When news broke that Taylor Swift was officially engaged, the internet did what it does best – lost its collective mind. But it wasn’t just the engagement that had everyone talking – it was the engagement ring that instantly became the most analyzed piece of jewellery of the year.
Canada’s jewellery experts dish on the engagement ring that broke the internet
To unpack the details behind the design of Taylor’s ring and what it means for 2026’s biggest bridal trends, we turned to two Canadian jewellery experts who know a thing or two about creating show-stopping engagement pieces.
Meet the experts
Chau Lui, co-founder of the Canadian jewellery brand CELI, based in Toronto and co-owner of Paris Jewellers Canada, has been in the jewellery and diamond industry for more than 20 years and is the creative force behind several celebrity rings.
Dana Smith of Dana’s Goldsmithing in Port Perry, Ontario, is a trained goldsmith and gemmologist whose passion is one-of-a-kind jewellery designs. Smith’s shop includes design consultation tables and a separate showroom from the back shop, allowing clients to watch her experienced team at work.
What’s your first impression of Taylor’s engagement ring?
CHAU LUI: “I love it so much! I think it suits her perfectly – her style, her vibe – everything! The engagement ring is a stunning, glamourous statement piece with an heirloom quality to the design, speaking perfectly to Taylor’s personality and style.”
DANA SMITH: “We love the ring with its vintage flair, heavier band and custom aspects.”
What can you tell us about the shape and/or cut of the diamond?
CL: “Taylor’s engagement ring is an ‘Old Mine’ cut stone, set in a delicate milgrain bezel in yellow gold, and features hand-etched detailing on the band. Our old mine bridal pieces in our new bridal collection bring an old-world charm to modern bridal. They capture the soft, romantic character of antique cuts, but with a contemporary design that feels timeless. These pieces are all about heritage reimagined – designed in a way that feels classic and modern.
“The settings are elegant and really make the focal point of the ring that stunning centre diamond. We actually started seeing the Old Mine diamond trend building over the past year and have it in a few different styles.”
DS: “The elongated old mine cut is a unique choice for this ring. The shape itself is trending right now as we’re seeing many elongated, radiant and cushion cuts. The old mine cut is a perfect focal point to the ring’s other vintage characteristics.”
Does size really matter when it comes to engagement rings?
CL: “Size matters only to the person wearing it. We believe that what matters most is how it makes you feel, and that you love the ring every time you wear it.”
DS: “Every diamond is unique, just as every bride is. The sheer size of Taylor’s engagement ring diamond is impressive, and consumers are tending to go larger with the option of laboratory-grown diamonds if natural diamonds are out of their budget. We prefer to focus on the uniqueness of each design and the diamond that’s best suited for each bride, just as Taylor’s ring is for her.”
What about the clarity of a diamond?
CL: “Clarity refers to the inclusions inside a diamond, graded under mag- magnification. What truly matters is how brilliant the diamond looks to the person wearing it – if you love the way it sparkles and looks on, that’s the right clarity.”
DS: “The clarity of a diamond is extremely important if you don’t want to see any inclusions in the stone. However, with the increasing popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds, some clients prefer to have visible natural inclusions as proof of the diamond’s natural origin.”
Is it easy or difficult to have a ring custom-made?
DS: “Our designers make the process very easy, from choosing the right diamond to refining each detail of the design. We’ve been perfecting the custom design process for more than 30 years.”
CL: “Custom doesn’t have to mean complicated. Someone can bring their ideas for their dream ring, and we’ll bring it to life. We have a great selection in store of one-of-a-kind designs to pull inspiration from. The best way to start the process is to book an appointment. We love dreaming with our clients from inception to the finished engagement ring.”
What would a couple typically spend on a custom ring?
CL: “Every couple has a different comfort level with budget. That’s why we offer a wide range of options – in lab-grown and natural diamonds. We wouldn’t suggest what a couple should spend – our focus is creating the most meaningful piece possible with the budget that feels right for them.”
DS: “There is no typical answer to this question, with engagement rings ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.”
Any guesses on what Taylor’s wedding band might look like?
CL: “I could envision her getting a secondary band similar to the first, but with rubies instead of diamonds as she loves rubies and wears them often. An example is our Contour Pave Wedding Band.”
Lesley TurnerEditorial Content Writer
Lesley is a freelance writer and content strategist with a serious love for all things wedding. With a background in bridal fashion and over a decade of industry experience, she creates stylish, scroll-stopping content for Today's Bride and beyond.
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