With the economy in the tank, a lot of people are looking for a way to save money, a lot of people are even putting off engagements until they "can afford them" - well we have a better ideal. We know you want to get your bride to be the best looking engagement ring that money can buy, and we know that you don't have the cash to do it, and that credit is tight, so here is our suggestion.
Buy a real gold setting with fake diamonds... That's right, you can buy a CZ wedding ring set in real gold. When times get better you can easily have the CZs switched for real diamonds.
Here is a link to one such ring, the CZ look great and you easily switch to real diamonds. http://www.e14k.com/cz-rings/3-stone-ring-1283.html - This is 3 Stone Ring, each CZ is 1ct each. This ring would cost you 7-15k if the diamonds were real. You can get it with CZ for under $220
The trick here, it not to try to fool your bride to be. Be honest, tell her you love her and you don't want to delay the engagement. Tell her the stones are fake but the ring is real and that you will replace the CZs later. If you fail to tell her, you are going to be in for a real surprise when she sneaks out to have the ring appraised. (most women do)