Either she has been hinting, or you have.

Regardless, you're both ready to take the next step -- the biggie -- the M word.

Besides getting your knees in shape for kneeling -- Valentine's Night, perhaps? -- you now have to think about shopping for The Ring. A primer:

Where it goes: In Roman times, rings were placed on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed there was a vein (vena amoris), connecting it to the heart. Today it's worn there because it is the least active of digits -- except for working-stiff lefties, who are often forced to switch their rock over to their right hands.

The look: The design is individual to each bride-to-be, according to Penny Proddow and Marion Fasel, InStyle contributing editors and authors of With This Ring: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Jewelry (Bulfinch Press, $24.95). Whether it's classic, casual, glamorous, artistic, modern or somewhere in between, ''the ring should blend naturally with the things she likes to wear and do,'' they write. (In other words, get an idea of what style she likes -- and dislikes.)

Read a primer on shopping for a diamond engagement ring at http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/13642928.htm.