How men are choosing real diamond engagement rings with meaning

There’s a reason proposal videos strike a chord. Whether it’s someone you know or a stranger online, that single, carefully choreographed moment feels universally moving. It’s not just about the diamond engagement ring or the theatrics. It’s about the intention. The effort behind it. The planning, the nerves, the deep breath before the question. We’re drawn to it because it reflects something timeless.

At the heart of it all, often quite literally, is the ring. There’s something timeless about a man choosing the natural diamond engagement ring that marks forever. He walks into the jewellery store alone—he is nervous, curious, maybe even overwhelmed, trying to make a decision he knows will last a lifetime. While women today are confidently buying real diamond jewellery for themselves, there’s still something special about a man picking out the ring. It’s a personal, emotional moment, one that shows thought, effort, and how much the relationship means to him.

For many men, the engagement ring is the first significant piece of real diamond jewellery they’ve ever bought, which makes it all the more important to get it right. For them, it’s not just about choosing something beautiful, but about finding a piece that truly reflects your love story and everything it stands for.
Indian racing driver Jehan Daruvala, for instance, wanted the ring to feel like an extension of the love he’d spent years building with Maia. “Jehan and I had been together for over a decade, so marriage always felt kind of inevitable,” says Maia Shroff, model and founder of Papaaya swimwear. “But I started dropping more obvious hints in the year leading up to the proposal. I could tell he was thinking about it seriously, but he kept throwing me off every time.”

He may have played it cool, but behind the scenes, he was planning something meaningful. “The ring was definitely central to the proposal for him,” she adds. “He wanted it to feel intentional and timeless, like a piece that would represent our story forever.”

And it did. Jehan picked the ring on his own. “I’d casually shown him a photo once, months before, and he remembered every little detail. From the diamond cut to the exact setting, he nailed it,” Maia tells me.

It was a 1.8-carat round natural diamond in a classic four-prong setting, with a delicate diamond band. Elegant, timeless, and exactly what she’d imagined. “He paid attention to what I loved without needing a checklist, which made it feel even more special.”

More men today are doing exactly that—paying attention. They’re taking their time and choosing real diamond rings that don’t just look good, but feel right. And that applies across all kinds of relationships—straight, queer, traditional, or modern.

“We’re both deeply attuned to each other’s aesthetic sensibilities and personal preferences. The idea was to choose wedding rings we’d take pleasure in wearing and seeing every single day. Above all, they needed to embody our love and commitment in a way that felt sincere and timeless,” said creative directors Prayag Menon and Porus Vimadalal, on choosing each other’s rings. For them, it was about creating a lasting symbol of their bond, not about spectacle. Rings that reflect their love and values: clarity, strength, and timelessness—just like the natural diamonds they chose.

It’s no longer about following a set formula. It’s about picking something that truly reflects your partner, your connection, and the future you see together. For many, that means picking a natural diamond ring that feels just right. Maybe it’s something vintage-inspired, maybe it’s a classic solitaire diamond, or maybe it’s something completely custom, made with them in mind.

There’s also something so special about choosing a real natural diamond. For Jehan, there was never a question. “A natural diamond felt right for us—classic, enduring, full of meaning,” says Maia. “It mirrors the kind of relationship we’ve built. We literally grew up together, and a natural diamond represents that same strength and resilience.”

It’s a sentiment many share. Natural diamonds remain the instinctive choice for moments like these, mostly for the depth they carry. They’re rare, real, and valuable in ways that go beyond carats or cuts. While conversations around lab-grown diamonds are rising, for many couples, the value of a natural diamond lies in its uniqueness—formed over billions of years, and impossible to replicate.

Today, more men are approaching the ring-buying process with that same thoughtfulness. Some work closely with jewellers to design something personal. Others choose vintage rings or recall a detail their partner mentioned years ago. The entire approach has shifted, from transactional to meaningful.
And honestly, that’s what makes it romantic.

Because in the end, it’s never just about the price or the size. It’s about the intention—the detail he remembered, the effort he made to get the sizing right, the setting chosen to suit your hand perfectly. That’s what makes a real diamond ring unforgettable.

As Maia says, “Listen, really listen. You don’t need a Pinterest board or ten different opinions. Sometimes, one moment, one photo, or one instinct is all it takes—if you truly know your partner. And yes, go for a real diamond if you want something timeless and meaningful. But ultimately, it’s not about the sparkle. It’s about the sentiment behind it.”

On the other hand, content creator Prableen Kaur Bhomrah has a simple fix if you’re unsure—just propose with a dummy ring. “Picking the real one together can feel even more special because it’s completely ‘you’ as a couple,” she says.

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Some get it spot on with just instinct, others pick it out together, and both are just as meaningful. What truly matters is the meaning behind the moment. It’s never about perfection; it’s about intention. A ring that doesn’t just look beautiful, but feels right. One that says, this is ours, this is us.

Lead image: Chiraag Duhlani

Also read: The rise of the Baguette cut diamond

Alsi read: How to curate a jewellery collection that’s as meaningful as it is valuable