Celebrity
Artifex Fine’s Kindred Lubeck talks ‘incredible honor’ of making Taylor Swift’s engagement ring on ‘Today’ show
Artifex Fine’s Kindred Lubeck has had quite the year, becoming a household name after Page Six Style exclusively revealed she designed Taylor Swift’s engagement ring in August.
On Oct. 3, Swift shared on “Heart Breakfast” that she had planted the seed with fiancé Travis Kelce more than a year and a half ago by showing him a video of the jeweler’s work.
“He was just paying attention to everything, it turns out, because when I saw the ring, I [gasped],” Swift said at the time. “I was like, ‘I know who made that! I know who made that! I know who made that!’”
During an appearance on the “Today” show Friday morning, Lubeck shared, “Oh my gosh … the fact that she recognized my work, that is such an incredible honor. She said, ‘I know who made that.’ When I heard her say that, that was the most exciting thing.”
The 30-year-old designer explained, “This is something that I think you only dream of happening to you … it’s incredibly surreal,” adding, “I have a pinch-me moment every day … I feel so so honored.”
The talented Lubeck, whose entire inventory is currently sold out on her website, only just began making jewelry a few years ago.
“I think that 2021 is when I took my first engraving course and I was bit immediately, I was totally hooked … I was just obsessed with it,” she shared.
“It’s so zen. It is such a meditative experience for me to start engraving.”
And, though jewelry design is in her blood, “The fact that I joined the business was a surprise … but it was the most natural thing in the world,” shares the jeweler, adding, “I have a baby picture of me in my dad’s chair in front of his bench … but I have a degree in psychology.”
Lubeck’s talents lie in hand-engraving, allowing her to put her own unique signature on her pieces. She also has a passion for antique stones.
Swift’s ring has highlighted the rise in popularity of antique stones, perhaps the most sustainable gem option when buying jewelry.
Lubeck brought a ring to the “Today” set that included another old mine cut diamond, explaining its one-of-a-kind qualities.
“You see how it has these big, broad facets, whereas modern cuts are more like a disco ball. They are super sparkly, while the old cuts are just a little bit more … the flashes are broader. It creates this romantic subtlety.”
Now that Swift has her ultimate bling, could an Artifex Fine Super Bowl ring for her other half be on the horizon? Lubeck would be all too happy to whip something up.
“I would! Yes, absolutely,” she said.
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