December is the most popular time of the year for Brits to pop the question, with the period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve racking up more engagements than Valentine’s Day every year. To help those Brits dreaming of their winter proposal, Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini shares his tips on how to secure the bling this Christmas.
- Be savvy and drop hints whilst browsing
“Whether you’re weekend browsing around the shops with your significant other or scrolling through jewellers online, this is the perfect opportunity to be open and honest about the kind of engagement rings you like.
“Sharing styles and commenting on specific jewels and designs you like is a good way to open the conversation. If you think a proposal is something in your partner’s plans, leave a ring as a sizing guide in a place at home where they could pick it up.
“Asking your partner about their preferences on engagement rings and wedding bands will continue to open up the conversation.”
- Discuss other engagements with persuasive language
“Talking about couples who are engaged is a way to approach the conversation in a more subtle way. Bringing up conversations with close friends or family members you both know can be a good way to have a discussion around your own relationship journey and how your timeline compares to these close people in your life.
“This could be a good way to move onto a conversation around where you see your relationship heading in the next five years – just be careful you are focusing on the fun side of this so it doesn’t sound like a job interview question!”
- Consider exciting moments post engagement
“Talking about exciting moments after getting engaged, such as a weekend trip with friends or a celebratory dinner – you could suggest you’d like to try a new restaurant but would really like to save this for a special occasion.
“If you have a holiday coming up, this could be an opportunity for dropping hints about honeymoon destinations. Whether it’s a romantic destination that holds special memories for you as a couple, or somewhere new that’s always been a dream of yours to visit, this is the perfect opportunity to subtly hint to your partner that you’re ready for them to pop the question.”
Try Before you Buy?
When it comes to choosing your engagement ring post-engagement, there are many factors to consider – shape, cut, and size to name a few. To help couples make sure they choose the perfect ring for them, Abelini has launched a service where you can now home trial an engagement ring to see if it’s the right match – and it costs just £26.
The service allows customisation of your selected design to be delivered to your door within 10-12 days, manufactured from high quality silver and topped off with a replica artificial diamond.
Nilesh Rakholia explains exactly why an exact replica can come in handy after a proposal: “When wearing anything of value, it’s always worth considering where you will wear the piece out and about and when wearing a replica may be the safer option.
“For example, taking jewellery on holiday will always carry some risk. If your destination is known for pickpockets, or your instinct is to not wear your jewellery out, then it’s recommended to keep these pieces secure at home or in your hotel.
“It’s advised to consider swapping for a cheaper alternative, or replica to keep your precious jewellery pieces safe, if you feel there may be any risk.
“A replica is also great for versatility when it comes to activities where your engagement ring may get damaged or lost, like swimming, hiking or working out at the gym. All of these activities are likely to expose your ring to an environment where the precious metal and gems could be damaged.
“Even daily tasks like the washing up can harm your jewels, so whether you’re planning a workout or cleaning the house, a replica can come in handy to avoid any unwanted damage.”
For more information and to browse the collection, visit www.abelini.com.
