Congratulations to our lovely customers, Ruth and Holly on their recent engagement! Ruth proposed to Holly with a stunning classic emerald cut lab-grown diamond version of our Amber ring in the wild and beautiful Scottish coast. Today we're delving into their story as a couple as well as all the proposal details and how Ruth nearly got washed away whilst down on one knee!
Holly and I have been together for 5 years. We met at our mutual friend's birthday party - we are planning to ask him to be one of our Bridesmen at the wedding.
Tell us your story!
We met when we were both living and working in Reading doing Grad Schemes. Holly moved back up to Scotland when she finished hers for a while then ended coming down to London, we got back in touch and have been together ever since. We moved in together in North London, Muswell Hill where we now call home just after lock down in 2020. We loved it so much we bought our first home together there last year.
Holly and Ruth at the Muswell Hill Christmas Lights
When did you know you wanted to propose?
I knew I wanted to propose because we worked really hard to be able to afford our first flat together and Holly is so brilliant at making it a home. I love how much joy it brings her and the timing just felt right.
What made you choose Ethica Diamonds and how did you find us?
I did A LOT of research to find the right style of ring (I'm a bit of a night owl and Holly is the opposite so I did most of my research late at night!) I honestly can't remember how I found Ethica but I'm very very glad I did. When it came to choosing your design even bespoke websites felt really impersonal - which I thought was crazy because you are buying something so personal and spending a lot of money whatever your budget. But the Ethica Diamonds website and social media was totally different, I could tell they cared about the people and their story and it made me feel a lot more comfortable.
What made you choose the Amber Emerald ring and how did you find buying the process?
I had a couple of consultation chats with Olivia from the team who was absolutely brilliant at sending over loads of information and possible options. I knew I liked the Amber setting but I wanted to go with an Emerald cut diamond, Holly had hinted about Art Deco styles and we eventually settled on the Step cut, open Faceted Emerald Cut which is really classic.
It was the first Step cut Emerald Amber the team had made so it was a little nerve wracking not actually knowing exactly what the finished product with the diamond would look like, but Olivia was able to send over some CAD mock ups which I showed Holly's parents when I told them about my idea to propose.
How did you plan the proposal and how did it go!?
Originally I planned to propose on a big holiday to Sri Lanka we had booked for January but I kind of chickened out about taking the ring abroad and the more I thought about it I knew Holly would want to be around friends and family to celebrate so Christmas/New year was perfect as we'd all be together. I organised with her family (Mum Maggie, Dad Neville, Brother Chris and Sis in law/bestfriend Cally) to go to our favourite beach, Seacliff, with all the dogs. Holly thought it was a little strange they had all managed to be so unusually organised as to arrive at the same time for a simple walk but was apparently not suspicious of me at all.
In true Scottish fashion the weather was wildly unpredictable. One moment beautiful sunshine the next howling rain, I had a small window of opportunity and Holly's dad told me they'd all hang back a sec while we went ahead. Holly turned around so I got the ring box out and got down on one knee. She was very surprised and very happy! So in love with the ring she forgot to say yes and became naturally protective of it when Brodie - the youngest pup, came crashing along next to a wave! "OMG don't drop it in the sea!" wasn't the confirmation I needed but I had to quickly jump up otherwise I would've been soaked.
She said "yes yes yes!"And we quickly popped the ring on her finger as that was definitely the safest place for it to be! We got some lovely photos and celebrated in Edinburgh that night and back in North London with my family over new years.
It was lovely then being able to go on holiday as a newly engaged couple to stay in our little bubble a while longer - so would recommend it that way round to anyone in hindsight too!
Holly and Ruth in Sri Lanka!
Have you started planning the wedding?
We have booked our Wedding for May 2026 at the Dunglass Estate in East Lothian not far from where we got engaged.
Congratulations, Ruth and Holly! We at Ethica Diamonds wish you a lifetime of happiness together and we're so glad we could help you find your dream ring.
