveya & Sloane
4. Be vocal about the ring you want.
Talking about a ring is spelling it out plain and simple that an engagement is on your to-do list at some point. If you’ve openly discussed marriage, then giving your partner the info they need to purchase your dream ring will likely take a huge weight off their shoulders. Just like your future spouse, your ring is forever and a symbol of your commitment to one another, so getting something you are both happy with is key – ‘both’ being the crucial word here. If you are dreaming of a custom-designed-3-carat rare yellow diamond, and your other half doesn’t know this, they’re already set up to fail. To help them on their way, you could casually mention to your partner that they can work with the skilled designers and master jewellers at Naveya & Sloane, who will personally source the diamond or gemstone and match the precious metal that works to any budget – meaning you won’t need to compromise on what you want . Plus, when having the ring crafted just for you, your partner can make it that much more special, and you’ll be the only one to ever wear it.
At the same time, this is something you need to wear and look at every day for the rest of your life, so getting the design right is super important also. Rachel Sloane, Creative Director at Naveya & Sloane, says that many customers turn up at their showroom with images on file of rings their partner might have hinted at (so there’s definitely no harm in printing off Naveya & Sloane’s Art of Hinting ring guide, circling your preferences and leaving it in a convenient location around the house!) However, if it’s important to you, you could also let your partner know upfront that if and when it comes to it, you’d like to be a part of the ring design process. “We are definitely seeing more couples come in together to design their dream ring as a couple,” says Rachel Sloane. “It is such a special piece of jewellery and it is lovely to be able to have both parties involved with the design of the ring and diamond/gemstone selection.” Of course, another great option is to make your significant other aware of Naveya & Sloane’s The Original Setting service, where you can be proposed to with the diamond or gemstone in a basic setting that can later be turned into the design of your dreams.
5. Don’t wait.
Hey, it’s 2017. Who’s to say you need to wait around until your partner is ready to pop the question? If you’ve had some serious and candid discussions previously and know you’re on the same page when it comes to the future, then why not take matters into your own hands and be the Monica to his Chandler? If you’re planning to do the asking, there’s a few things you might want to check first – especially if you’re asking a bloke – namely, whether your partner would be gutted to not be the one proposing (guys dream about this big life-changing moment too you know!). However, if he’s not a traditionalist and you think he’d be all for a bit of a switch-up, then he’ll probably be pretty stoked to have this taken off his plate.
* This article is brought to you by our friends at Naveya & Sloane. To read more about the Art of Hinting, visit naveyaandsloane.co.nz.
