SINGAPORE : Christopher Lee and Fann Wong are getting married — with David Gan's ring.

Well, technically, Christopher "bought" the ring for his Caldecott sweetheart but it was David who picked it out in Spain, paid the difference out of his own pocket, and brought it on home.

In fact, Christopher's proposal to the Dance of the Dragon actress — which would lead to what will possibly be the biggest celebrity wedding of local Brad and Angelina proportions — might seem a little short on romance: There weren't any flowers, either.

But it's not as if he didn't have his heart in the right place. "Of course, I wanted it to be romantic," said the actor, in Mandarin, at a MediaCorp TV Channel 8 press conference on Thursday. "Proposing is a big deal and it must be done properly. That's why I initially thought about renting out a restaurant on Valentine's Day and inviting my friends and their wives and girlfriends along. But Fann, unfortunately, wasn't going to be in Singapore."

Determined, the 36-year-old actor got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend of six years to marry him on the second day of Chinese New Year this year — that's Feb 8 — in front of 20 family members and friends, no less.

"I had no choice. I actually thought about proposing for a while already, but there just wasn't an appropriate time," said Christopher. "Anyway, I can always make it up to her by doing something more romantic later."

Explaining why he didn't pick the engagement ring out himself, Christopher said David would simply have been better at picking out a good one.

"Chris gave me a $50,000-cheque and asked me to keep a lookout for two diamonds — one for Fann and one for himself to make into an earring," said the celebrity hairstylist, in Mandarin.

"I told him that is not enough! While I was in Barcelona last year, I found a beautiful custom-made solitaire diamond ring — around 2.2 or 2.3 carat — in a local shop. I made a decision and bought it without even showing Chris. He did say he trusted my taste. In the end, Chris burned a $100,000-hole in his pocket."

The "godmother" to Fann, however, said that's not the only ring the actress is receiving. Yup, David bought another one as his wedding gift to Fann — with a bigger rock than Christopher's.

"Two of Singapore's biggest stars — who are not selfish — are getting married. I have to give her my heart," David said of the heart-shaped 4-carat diamond ring he's giving Fann. He likened the occasion to his own daughter getting married.

Meanwhile, the husband-to-be also hinted at the future pitter-patter of little feet: "We are now discussing how to plan our ideal wedding, but yes, we would like to have children.

"If not, why would we be getting married right?"

"We'll keep the press informed. If I tell you everything now, then there will be nothing to report later," Chris quipped. - TODAY/fa