Celebrity news sources have been buzzing for the past month after it was confirmed that the world’s biggest celebrity pairing, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, are engaged. Swift and Kelce have been dating since 2023 and recently announced their engagement on social media.
The ring features an elongated cushion-cut diamond set in 18-carat yellow gold. This old mine cut, square with a tall crown, small table, and open culet, reflects craftsmanship predating the standardisation of the round brilliant.
De Beers CEO Al Cook praised the selected diamond, suggesting that it would revive interest in unique and unconventional cuts. In a special report published by the LA Times, Sofia Kaman, founder of Sofia Kaman Jewelry, explained the origins of the term.
“Around the 1700s, the main source of diamond mining was Brazil. When diamonds were later discovered in South Africa and new cutting methods advanced, the older Brazilian stones became known as ‘old mine’ cuts,” she said.
Carter Eve, owner and creative director of Carter Eve Jewelry, calls them ‘imperfectly perfect’, noting they were designed to glow under candlelight, producing a warmer, more romantic fire than modern diamonds.
"Old mine cuts glow with broad, romantic flashes of fire, less sparkle, more soul. Their worth is not just financial, it is historical, cultural, and emotional,” she revealed.
While old mine cuts have 58 facets, like modern brilliants, their broader proportions emit softer flashes rather than sharp sparkle. Collectors have valued these stones for their individuality, and Swift’s ring has brought them wider attention.
“Searches for old mine-cut diamonds surged nearly 10,000 per cent overnight,” Eve added.
Kaman highlighted that genuine old mine diamonds, mined and cut over a century ago, are increasingly sought after, while modern diamonds cut to replicate antique faceting can also command a premium.
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