Earlier this week Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter created a stir when he posted a photo of himself with Travis Kelce and seemed to suggest that Kelce is about to play his last season.
But that wasn’t the only thing about that post that caught people’s attention.
Taylor Swift fans honed in on the ring on Kelce’s left hand. It was one of the first glimpses of the rings Kelce and Swift exchanged at their July 3 wedding inside Madison Square Garden.
Since the couple hasn’t released official photos or video from the ceremony, their fans are left to root around for any details they can find on their own.
The first grainy glimpse of their new wedding rings came on July 10 in paparazzi photos of the couple at the wedding of Kelce’s former Chiefs teammate, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Laura Kruk.
Carter’s photo offered a better view of the new ring on Kelce’s finger. From what they’ve seen thus far, jewelry experts say the ring is a wide, domed, yellow gold band. Nothing fussy. Timeless.
“It’s very simple. Rather than choosing a design that makes a statement, Travis appears to have opted for a piece that will never feel dated.” New York jewelry designer Steph Mazuera told Elle magazine.
It appears to be a comfort fit band “between 5 and 6 mm” wide, Olivia Landau, founder and CEO of The Clear Cut jewelry company, told Elle.
A comfort fit band is slightly rounded on the inside making it easier to slide on and off the finger.
“This is a timeless and classic design,” Landau said.
Wider bands are a current trend for men’s wedding rings.
“Travis has opted for a band with real presence rather than an especially slim wedding ring, which suits his larger frame and gives the piece a sense of weight and permanence,” wedding ring expert Nilesh Rakholia, founder of British online jewelry store Abelini, said in a statement.
“For men drawn to this look, the key is not simply choosing the widest ring available, but considering how the proportions work with your own hand. The appeal of Travis’s ring comes from the fact that it feels deliberately substantial.”
The yellow gold of Kelce’s ring, which reflects the gold of Swift’s engagement ring, reflects another current trend in wedding rings for men.
“Yellow gold is also enjoying a renewed popularity in men’s wedding jewelry, with Travis Kelce joining a growing group of high-profile men embracing the traditional metal,” Rakholia said.
“Justin Bieber and Brooklyn Beckham have both favored classic yellow gold wedding bands, while Pharrell Williams has taken the idea further by layering his traditional band with a statement diamond ring, mirroring his wife’s more elaborate ring stack.”
Mazuera estimated Kelce’s simple band to be worth at least $2,000.
“A wedding band like this can vary significantly in price depending on who made it and how it’s constructed,” Mazuera told Elle.
“With classic gold bands, much of the cost comes down to the weight and thickness of the ring. A heavier band crafted by a luxury jeweler will naturally command a higher price. I would expect a ring like this to fall somewhere in the $2,000 to $6,000 range.”
Kelce’s ring “doesn’t feel as though his wedding ring was an afterthought,” Rakholia said. “There’s a clear sense that the jewelry has been considered as part of the partnership.
“The yellow gold appears to create a subtle connection with Taylor’s engagement ring, so while the two pieces are very different, they still feel like they belong to the same story.
“That is something I think more men could take inspiration from. Your wedding band doesn’t have to be an exact match for your partner’s ring, but considering how the two pieces work together can make the choice feel much more personal.
“Travis’s ring feels like a piece chosen with Taylor’s jewelry in mind, rather than simply a standalone men’s wedding band.”
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Lisa Gutierrez has been a reporter for The Kansas City Star since 2000. She learned journalism at the University of Kansas, her alma mater. She writes about pop culture, local celebrities, trends and life in the metro through its people. Oh, and dogs. You can reach her at lgutierrez@kcstar.com or follow her on Twitter – @LisaGinKC.