With Christmas, New Year and Valentine's Day right around the corner, many men are thinking about popping the question over the festive season. However, picking the right ring can be a daunting task! We spoke to engagement ring and jewellery experts F.Hinds to get their top proposal tips...
What are your top tips for men who want to surprise their partner with an engagement ring?
Choosing the perfect engagement ring can seem like a daunting task, but our engagement ring specialists in store, over the phone, and via email are trained to help our customers find the perfect engagement ring for her.
One of our first questions will probably be “what sort of jewellery does she wear day-to-day?” because this gives our experts a big insight into what jewellery style she likes. If she likes big and bold designs, it’s likely that she’ll prefer a similar style engagement ring. Or if she opts for dainty jewellery then she may like a striking single-stone engagement ring. If you can take note of what jewellery she wears the most or what’s in her jewellery box then this is a really good starting point.
If you’re ever walking past our shop windows in town and you both happen to have a look, what jewellery is she most drawn too?
We’ll also ask you questions like what sort of metal does she prefer? Or Does she like gemstones? These will also give our engagement ring specialists an idea of what she might love.
Top tips
When it comes to the proposal itself, our advice is to always be unique. Mix romantic statements with specific memories that mean a lot to the both of you, and talk about the ring as you go. This well help to make it personal. Tell her why you chose that ring and what it means to you.
Many people see engagement rings as a symbol of the relationship between the couple. Prince Harry for example, chose a trilogy engagement ring for Meghan Markle when he proposed. Trilogy rings have three stones, each representing the past, the present and the future of the relationship. If you have a special reasoning behind your engagement ring choice don’t forget to explain this when you propose! If you chose a gemstone engagement ring, why did you choose that specific gemstone?
What happens if the engagement ring is the wrong size?
This isn’t a problem at all! We offer a free ring adjustment service for all new ring purchases. We understand that its not always possible for the customer to know her exact ring size when the engagement ring is first purchased and we want to make this as easy as we can for our customers.
Once you’ve presented her with the beautiful ring you can bring her back into one of our 116 stores and we’ll measure her finger and source the correct size for her completely free of charge.
What happens if the bride doesn’t like the engagement ring? Can it be exchanged?
All of our products come with a 30-day change of mind guarantee so if she doesn’t like it, we’ll happily exchange this to something else for her.
Which styles would you say are the most classic for an engagement ring?
Single stone engagement rings, also known as solitaire rings, are the most classic engagement rings. Solitaire engagement rings are recognisable because there is always one striking diamond that really stands out. The diamond can be cut in many different ways such as round, princess, cushion and emerald, but the most popular cut is definitely a round cut diamond.
Trilogy rings as mentioned are also really popular, perhaps due to the fact that Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle with one, and also because of their special meaning.
Halo rings have also become more popular recently with many celebs choosing halo engagement rings for their partners. The main focus is a single stone or cluster of stones, which are surrounded by a ‘halo’ of diamonds. We always recommend cluster rings or halo rings for a lady who loves to sparkle.
Does F.Hinds offer birthstone or gemstone engagement rings as well as diamonds?
Of course! We have a wide range of gemstone engagement rings for our customers to choose from including sapphire, emerald, ruby, tanzanite and more. If she has a favourite colour or loves the colour of her birthstone, then we recommend you consider our gemstone engagement rings too. Most of our gemstone engagement rings also contain diamonds, so you can still have that sparkling and striking look.
Finding a Wedding Ring
After she says ‘YES’ there’s no doubt you’ll want to find the perfect wedding rings for the both of you. When you purchase an engagement ring from F.Hinds we’ll give you a voucher so that you receive 10% off the purchase of your wedding rings. Our wedding ring advisors will be happy to help you both choose your perfect wedding rings too!