When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement on August 28, 2025, the world’s collective gaze quickly shifted from the couple’s beaming faces to the dazzling ring on Swift’s finger. With only three public photos of the engagement ring—just one of them a close-up—fans and experts alike have launched into a frenzy of speculation, analysis, and awe over this small but spectacular piece of jewelry. The ring, as it turns out, is more than just a symbol of love; it’s a marvel of craftsmanship, history, and optical science.
According to Popular Mechanics, the engagement ring is set with a cushion-cut oval diamond, mounted in yellow gold on an engraved band. The design is the result of a collaboration between Travis Kelce and Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. While the couple has kept many details private, the available close-up has provided enough information for gemologists and jewelers to offer their expert opinions. Megan Kothari, founder of fine jewelry brand AARYAH, told TODAY.com, “Taylor Swift’s engagement ring is seriously gorgeous and one of a kind. It is probably a natural, elongated antique cushion-cut diamond of around eight to 10 carats.”
The ring’s diamond is no ordinary stone. Experts have identified it as an old-mine diamond—a rare, antique cut that dates back to the era when stones were painstakingly hand-cut and polished. This style, as Kothari pointed out, is “really rare and hard to come by.” The old-mine cut, with its elongated cushion shape, is especially prized for its ability to capture and refract candlelight, lending the stone a romantic glow that modern cuts can seldom replicate. Ashley Fox, a gemologist, explained to Forbes (as cited by Popular Mechanics), “It’s a very romantic cut because the original cushion cuts were made to capture and refract candlelight. Diamond cutters don’t cut stones like this anymore, so Travis would’ve had to find a rough-cut diamond and have it cut like this if it’s not an antique.”
But why does the ring look different in every photo? The answer lies in the science of light. The diamond’s appearance shifts depending on the cut, lighting, and angle, owing to the interplay of reflection, refraction, dispersion, and internal reflection. Refraction occurs when light bends as it passes through the diamond, splitting into a rainbow of colors—a phenomenon known as dispersion. As Popular Mechanics explains, “Maximizing dispersion in a diamond requires a very specific cut that is neither too shallow nor too deep. A diamond as large as Swift’s also has so many facets at which that dispersion process can begin, and is bound to scatter sparks of colored light.”
Reflection adds another layer of complexity. The diamond’s atomic structure, arranged in a crystal lattice, interacts with light in such a way that some wavelengths are absorbed while others are reflected. This selective reflection, combined with the stone’s many facets, can cause the diamond to appear lighter or darker, depending on the viewer’s angle and the quality of the ambient light. Internal reflection—where light bounces around inside the diamond before exiting—further enhances the stone’s sparkle. As a result, even though Swift’s diamond is a white diamond, it may look darker or throw off dramatic rainbow sparks in various photographs. “If future photos of Swift’s engagement ring capture a shower of rainbow sparks, refraction and dispersion are working their magic,” wrote Popular Mechanics.
The band itself is no less remarkable. Designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry, the yellow gold setting features delicate hand engraving, and, according to Kothari, may even include smaller “pave” diamonds around the band. This attention to detail ensures that the ring is not only visually stunning but also unique—a true one-of-a-kind piece. Jeweler Hannah Florman told TODAY.com that the old-mine style “can send a signal that the wearer values individuality over mass-produced perfection.”
Of course, with a ring this extraordinary, the question of price is inevitable. The estimates, however, are as varied as the diamond’s own rainbows. Matt Harris, a jeweler interviewed by TODAY.com, cautioned that “It’s always too hard to say unless you get the designer to disclose the price. We’d need to know the color and clarity which can’t be determined from a photo. And then of course, there’s the price you pay for the designer. Some designers charge more than others.” Harris put the lower end at $120,000, but acknowledged it could soar to $500,000 or more depending on the diamond’s quality and provenance.
Other experts offered even loftier figures. Rachel Enright, diamond and gem specialist at CustomMade Jewelers, estimated that if the diamond is natural, D color grade, and internally flawless, “the diamond alone would cost somewhere around $935,000.” Simone Kendle, CEO of Wove Made Inc., which designed Swift’s viral TNT bracelet, suggested the center stone could push $1 million in value. Austin Willard, of Faithful Platform Fine Jewelry and Engagement Rings, estimated a range from $400,000 to $1.2 million, depending on the stone’s specific characteristics. David Steinmetz, a diamond dealer, pegged the value at about $800,000, while Laura Taylor of Laurel Diamonds said that, assuming excellent quality, the ring could fetch between $675,000 and $1 million.
So what makes this ring so valuable—beyond the celebrity attached to it? The answer, say experts, is its rarity. “There are very few diamonds with this age, shape and cut on the worldwide market,” noted Harris. “It’s truly a unique stone, and that’s definitely worth something.” The hand-engraved band, the antique cushion cut, and the sheer size of the stone all contribute to a ring that is as singular as the love story it celebrates.
Swift’s engagement ring has also resonated with fans on a deeper level. Many have connected the dazzling stone to the singer’s long-running lyrical motif of ‘shiny things’ and the search for true love. As TODAY.com pointed out, Swift once sang, “I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings,” in her song “Paper Rings.” While Kelce didn’t propose with paper, he certainly delivered a ring worthy of a pop icon.
With the wedding date still under wraps, one thing is certain: the world will be watching for every new glimpse of the ring. And, thanks to the wonders of physics and the artistry of master jewelers, each photo promises to reveal a slightly different side of this extraordinary diamond—a fitting metaphor, perhaps, for the ever-evolving story of Taylor Swift herself.
