
It’s the engagement heard round the world: Taylor Swift is getting married, and her NFL fiancé reportedly designed the engagement ring.
As soon as the pop star announced her engagement on Aug. 26, the ring became the jewelry story of 2025. The question went from will they or won’t they—thanks, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, for making Taylor truly happy—to Exactly how big is that amazing antique diamond, and who made the ring?
Jewelry professionals and fans quickly went into detective mode. Thankfully, Swift selected a ring worthy of all the speculation, adulation, and conversation. It is highly personalized, features one of the most unusual gemstones seen on an engagement ring in a long time, and has landed an independent goldsmith in celebrity magazines.
If Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry made the ring—and it’s fairly certain that she did, although a nondisclosure agreement may make it impossible to know for sure—then she’s about to go from her cozy Brooklyn atelier to a new position: that of the most jealousy-inducing jeweler to the stars.
“I love this ring for Taylor. She could really have anything, so the fact they chose an antique diamond, which already has so much history and character, makes it very special,” says content creator Xarissa B. of Jewel Boxing, who owns a Lubeck original and quickly identified the maker on Instagram.
“Even more importantly, the ring itself was reportedly made and hand-engraved by Kindred Lubeck…a young, independent goldsmith with insane talent,” Xarissa says. “Choosing a ring made by a smaller indie artist shows a deep respect for other creatives. It’s not just about the bling, it’s about the story, and that’s perfect for Taylor.”
The larger issue for the jewelry industry is how this handcrafted beauty is about to change modern engagements. Swift fans are known to follow her lead when it comes to personal style. Granted, a diamond is different from a friendship bracelet, but many devotees are likely to look to Swift now when choosing their own engagement rings.
“The elongated cushion cut has an old-world romance that feels both personal and distinctive. I imagine that’s exactly what drew Taylor and Travis to it,” says jewelry designer Briony Raymond. “It’s a style that conveys individuality while still feeling timeless, making it a meaningful choice for an engagement ring.”
Amid plenty of debate over details of the ring—some observers have pegged it as big as 10 cts.—Jared Jewelers VP of merchandising Ann Grimmett says she guesses the main stone is 5 or 6 cts., cushion-cut, and set in 18k yellow gold. The side stones look to be a half-moon plus a small round, which contribute to its vintage style, adds Grimmett.
“The cut and clarity look very good from the photos, so my estimate is that this ring would cost approximately $125,000 to $175,000,” she says. “This ring aligns to recent trends in bold gold looks, fancy cuts, and oversized elongated stones. I’ll be excited to see how Taylor’s ring influences engagement trends and also what she decides to do for her total wedding jewelry look.”
The antique diamond, and the woman who made it into a ring for Swift, will become the stuff of legends—that’s how potent the singer’s influence is. Just think about some of Swift’s recent jewelry: her yellow gold Cartier Santos Demoiselles watch, her Wove TNT bracelet. The list goes on and on.
Jenny Klatt, who co-owns jewelry brand Jemma Wynne, says, “This ring feels very Taylor”—fresh yet nostalgic and romantic. The vintage-inspired setting, with its engraving and delicate details, helps make the ring special and perfectly Taylor, according to Klatt
“Over the years, her personal style has evolved into something romantic and feminine, yet always polished. There’s a mix of vintage nostalgia with modern sophistication, and her ring captures just that,” Klatt says. “Taylor’s jewelry style has never been about chasing trends. It feels personal and intentional. An old-mine cushion is such a unique cut, full of character, and far from trendy since so few are available in today’s market.”
But the best part for many jewelry lovers was using Artifex to make the ring. Many of Lubeck’s industry friends and admirers posted on social media about how happy they were that her work gained this kind of international exposure.
When Lubeck (who wasn’t available for an interview with JCK) guested on the jewelry podcast Pass the Torch in April, she spoke about her background, her inspirations as an engraver, and her brand. Artifex means craftsman, and as the daughter of a bench jeweler—her dad is Jay Lubeck, a longtime metalsmith expert—she wanted her brand to be about handmade excellence.
“I really loved old mines, probably forever will,” Lubeck said on the podcast. “There’s just something so charming about them.… You can tell they were cut by hand. They aren’t trying to be perfect.”
Top: Taylor Swift’s engagement ring (close-up), as seen on @taylorswift