When you’re in a relationship, there are always signs that things are getting serious.
The most obvious sign is when your partner finally pops the question, but sometimes there are other clues that he’s ready to take things to the next level.
Really though, the thought of being engaged is exciting.
What will the ring look like?
Where will he pop the question?
Will it be a family affair or just the two of you?
But what are some signs he bought an engagement ring and will soon propose?
And how can you prepare yourself for the big moment?
Here are 23 tell-tale signs that your boyfriend has purchased the perfect engagement ring and will soon propose:
23 Signs He Bought an Engagement Ring: Signs He Will Propose Soon
1. He starts to act differently around you
If your partner starts to become more attentive and loving towards you, it could be a sign that he’s preparing to propose.
He may start showering you with compliments and doing small things to make you happy.
This behavior change is usually a sign that he’s ready to take your relationship to the next level.
2. He’s always asking what ring size you are
Whether he’s coming right out and asking what your ring size is or he’s casually sneaking it into conversation (e.g., “Do you have any rings I could try on?” or “Whose hands are bigger, yours or mine?”), this is one of the signs he bought an engagement ring.
When a guy starts wondering about an engagement ring, he might also likely ask your friends and family for advice.
3. He asks what type of ring you like
If he’s getting ready to pop the question, he’ll want to make sure that the ring he gives you is one you love.
He may ask you if there are certain types of rings that you like or dislike.
He might ask if there are certain types of stones you like and dislike, or whether you’d prefer a gold or silver setting.
4. He talks a lot about marriage
If your guy starts talking a lot about marriage—whether it’s weddings or marriage in general—he may be testing the waters to see if you share his feelings on the matter.
This can be a very subtle sign, but if he starts bringing it up more than usual, it could be because he is thinking about proposing soon.
5. He suddenly becomes interested in your family and friends
This is a biggie.
If your partner suddenly becomes interested in your family and friends, it could be because he’s trying to get to know them better before he proposes.
He may want to make sure that they like him and will approve of the relationship before popping the question.
He will probably want them to know who he is and what he does for a living before he goes ahead and asks for your hand in marriage.
He may even invite them over for dinner or drinks so they can get to know him better.
This is a definite sign that he’s thinking of getting married.
6. He shows an interest in where you come from
If you have never talked about where you grew up, but suddenly notice that your boyfriend is very interested in hearing all the stories of your childhood, then this could be a sign that he’s planning on becoming a part of your family.
This can also mean that he wants to know more about where you are from because he could be thinking about proposing there.
7. He surprises you with a trip
If your partner suddenly surprises you with a trip, it could be because he’s planning on popping the question while you’re away.
He may have already bought the ring and is just waiting for the perfect moment to propose.
A romantic getaway is one of the signs he bought an engagement ring.
8. He starts to talk about the future
If your partner starts talking about the future, it could be because he’s thinking about how you will both be included in each other’s lives.
He may even ask you where you see yourself in 5 or 10 years, which is a sign that he’s thinking about a long-term future with you.
9. He starts looking at rings online
When a man gets serious about proposing to his girlfriend, he’ll often start looking at rings online; sometimes even while he’s sitting next to you.
He may start researching rings in his spare time when you are not around.
If you notice the search history on his phone or computer, this could be a clue that he’s onto something.
10. He becomes close with one of your friends
Unless you’re in a super-close group of friends, this can seem like a red flag.
But, if you trust your friends, this is a positive sign.
So, if your boyfriend starts hanging out with one of your best friends more often than usual, he might be asking her for advice on how to propose.
Your friend might also be helping him pick out a ring or plan the proposal.
After all, who knows what women want better than other women?
I once helped my friend’s ex-boyfriend to buy an engagement ring for her!
So, if one of your friends asks you questions about your dream proposal or what kind of ring you’d like, she knows something is up.
A good way to tell if your guy is close with one of your friends is that all of a sudden that friend will start acting weird around you.
They’ll be all nervous and jumpy, and they won’t be able to look you in the eye or make conversation.
They probably can’t wait to tell you all about what happened, but they don’t want to give anything away.
11. He gets nervous around you
If your boyfriend is planning to propose soon, he probably feels a little nervous when he’s around you.
He might get tongue-tied occasionally or say silly things when he’s flustered.
He might even avoid eye contact because he knows his plan is top secret and doesn’t want to give anything away by accident.
Keep an eye out for these little slip-ups.
12. He pays more attention to his appearance and style
This is one of the oldest signs he has bought an engagement ring.
When he starts paying attention to his appearance and style, it usually means that he’s looking ahead towards his future.
He wants to look good for you and maybe even your children someday.
13. All of a sudden, he has a lot of secrets he needs to hide from you
He isn’t necessarily hiding anything major from you (although he might be), but all of a sudden, you’re noticing that he is being secretive about little things.
You may notice that your boyfriend is suddenly trying to hide his cell phone or computer screen when you walk into the room.
He doesn’t want you to see the sites he’s been browsing for rings.
14. He hints that he is saving up for something special
He may not be great at hiding the fact that he’s saving up for something special.
He might have a hard time looking you in the eye when you ask him directly what he is doing with all that money.
At other times, he may be very open about telling you that he wants to save up enough to buy something nice – but he won’t tell you what it is.
15. Lingering at the jewelry department
The next sign is that when the two of you go shopping together, he will linger in the jewelry department longer than usual and you may even see him looking at engagement rings or wedding bands by himself.
He may even try on a few rings for size or just to see how they look on his hand.
If this happens more than once then this could be a sign that he has already made up his mind to marry you.
16. He’s been asking your friends and family a lot of questions
For example, if he asks your dad how he proposed to your mom, this could be a sign that he wants to propose soon too.
Or if your friends are planning their weddings and he starts asking lots of questions about the details like where they found their venue, who made their cake or even what kind of flowers they have in their bouquet, this could be another sign that he will propose soon because he’s starting to get ideas for his wedding.
17. You find a ring box hidden at home or in his car
Many men prefer not to carry the ring around with them all the time for fear of losing it or damaging it.
They might keep it in a safe place at home or in their car until they are ready to pop the question.
It’s also possible that he has already purchased the ring but hasn’t decided when he is going to propose yet.
18. He invites you to spend holidays with his family
If your boyfriend has started inviting you over to his parents’ house for Christmas and Thanksgiving, it could mean he’s trying to get his family used to the idea of having you around (as their future daughter-in-law).
After all, no guy wants to propose if he knows his parents won’t approve.
19. He is crazy about you
If he is crazy about you and can’t get enough of you, then that’s a strong sign that he will propose soon.
As the relationship progresses, you will certainly notice an increase in his feelings towards you.
He will do anything for you and always makes time for you.
When this happens, it means that he wants to make sure that you stay in his life forever.
20. He makes plans with you in mind
Sure, this could just mean he’s thinking long-term and wants you in his life forever, but it could also mean he’s thinking about a wedding.
If he makes reference to plans — like buying a house or getting a dog — as “our” plans rather than “my” plans, he’s probably ready to make this commitment official.
21. He introduces you as his girlfriend
If your boyfriend introduces you as “my girlfriend” instead of “my date” or “my friend”, then it means that he wants people to know that he is committed to you and only to you.
He is proud of having a relationship with you.
22. He starts asking for your opinion on things more frequently
Perhaps when you guys first started dating, and he struggled with taking your advice on things.
Fast forward to now, and suddenly he seems more open-minded about your ideas.
He even listens intently whenever you talk.
If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because he’s looking at you as a potential partner for life — someone he trusts and can depend on.
23. He gets down on one knee
This is probably the most obvious sign that your partner has bought an engagement ring.
If he gets down on one knee and proposes to you, then there’s no doubt that he’s ready to start a new chapter in his life with you.
So, if you’re seeing any of these signs, it’s safe to say that your partner has bought an engagement ring and is planning on proposing soon.
It’s time to start getting excited!
