Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have officially taken the next big step in their much-talked-about romance. The singer and the NFL star announced their engagement on August 26 via Instagram, sharing heartwarming photos from a garden proposal and a fun caption that read: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

But beyond the excitement of their engagement, what’s really catching global attention is Taylor’s stunning engagement ring and its possible historical roots.

Fashion magazine Vogue published a piece on the same day, diving into the design and background of the ring. The piece described it as a natural old mine-cut diamond set in a yellow gold bezel, created by designer Kindred Lubeck. With its vintage design, the ring is already sparking a potential trend in the jewelry world. Vogue even asked, “Will Taylor Swift’s engagement ring launch a trend for old mine-cut diamonds?”

Old mine-cut diamonds are rare and carry historic value, as they were traditionally cut by hand centuries ago. In a post published the next day, August 27, media platform The Juggernaut explored the deeper origin of such diamonds, suggesting they likely came from either India or Brazil, the two major sources of diamonds before South African commercial mining began.

In a video, The Juggernaut’s founder and CEO Snigdha Sur explained that prior to the finding of diamond mines in Africa, nearly all diamonds came from India and Brazil. India’s famous Golconda mines, located in present-day Andhra Pradesh, were among the most prolific, producing over 12 million carats of diamonds over 2,000 years. Some of the world’s most legendary gems including the Hope Diamond, the Regent, and the Kohinoor, originated from these mines.

Sur noted that old mine-cut diamonds gained popularity during the Victorian era, especially in England. She also pointed to the colonial legacy attached to these stones, highlighting how many of India’s diamonds were either taken or bought under British colonial rule. Citing an estimate by an economist, she added that British colonial powers extracted up to $45 trillion from India over time, with many priceless gems among the looted wealth.

Sur added that the looting of Indian diamonds didn’t stop due to a shift in ethics, but simply because the natural reserves were eventually exhausted. “Before you think that De Beers is the only name you need to know in diamond history, well, Taylor Swift's diamond ring wouldn't have existed without India, Brazil, and lots of colonial theft,” she said.

While the exact origin of Swift’s ring hasn’t been confirmed, the diamond’s vintage cut strongly hints at historical roots. Daniela Tarantino, VP of merchandising for James Allen and Blue Nile, told Vogue that the ring is estimated to be between 10 to 15 carats and could cost anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million.