I don't think your boyfriend is bringing up engagement rings because you don't have anything else to talk about. His mind is clearly on the future.
If you consider your boyfriend the smart and empathetic type, you can assume that he's asking you these questions since he might be considering asking you a very serious question in the next few months. The reason why I say that is because a smart and empathetic guy would understand that asking you about your engagement ring preferences would give you the impression that a very important questions is imminent. As such, he wouldn't ask you about jewelry and then leave you waiting for a year.
If your boyfriend is a bit more dim-witted and doesn't understand that a woman will interpret "engagement ring talk" as "an engagement may happen soon," then you might be in for a longer wait. He's interested and probably making plans, but he didn't realize that this would trigger your "OMG MARRIAGE" radar.
Either way, congratulations in advance!
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Ha!! My guy recently spent weeks talking about and seeking my opinion on vintage wedding rings - going on and in about their beauty, history and value.
Then he asked if I was alright with jewlery for Christmas as there was something very special he wanted to get me but wasn't sure he could get the money together for it in time.
When that fell through (he told me he'd been trying to have a necklace designed and created in white gold and diamonds) he asked me what I wanted instead. I told him,'I want YOU for Christmas, something meaninful...a ring.' He said of course but that we should look at rings together so he'd get the right one. We did and later I found the perfect ring on-line, he asked me to send it to him, I did...and he seemed floored that it was an engagement ring.
"it's not time, I'm not ready yet." I told him I want to get married but I'm not on a time line; he gets to choose the meaning of this ring.
Y
jOP, ust don't get your heart set a immediate proposal.