Nagin Pattni on love and rings

By Phares Mutembei

The ceremony is dazzling and guests hungrily absorb its details. Cheer fills the atmosphere as bride and groom prepare to start a new life.

The stylish decorations, sleek vehicles, pompous outfits and abundant food all make for a picture-perfect wedding. You could never ask for more!

But if renowned jeweller Mr Nagin Pattni, were present at this lavish ceremony, his eye and mind would probably be on one thing — the wedding rings. He holds nuptials in high esteem; and why not? He has sold engagement and wedding rings to countless couples for over 40 years.

Nagin Pattni’s shop on Kaunda Street, Nairobi. Photos: Martin Mukangu/Standard

Pattni also says that every woman deserves a ring. "It is good to point out that where polygamy is accepted, there is nothing wrong with buying two rings," he says, adding that he has, severally in his practice, sold more than one ring to one man.

Hand-me-down

He says the ring is a highly symbolic item and should not be passed down the family. Whereas in the West it is common for a grandmother to hand down various jewellery items, including rings, to their grandchildren, Pattni says: "It is a treasured item, a souvenir, and only belongs to the one special person."

In the same vein he says, "When you decide to renew the wedding, it is good to buy another ring."

As for the many come-we-stay couples with children who shelve wedding due to costs, Pattni advises thus: "The wife still wants to show she belongs to somebody. An engagement ring would suffice as it will give her identity".

He adds that whereas men are obliged to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage from her parents, they do not need anyone’s permission to put an engagement around the finger. Men, he says, should not just be content keeping girlfriends and women, yet never marking their territory. Even if not formalised, the relationship can be lent a ‘serious’ look with an engagement ring.