Ringing In Love

Taylor Swift just announced her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce with a series of Instagram posts that practically broke the Internet. “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” read the cheeky caption that had Swifties swooning.

But it wasn’t just the romance that got everyone talking, it was the ring. An antique-inspired cushion-cut diamond that many are already calling the most ‘Taylor ring’ ever. For a singer who built an empire on heartbreak anthems, this super-size sparkler must feel like her own fairytale ending.

The ring, covering nearly a third of her finger, is estimated to weigh between seven and ten carats. Designed by Kelce in collaboration with jeweller Kindred Lubeck, insiders are calling it the ‘holy grail’ of stones, rare, possibly dating back to the 18th or 19th Century, when diamonds were still created by nature’s hand.

Of course, in the celebrity bling wars, Swift’s rock, dazzling as it is, has competition. Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez sports an oval-cut diamond priced at $5 million, while Lauren Sánchez’s rare pink diamond from Jeff Bezos is in the 30-carat league, also valued at a cool $5 million.

So if you thought minimalism had replaced flashy engagement rings, think again. The blindingly big rocks are not only back, they’re getting bigger.

“Big stones convey status, excess as well as romance,” says a celebrity stylist. “If you’re a star, the first thing fans, critics and trolls zoom in to is the ring. In this age of social media, there are entire posts and reels dedicated to the ring shot; so you might as well make it worth their while. Imagine announcing your engagement with just a plain band. People will judge you.”

The current trend has even been nicknamed the flash-first aesthetic, with celebs favouring bold, unconventional designs. Zendaya’s horizontally-set diamond, Dua Lipa’s chunky gold band with a rough-cut rock, and now Swift’s antique gem all prove that big is beautiful, but not necessarily traditional.

Fashion designer Anand Bhushan adds perspective: “Every couple brings in their own story through these bands of love. It could be the mega-rock on Kanye and Kim’s ring, the unique but meaningful stone on Ariana and Dalton’s, or Taylor and Travis’ antique heirloom vibe. Rings are simply a gesture — they carry love, memory and meaning.”

Of course, while these super-sized sparklers may raise eyebrows about utility (how do you even wear them day-to-day?), there’s no denying they’ve become a charming commemoration of the moment. And while fans may rush to replicate the designs, jewellers note that many of these celebrity rings are authentic vintage pieces. Which means the closest we’ll get are lab-grown dupes. Maybe that’s a blessing, because if Swift’s sparkler is anything to go by, love really does shine brightest when it’s rare.