Congrats!

Find out in your inner friends and family if they have any local jewlers- she may have one, unless it's a surprise- you are looking for 40% off the listed price- that's the price a good jeweler gives you on a rock. A really good one gives you the paid value toward any future upgrades/trade-ins on other rocks. Bummer, mine retired... Anywho- The appraisal will be for the full value, the diamond certs these days are pretty slick, just don't over or undersize it, get too many or too few carats, get the right other C's, metal type for the band, etc- and by all means get camping first! Hopefully you know the cut and setting she wants already, you own the carats and overall quality........ Hopefully.....

Sure hope mom approves- I've seen the prenup deal go sour, not a pretty sight, same direction you're in. Tailwinds....

If it's a surprise, don't sweat a resize- just guess on the large side- worked for me.

Mine was a Jerzey girl, worth it too. Just don't propose from knife edge at an airshow- been there, done that- turns out to be on par with the scoreboard trick at a Yankees game....