How does a proposal come to life? Honestly, I don’t know – not even after having just made one myself. It wasn’t planned, really. The idea came without warning, like a thought that slips quietly into your mind before you realise it. Perhaps it has something to do with a classmate I met on a German course last spring. She was a Colombian nun, newly arrived in Austria, who – still unfamiliar with basic European social norms – asked me some rather blunt questions as soon as we met: “How old are you? Are you in a relationship?” And then, without beating about the bush: “You’re not exactly young anymore… why aren’t you married?”.

At first it made me smile inwardly, but I have to admit that from that moment, a few months ago, something began to take shape.

So it was that I spent countless hours in July scouring luxury jewelry websites in search of a ring that Virgi might like. It would have been nice to propose on 17 September, our anniversary. I didn’t really like any of the rings though, they all seemed a bit anonymous and I couldn’t be convinced. Of course, it’s not like I know much about these things. The only “jewelry” I’ve managed to give her in the last six years has been flute cut-outs to wear on her finger – results of my lab experiments.

Finally, I discovered Eva’s website and sent her an email. I was in San Antonio, Texas at the time – my first experience of the States. I was attending one of the major American flute conventions, but I think I spent the whole time collecting ideas for Virgi’s ring. Eva immediately wanted to contact me via video call (meeting in person would have been difficult…) to find out more about me, about us, so that she could create something with the quality I valued most: that it would be a unique, personal piece.

We spent weeks brainstorming, gathering ideas, sketching and re-sketching. In the end, Eva forged a small masterpiece. The ring is inspired by the Tao symbol, where the two elements (here bands of white and rose gold) chase each other. It suggests movement and a spontaneous relationship between the elements, especially because Eva masterfully fused (this is the original idea I’m a bit proud of) a drop of rose gold into the white band and vice versa. These bands revolve around a small point of light – a reale ethical diamond. Et voilà!

So I had the ring, or at least it was on its way. It was time to plan something special for the occasion, and I needed some information: “Hey Virgi, do you like treasure hunts?”, “Hey Virgi, if you had to describe each of the years we’ve been together in one word, what would it be?”, “Hey Virgi, what are your six favourite colours?”. Surprisingly, Virgi didn’t see it coming… I composed six rhyming riddles (in Hendecasyllables!) which sent my unsuspecting soon-to-be fiancée on a journey across town, bothering six equally unsuspecting friends in search of new treasures and clues. These would eventually lead her to a mysterious, unspecified anniversary gift (we were a bit behind schedule due to organisational hiccups – it was 23 November). The final act took place in a lovely little restaurant where the owner, Daniele from the Emilian hills – also an accomplice, though unaware of my real intentions – let us stay after closing time. Once we were alone, Virgi solved the last puzzle and was rewarded with her beautiful ring.

In a matter of seconds I saw the faces of all our friends turn pale, including Virgi’s. Her first reaction was to call me crazy – I was on my knees, poor thing. Between those who immediately burst into tears and others who shouted congratulations and applauded in disbelief, I finally started to breathe again.

In short, it was a success – nobody was expecting it and the surprise worked perfectly. The very next day we started planning this little wedding.

And here’s Virgi, comfortably sitting on our couch, explaining (in Italian) how it all went down…