You guys win
As for the ring, it's possibly a very early "idea collection", as most guys don't really know what their prospective wife would want for her engagement/wedding rings. Or maybe he's just fishing to see how you'll react instead of coming out with the proposal one day and having you freak out over it, you know?
If you do have a more traditional style of family (as you mentioned Intro needing to speak with your father), and it's what you want, make sure he definitely knows that because I doubt many men approach the father of their lady before proposing anymore.
All in all, only Intro knows why he's hinting and you
should be able to talk about it relatively openly. Unless he's trying for a big surprise. *shrug* Good luck!