Is our relationship doomed b/c my bf proposed to me w/ a chipped diamond ring?

I think you may be just a little! Actually at one point, before madonna and "diamonds are a girls best friend" when two people got married, they never exchanged diamond rings, sometimes they did not exchange rings at all, they never signed legal papers or anything stating or representing their marriage, they just got married in the eyes of God!....Diamond Engagement rings actually did not become common until around the late 1930's which is less than a hundred years ago! Believe it or not Rings have only been used as a symbol of engagement and/marriage for about 400 years, although that sounds like a long time, its really not, if you think about it people have been exchanging vows for thousands of years in the eyes of what ever god they may follow or worship! And I think you should look at him asking his mother for her help and opinion as a good thing....at least he respected his mother's opinion enough to go and get her insight and not one of his buddies ya know?!?! Also depending on his mother's age she may not know how in depth stone qualities have become over the past 20-30 years! Not to mention Him and His mother were probably very nervous, him because he was thinking how to propose to you and when and where, and what to say and all that sweet stuff, and his mother just being a mother.....happy, sad, worried, excited all those things! So I really would not worry about your relationship with your new fiance! Just remember this, now matter what quality diamond he was to get you....over time those prongs will be loosen and chances are you will loose that precious little diamond as most women do over years of marriage...but just because the diamond is gone (but replaceable) doesn't mean you don't love him and he do sent love you in return. Hope that helps you!!!! P.S. The economy is horrible rite now, give him a break, he might already have plans for upgrades a couple years down the road...think about it