Do you find this as a trend re: engagement?

I don't know enough people who are getting engaged to really say whether it's a trend or not. It is certainly sensible in many ways. I chose a blue topaz/white gold ring, it was inexpensive, and it's very pretty. I don't feel that a diamond is the only acceptable option for an engagement ring.

I've found a lot more people are thinking outside the box with their engagement ring, seeing a lot less diamond solitaires, and more interesting designs featuring CZ and other gemstones. Partially a recessionary measure, I'm sure, but also because the woman is more often included in the shopping now. A man would play it safe and get the diamond solitaire, but a woman will get her word in she really prefers pink sapphire, for example. And, of course, blood diamonds have been getting a bad rap in the media, not to mention the damage their mining does to the environment, which has caused an increase in popularity of ethical lab-created stones. You save a chunk of change and you buy peace of mind, best of all worlds.

Not necessarily. The only person I know who wears a cubic zirconia ring is my sister in law, and that's a promise ring that looks like an engagement ring.

My engagement ring is a pearl, which is great because I've never been a fan of the typical diamond engagement ring.

Well, my friend recently got engaged, and her boyfriend couldn't afford the real ring he wanted to get her, so he got her a very similar CZ ring that she's wearing right now. They're not planning to get married for at least a couple of years, so he's saving up for the ring she's picked out since they've gotten engaged. I guess people would be getting CZ ones so they have a temporary ring until they can get the real diamond.

I have not seen an increase in the number of CZ rings, no. However, alternatives to diamonds are becoming huge, such as other precious stones, especially now with Kate Middleton's ring being sapphire.

There are no benefits to owning a CZ. They are not precious stones, they fade and crack and discolor over time. A CZ basically says "I cared enough to go to the WalMart but not enough to look at the WalMart diamonds, which are pretty decent and low in cost so here's your CZ. I hope it doesn't turn your finger green."

there are plenty of affordable diamond engagement rings these days. people want bigger stones without paying more money..there are alot of rings that are 1/2 ct or less for very good prices, its just that people want huge diamonds and cant afford to spends thousands of dollars so they go with fake ones..i would rather have my 1/5 ct diamond engagement ring than a 1ct cz.

i had a cz as a temp ring..i never wore it..it was wayy to big to be believable for my husbands income and it was just an embarrassment when people asked me about it..so i stopped wearing it and waited until we got the real one..now i never take it off i love it so much. its just something special about wearing a stone that took so long to create..it actually means something, unlike a cz that doesnt take long to make and is basically a piece of carved plastic.

the only benifit i can see is that you can get a bigger stone than with a real diamond, but i wouldnt sacrifice quality just to have a huge rock that people are going to know is fake anyways.

I believe that inflation and the overall cost of weddings has driven young adults to seek out alternative choices rather than to buy expensive engagement rings. So, the retailers changed their merchandise to accommodate what the consumers could afford. Supply and demand drives retail sales and in this world economic crisis, the consumers are pulling back from spending thousands upon thousands on a ring when they can get something else for far less money.

The benefits of buying jewelry that do not consist of expensive diamonds is that people are finally using some common sense and not exceeding their financial means. Money has everything to do with everything.

No, I haven't found that to be true. I know one person who has this type of ring and it is an embarassment to her. She always tries to explain why. I would really just get something real that you can afford. It is easy to find something nice for under $800 (I don't know your budget though). I saw a ring when I was loking that was a half ct pear solitaire with diamonds all the way arounf the stone and it was only $700.

I haven't noticed this trend. All of my married/engaged friends have real diamonds (including myself!) I would never want a cubic zirconia. A diamond engagement ring is more traditional. and it's something that can be passed on to your daughter, and your grand daughter thereafter. If would be depressing to give your daughter a ring from Wal-Mart as your family heirloom!

I know that more men are buying good looking cheap rings to propose with before they then go out and chose the real ring together but no, nobody I know has gone with a cz ring instead of a diamond