Search Results: love and romance

My boyfriend KINDA proposed to me last week. By that I mean, I knew it's been coming for awhile. He's always said we were gonna get married, but within the past like month he's had me picking out rings that I really legitimately liked and wanted.
Finally our 4 year anniversary came, and he sat me down and had me pick out a ring off of brilliant earth. Had me pick out the size, cut, colors clarity, setting, EVERYTHING.
Which was a double edges sword. I ended up picking a $1,800 ring, kinda feel bad. But everytime I tried to skimp on the diamond size or the setting he caught me and demanded I not worry about the price.
So I picked out the one I truly wanted finally, and it's absolutely beautiful. It's a little under a half carat, but I have pretty small dainty hands so it looks perfectly large on me which I like. I'm in love with it.
My boyfriend is not happy with it. He said it's too small and expected bigger. (However I also went with lab grown, so I think he just doesn't understand the price of diamonds well?)
Anyway, he ended up showing me some 0f the ones HE was looking at on his own, and it made me pretty glad I ended up picking it out. They were just... not my taste, not even a little bit. I mean I would have been happy just to get one! I'm certain of that, but now that I've picked my own out, I'm pretty glad.
My mom said she went through the same thing. When she married my step dad, he got her a used pawn shop engagement ring. That in itself wasn't the problem. She was still overjoyed to have it. But it just wasn't her taste. She never said anything. Honestly up until I told her that my boyfriend had me pick out my ring, she had never said ANYTHING about not liking it. But she said she just didn't like gold rings, and wasn't a fan of the setting. The diamond was beautiful though. So recently when the diamond fell out and she had to have it reset, she was secretly kinda happy.
Would you like to pick your own ring or does it take out out romance?

We were very good friends for few years. He had a lot of issues but I tried to stand by him. For as long as I know him he has the same girlfriend. On and off.
We are very close coworkers as well.
Couple of years back he told me he likes me and wants to explore that. I told him i like him too but not willing to explore it as he had a lot of issues on his plate he needs to deal with it first (girlfriend much?).

Fast forward couple years: we ended up in a romance. While he still had girlfriend. It was intense. Pure. Amazing.
After 8 months I felt like my needs are not met. We both craved each other presence but we met privately only when he wanted too. For few short hours. Nothing more. He always left.
I love him. He said he loves me too.

But I want more. He says he cannot give me more. He wants to explore his own needs. On his own.

All I see is him choosing her over me. Therefore I decided it is time to leave. Let him go. No matter how much I love him, he clearly said he is not willing for a commited relationship with me in foreseable future.

Did I make a mistake? Should I have waited more?