A Florida State graduate designed the giant engagement ring flashed by Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift in social media posts around the world.
Swift and longtime boyfriend Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, got engaged in a picturesque garden. One picture shows the “You Belong With Me” singer as she hugs Kelce and dangles the mega-watt diamond for the camera.
The vintage, 8-carat diamond ring is estimated to cost $550,000 and was designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. Lubeck graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I am a goldsmith specializing in hand engraving (think of it as tattooing rings — a lot of people confuse engraving with ‘etching’),” said Lubeck, in a 2024 article in Voyage Jacksonville in 2024. “Basically, I take very small, sharp instruments and cut away bits of metal, usually on the sides of rings, into a particular design.”
From Brides.com to Forbes, the posts sparked a storm of news headlines as the ultimate couple announced wedding plans but no details on the big day or venue.
“Taylor Swift was proposed to with a stunning elongated antique cushion-cut diamond that is approximately eight carats, F color, and VS1 clarity,” says Benjamin Khordipour at Estate Diamond Jewelry, quoted in an article about the engagement on Brides.com. “The ring was handcrafted in 18k yellow gold and the center diamond is set with needle point prongs that perfectly match the antique style. Smaller diamonds and hand-engravings adorn the shoulders of her setting.”
He told the site that this piece is “his favorite celebrity sparkler of the year.”
The ring and its local connection was also becoming the talk of Tallahassee as it made the rounds on social media.
Terrie Ard, President & COO of Moore, Inc., posted the evening of Aug. 26 about FSU’s “bejeweled era.”
“Romantic, radiant, and rooted in craftsmanship,” she wrote. “Fellow FSU grads, your alumni just engraved herself into pop culture history. Kindred’s journey is pure sparkle — and I’ve enjoyed checking out her beautiful jewelry and learning more about her incredible talent.”
FSUShadow program helped Lubeck while in college
Lubeck’s journey to becoming a top jeweler included her participation in FSUShadow, a program that allows students to connect with professionals in various fields as they explore potential careers.
Her experience brought her to the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, where she was an intern with pre-trial services one summer. In a Q&A with the career center, she described her experience as an intern.
“With court administration, I was able to shadow various department heads and sit in on hearings and trials. I got to see mediation, meet the stenotype and court reporting department, and get a full tour of the jail where I was able to watch first appearances before a judge,” Lubeck said. “First appearances are where a recently arrested person goes for their “first appearance” before the judge who determines the severity of their crime and the path that they will proceed. Whether that be spend five days in jail until release, or await trial, etc.”
She said she left the internship with a newfound interest in the criminal justice system and a “passion for helping those individuals who find themselves being held in jail.”
After graduation, she worked as a file clerk at Jacksonville-based Jimerson Birr lawfirm from April to October 2019, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Yet, in 2019, Lubeck’s career path shifted as she joined her father’s jewelry business. A year later, according to an interview with Voyage Jacksonville, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and temporarily closed the business’ showroom.
“We all remember how terrifying the early days of COVID were. If you are a business owner, your biggest question was probably: “How are we going to survive this? Will we have to close our doors permanently?,” she said, in the article.
“When the mandate was announced for all non-essential businesses to close, we turned our lights off in the show room, but kept working in the back. With all this newfound time, my father realized there would never be a better time to teach me the craft of goldsmithing.
I was hooked immediately,” she said.
Artifex Fine Jewelry and a social media sensation is born
By June 2024, Lubeck moved to New York City to open her own jewelry shop, Artifex Fine Jewelry.
In a 2024 TikTok video, Lubeck said her “jewelry idol” is Kent Raible, a silver and goldsmith who has been crafting jewelry since 1971. Raible is known for his intricate detailing and incorporation of gold granulation throughout his pieces.
Lubeck boasts more than 260,000 followers on TikTok, where she posts videos of her engraving jewelry, some of which have garnered over 5, 9 and 10 million views.
How much do Kindred Lubeck’s rings cost?
Lubeck’s rings, as posted on the Artifex Fine Jewelry and Jewels by Lubeck websites, vary in prices largely.
Rings on the Artifex website range between a 14-carat yellow gold ring with a 3-millimeter diamond at $4,300 and a 18-carat yellow gold ring with a 5.33-carat Montana sapphire at $33,650. The former is already sold out.
Check back for more updates on this developing article.
Greta Cross with USA TODAY contributed to this story. Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Garnet and Golden moment: FSU grad Kindred Lubeck designed Taylor Swift’s engagement ring
Reporting by TaMaryn Waters, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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