American pop star Taylor Swift’s recent engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce is pretty much the most talked-about moment in pop culture right now. The musician who is known for her many love stories and even more about her relationships is finally settling down, and her fans are losing their mind.
The biggest thing being discussed is Swift’s ring, but among all the posts about how pretty it is, there have been reports about how it might have a possible Indian connection.
What Is Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring?
First, we understand the information that is currently out there about Taylor Swift’s ring. According to reports, it is a 7-10 carat old mine diamond ring, and set in 18k yellow gold with delicate hand-engraved details.
The stone is also called an elongated antique cushion diamond, and the whole ring was co-designed by Travic Kelce with New York-based jeweller Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry.
While there is no official statement by either Swift or the designers about the cost of the ring, experts estimate it to cost around Rs. 4.8 crore (USD 550,000).
Read More: Mughal & Maharaja Jewels With 500 Years Of Indian History, Sold At Christie’s For $110 Million In 12 Hours
How Could It Be Connected To India?
According to reports, it is the cut of the diamond, or the phrase ‘old mine’ used to describe the ring, that has caught the attention of some people. This style of diamond was prevalent in the 18 and 19 centuries, when it was mined in India.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, “Old mine cut originally meant any ‘brilliant’ cut in a squarish shape, colourless or near-colourless, that originated in Brazil or India.”
The term also became prevalent in the 1800s to distinguish between the new diamond mines in Africa and the “old mines” of Brazil and India.
The region of Golconda, now part of present-day Andhra Pradesh, was renowned for its diamond trade for almost 2,000 years, making it a sole player in the global diamond trade, according to The Juggernaut.
The diamond mines were near Kollur, and other areas nearby, and were found in the Krishna and Godavari valleys, particularly the riverbeds and caves present there. The Golconda diamonds are practically legendary, with the most iconic, the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond, coming from diamond mines in India.
Of course, the British during the colonial era took full advantage of this, stealing as many of these diamonds as they could and taking them away to be used for European royals and treasuries.
Shantanu Guha Ray, in his book The Diamond Trail: How India Rose to Global Domination, also praised these diamonds, writing, “Diamonds from Golconda were known for their white colour, clarity, and transparency. Some of the best diamonds extracted from Golconda include the Daria-i-Noor, the Nur-ul-Ain, the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope Diamond, and the Regent Diamond.”
However, it is not confirmed by any official source whether this diamond really has an Indian connection or not. As of yet, all this is just speculation given the term used and historical information.
Hafsa Qureshi, founder of MISSHK Fine Jewellery, speaking about this, said, “Since this style emerged in the 1700s and diamonds were discovered in Brazil in 1720, most – if not all – old mine–cut diamonds likely came from Brazilian mines. Before this, India was the sole producer, but after Brazil’s discovery, it became the larger producer. So, it is less likely that Taylor Swift’s engagement ring is of Indian origin.”
Piyush Gupta, Director of PP Jewellers by Pawan Gupta, stresses that “The most reliable way is through advanced gemological testing by reputed laboratories.”
Hafsa also added, “The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), for instance, provides reports that scientifically match a polished diamond to its original rough stone. Source Verification Services (SVS) review supply chain documents and invoices, while De Beers and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) offer similar authentication.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: NDTV, Firstpost, India Today
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This post is tagged under: Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift engagement, Taylor Swift ring, Taylor Swift engagement ring, diamond, Taylor Swift engagement ring diamond, diamond mining, india, colonial india, golconda, goldconda diamonds
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