Customer Love Story: Henry & Sabrina

Henry and Sabrina’s engagement involved a beautiful Greek island, a secluded beach, a forgotten dry bag and an empty plastic pot that had once held nuts. We caught up with Henry to hear how they met, how he chose Sabrina’s engagement ring and how he planned a proposal that was a little unconventional but certainly memorable.

How They Met

Henry and Sabrina met on Hinge two and a half years ago. Since then, they have built a relationship around their shared love of the outdoors and adventure.

In their spare time, they enjoy wild swimming, hiking, running and cycling, as well as getting away in their self-converted campervan.

When asked how he knew Sabrina was the one, Henry said:

“She’s fun-loving, enthusiastic about life and the most down-to-earth and easy-to-get-on-with girl I have ever met. And despite being half Greek and half Italian, she’s not overly dramatic.”

Choosing Sabrina’s Engagement Ring

Sabrina gave Henry a few pointers when it came to choosing her engagement ring: gold, a colourful stone and definitely not a solitaire. That helped narrow down the options.

She also made it clear that she does not like wearing rings on her ring finger, as she finds it uncomfortable. Although Henry admits he had a preference for tradition, they agreed to have the ring sized for her middle finger instead.

There was another consideration, too. In Greek tradition, the engagement ring is worn on the right hand until marriage, when it moves to the left. So, as Henry points out, Sabrina is currently wearing her ring on the wrong hand and the wrong finger.

Why Green?

Henry wanted a ring that reflected Sabrina's Mediterranean heritage.

“Being Mediterranean, and with olive skin, I liked the idea of getting Sabrina a green, olive-inspired stone. Plus, green is my favourite colour, so it made sense.”

He also chose Ethical Diamonds because he is from Devon and liked the idea of buying from a company in the South West, despite Cornwall being their main rivals.

We are happy to put the Devon versus Cornwall rivalry aside for such a good reason.

The Proposal in Greece

Henry and Sabrina were visiting her family in Greece for a week, with a few days on the island of Hydra planned for just the two of them.

Knowing how much Sabrina loves being in and around water and spending time on boats, Henry arranged to skipper a small boat for the day. They spent their time exploring the island's beautiful coves before anchoring at a secluded beach.

Sabrina, being the independent woman she is, jumped into the water and swam to shore, where she settled down on the beach.

Henry saw his opportunity. There was just one problem: he had forgotten the dry bag.

The only suitable container he could find was a plastic pot holding the nuts they had packed for their picnic.

“I quickly finished the nuts, jumped in with the container to see if it was waterproof, which it was, put the ring and box in the pot and swam to shore after her.”

Once he reached the beach, Henry got down on one knee and proposed. Kneeling on the pebbles was not particularly comfortable, but thankfully, Sabrina said yes.

Getting the ring back to the boat presented another challenge. Sabrina was too nervous to swim back wearing it, so it went back into its box and the trusty plastic pot for the journey.

Despite the last-minute improvisation, Henry describes it as a great day. And we think the story of the picnic pot makes it even better.

Celebrating with Family

The trip also gave Henry the opportunity to ask Sabrina's dad for his blessing before the proposal. Afterwards, they celebrated with her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Although some of Sabrina's family do not speak English and Henry does not speak Greek, there was no doubt about how they felt.

As Henry explains, he was “smothered with hugs and kisses”.

It was a lovely way to celebrate their engagement, surrounded by Sabrina's family and in a country that means so much to her.

A Ring That Suits Sabrina

From the green, olive-inspired stone to the decision to wear the ring on her middle finger, Henry put plenty of thought into choosing something that suited Sabrina.

Their engagement is a good reminder that there is no single way to choose or wear an engagement ring. The important thing is finding something that feels right for the person who will wear it.

Thank you to Henry and Sabrina for sharing their story and photos with us. We wish them both all the best for the future, with plenty more adventures, wild swims and campervan trips ahead.

And next time, Henry, don't forget the dry bag!