With apologies to Shakespeare, when it comes to engagements, it’s (usually) all about the ring. Now, I know plenty of people who chose not to go the ring route, but most women I know started dreaming about a ring on that all-important finger shortly after they were old enough to spell engagement! So if you were like me, the ring shopping started way before you even met your husband. Maybe in high school or college, taking a quick peek “just to get ideas” on a jeweler’s site that let you design your own ring? (Yeah, me too)

Here’s the thing about those oh-so-addictive jewelry sites: they only gave you a few options. Solitaire or with side stones? Shape of center and side stones, as applicable? Size and metal? And that’s about it. Sure, you got to choose the size of the diamond, etc. But it you wanted to go waaaay out on a limb and choose, say, a colored center stone (unimaginable, I know), then you were out of luck, at least at first.

Happily, things have changed a little. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend (although I think my husband would have a thing or two to say about that), but ladies, Gemvara is giving them a run for their money. I just discovered this lovely little website, and my college self would have been in hog heaven with all these options!!

The concept is the same, but you get way more options (5,264 at last count). You select a ring, and then can either leave it as is (and there are so many lovely options):

Or adjust each part of the ring to suit your tastes and make it your own.

This ring was originally white gold with a topaz, but I thought it would be lovely in rose gold with diamond center and accent stones.

The ring below originally had a black diamond center stone, and I’ve created two versions one with just diamonds and one with water sapphire, black diamonds, and white diamonds.

I should, though, add this warning before you visit the site: with so many rings, from traditional to modern to antique, and so many options for each ring…Gemvara is WAY more addictive than other ring design sites. Pop some popcorn, grab a drink, and prepare to settle in for a while!!