Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Speaks Out on Public Reaction to Diamond
Taylor Swift’s engagement ring designer is sharing an inspiring message.
Days after the “Bejeweled” singer announced that she and Travis Kelce are set to exchange vows, Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry detailed the journey that led her to craft the breathtaking diamond.
“My name is Kindred Lubeck,” she said in a video posted on Instagram Aug. 29. “I’m 30 years old, I started making jewelry in the summer of 2019. I was 25.”
From there, the jeweler encouraged viewers to follow their passions no matter what.
“I believe that if someone says you can’t do something, you should prove them 110 percent wrong,” she continued. “I think when one door closes, you should kick the next one down. I think that if you have a dream, you should never, ever quit.”
Kindred ended the video with a message of gratitude to her followers—which included a nod to a track from Taylor’s 2010 album Speak Now.
“For those of you have been with me since day one, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart,” she concluded. “And to those of you who are new, I’m enchanted to meet you.”
Taylor, 35, unveiled the sparkler—a single elongated diamond set on a yellow gold band with two smaller diamonds on each side—in an Instagram photo carousel Aug. 26, declaring, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
Later that day, Travis’s dad Ed Kelce shared details about the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s mindset before popping the question.
“It was a couple weeks ago that Travis got it done, after a few weeks of prodding from myself and from [Taylor’s dad] Scott Swift,” Ed said in an interview with Today Australia. “He was going to do it, but wanted to find the perfect way to ask her and to make it special.”
And after getting the call that the deed was done, Ed couldn’t have been happier.
“They’re just so good together,” he gushed. “They really are. And they’re both so happy.”
Keep reading for more on Taylor and Travis’ romance…
July 2023: So, Make the Friendship BraceletsTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story began in July 2023, when the singer’s Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.”I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. “So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”Summer 2023: This Is Him TryingAfter publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as “metal as hell”—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.”I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court,” he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. “I told her, you know, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So, we’ll see what happens in the near future.”August 2023: Enchanted to Meet YouTravis was rocking a mustache—which he debuted in August during training camp—when he was first introduced to Taylor.As he later noted of the era, “That ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit, and I had it when I met Taylor for the first time.”
September 2023: Sparks FlyBy early September, a source close to the situation told E! News that Travis and Taylor were “texting and talking here and there.””It’s been very low-key,” the insider explained, “as he’s been in season.”September 2023: Cheer CaptainAccepting Travis’ invite, Taylor joined the athlete’s mom Donna Kelce at Arrowhead Stadiumto watch him and the Chiefs take on the Chicago Bears. After the game, Taylor and Travis were seen packing PDA at a local bar.Though folklore had it that it was the couple’s first in-person meeting, the “Karma” singer later clarified the two had spent a “significant amount of time” getting to know each other beforehand.As Taylor noted, “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.” October 2023: Team UpAs an indication that the relationship was heating up, Taylor brought her squad—including friends Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman, Sabrina Carpenter and Antoni Porowski—to watch the Chiefs play against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.October 2023: It’s Nice to Have a FriendAnother sign that Travis could be The 1? Taylor started bonding with Brittany Mahomes—the wife of Travis’ BFF and teammate Patrick Mahomes—in and outside of NFL games.October 2023: Welcome to New YorkThe couple took their romance to TV, making a surprise appearance on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live. Their Big Apple takeover also included the after-party for the NBC sketch show and a date night at the Waverly Inn.November 2023: Karma Is Her BoyfriendDuring a bye week, Travis traveled down to Argentina to catch the South American leg of Taylor’s Eras Tour. Not only did the NFL star bond with Taylor’s dad, Scott Swift,at the Nov. 11 show in Buenos Aires, but he also got a special shoutout from the stage.”Karma is that guy on the Chiefs,” Taylor sang, “coming straight home to me.”After the show, the Midnights artist was seen running up to Travis backstage and greeting him with a passionate kiss.December 2023: Speak NowTaylor addressed the lavender craze surrounding her appearances at Travis’ games.”I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she told Time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone.” December 2023: You, Who Charmed Her DadThe music superstar turned Travis’ Dec. 17 game into a family affair, bringing her dad to cheer on her man.January 2024: All the MidnightsTaylor and Travis spent their first New Year’s Eve together, sharing a romantic kiss when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1.January 2024: Chosen FamilyContinuing to bond with Travis’ family, Taylor hung out with his brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce at the Chiefs’ game against the Buffalo Bills.January 2024: Saved by the Perfect KissTaylor joined Travis on the football field when the Chiefs won the AFC Championship, a victory that cemented the team’s spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The couple shared a celebratory kiss before exchanging the L-word.”Tay, I’m gonna enjoy with the guys,” he told her. “I love you—so much it’s not funny.” February 2024: Super Bowl ChampsThe pair locked lips on the field after Travis led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.February 2024: TikTok OfficialTaylor posted footage of Travis on social media for the first time Feb. 12, poking fun at how she took her parents clubbing with the athlete after the Super Bowl.June 2024: Instagram OfficialTaylor’s first Instagram pic featuring Travis was a selfie of the two with Prince William and his and wife Kate Middleton‘s eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage at the singer’s Eras tour show at Wembley Stadium in London.June 2024: Travis’ Eras Tour Stage DebutWhile attending his seventh Eras tour concert, and second show at London’s Wembley Stadium, the NFL star joined his girlfriend onstage as a backup performer during her performance of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”September 2024: Back in the GameTaylor joined Travis for the Chief’s first game of the regular 2024-25 season and appeared to re-enact a PDA moment from October 2023 in this photo shared by Chariah Gordon, who is pictured with her boyfriend, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.September 2024: Wedding DateThe two attended model Karen Elson‘s wedding to Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster in New York City.September 2024: U.S. Open DateThe next day, the pair attended the men’s singles final match at the U.S. Open.October 2024: Double DateThe two stepped out for a double dinner date with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in NYC.December 2024: Empire State of MindThe pair stepped out for two back-to-back dates in New York City over the last weekend of 2024, matching outfits both times.March 2025: Off-Season AdventuresThe pair spent the NFL off-season together, enjoying a snowy vacation to Montana with sportscaster Erin Andrews.July 2025: Instagram Hard LaunchTravis posted his first pics with Taylor on Instagram in July 2025, including an adorable shot of them at dinner—which subtly revealed their phone lockscreen pics of one another.August: 2025: Taking Their Romance to New HeightsSelf-described New Heights superfan Taylor made her debut on Travis and Jason’s podcast in a nearly two-hour-long special episode Aug. 13. In addition to very candidly detailing their life together—in and out of the spotlight—Taylor also revealed her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, set to debut Oct. 3.August 2025: It’s a Love Story, Baby Just Said YesMore than two years after Travis’ podcast shoutout heard ’round the world, Travis and Taylor announced they are engaged. Making a cheeky reference to her song “So High School.” the two captioned the Aug. 26 Instagram post featuring their engagement photos, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
