Guide to Proposing

Finally, you have realised that she is the one. Have you succumbed to her subtle hints, or arrived there all by yourself? Either way, in our experience many men find the next step - actually popping the question - a daunting prospect. In reality, with a little considered thought and keeping what you think she might like firmly in your sights, if you really mean it, you can do no wrong.

Remember, this is one of those moments, one that will be with you always, so be prepared to do it your way. If that means the time-honoured tradition of asking her father for her hand in marriage, getting down on one knee, or opting for something rather more outré, this should herald the start of an exciting future together.

Put simply, proposing is the most personal thing you will ever do and there is definitely no right or wrong way you should go about it, but here at Astley Clarke, we hope we can offer some guidance and a lot of inspiration when it comes to choosing the right ring.

By now, you may think that you know her likes and dislikes: her favorite color/pair of shoes, her style icon, the scent she cannot live without or the flowers which remind her of when you first met, but, in our unrivalled experience here at Astley Clarke, we know that the odds are, unfortunately, against you! Luckily, our Personal Shoppers are always on hand to offer well considered advice, and to steer you clear of any pitfalls - size, shape and color, to mention a few.

In general, it would be hard to go wrong with a classic design in classic materials, such as diamonds and white gold. However, jewelry is a very personal thing and your future wife will hopefully be wearing this ring for the rest of her life. To err on the side of caution, and to avoid the anxiety of choosing yourself, many men have taken up the custom of a proposal ring and an engagement ring. The proposal ring is for use on the occasion and later, as a couple, you can choose the engagement ring together. Our sumptuous Showroom provides the perfect environment in which to do this: an intimate space where jewelry expertise goes hand in hand with devoted personal attention. With some forewarning there is little that our Personal Shoppers cannot do, whether it's orchestrating a surprise party of her best friends or just helping you to fine-tune the minute details.

Traditionally, an engagement ring is worth one, two or three months of a man's salary. Whether this is before or after tax, or during bonus month, is unspecified – that depends on you!

And if she says no? Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Please contact our team of Personal Shoppers in advance on +44 (0) 207 706 0060 to make an appointment.