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It’s a particularly enchanting time to be a Taylor Swift fan. Less than two weeks after surprising the world with news of her forthcoming album The Life of a Showgirl, the singer has just announced that she’s gearing up for another era entirely: marriage. In an Instagram carousel on August 26, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce nearly broke the internet by sharing their surprise engagement pictures with the caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Notable details from this celebratory photo-op were her striped Ralph Lauren dress, her diamond-set Cartier watch and the fairytale-worthy, if sweetly millennial, floral backdrop. The main focal point of the post, however, was her absolutely massive ring. [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/?img_index=3″ /] The eight-carat diamond—which is reportedly worth $550,000—has already become a trending talking point online. To design it, Travis Kelce worked with Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewellery. The result: a meaningful old mine cushion-cut diamond with an engraved yellow gold band. Taylor Swift is not exactly a fashion icon (said with respect), but what she wears undoubtedly sparks discourse. So, what’s the significance of this choice—and what does her ring say about her? We tapped two Canadian jewellery experts to find out.
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Yes, this ring is incredibly rare—and romantic
Old mine diamonds are hand-cut, meaning no two are exactly alike. “They hold a lot of history as they’ve been around since the 1800s,” says Chau Lui, co-founder of Toronto-based fine jewellery shop CELI, which sells similarly elongated old mine cushion cut rings. She adds that they have wider facets—the small, polished cuts on the gemstone—which each reflect light differently. But what makes the Taylor Swift engagement ring truly rare is the elongated cut, says Haley Woodbury, co-owner and custom design specialist at Toronto-based fine jewellery shop Anne Sportun. “Most are a more traditional square shape,” she explains. Old mine rings also have a quintessentially vintage appeal. “Because they were originally cut centuries ago, they were designed to sparkle in candlelight—making them one of the oldest and most romantic diamond cuts.”
The engagement ring is the perfect reflection of Taylor Swift
Swift is known not only for her love of vintage-inspired dressing, but her fascination with romance folklore, from the Romeo & Juliet retelling in “Love Story” to the ancient concept of a destined connection in “Invisible String”. [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/C-VyDVMhrNH/?img_index=1″ /] Lui and Woodbury say this ring is the perfect choice to embody her old-timey aesthetic, specifically with the diamond-embellished, engraved band. “The choice to have it set in yellow gold reflects the heirloom quality of the ring overall,” says Lui, adding that the engagement photos evoke the cover of the Lover album.
This could be the next big ring trend
While Swift’s exact ring is unique, Lui says different elements of this design have been trending for the past year, such as the bezel set (a rim that encases the gemstone), old mine diamonds and wider, bolder bands. “Her ring puts each of these elements together, making it distinctively special.” She predicts the sentimental element of the ring could become its own trend, with rings being selected to reflect the wearer’s taste. “We already get a lot of requests for elongated cushions,” adds Woodbury, noting that Anne Sportun specializes in these types of vintage rings. “But I think this will kick it into high gear. I expect we’ll see a surge in demand for antique stones and more substantial, statement settings.” Now, we wait for the dress. Continue Reading
