Earthly Crystals & Gifts Inc, Britannia Beach, BC

I just want to warn customers to be careful of the crystal rings they purchase. I bought a dress ring -sterling silver with five red garnets individually set within the ring - about seven months ago. It has just been worn for dress up occasions. I wore the ring several days ago and discovered that I had lost one of the stones. When I talked to the store manager today, I was told that silver is a soft metal and that there was nothing she could do about it. For all the store's minerals and stones and jewelry, there is no making/repair of the jewelry on site. I was also told that there was a sign up in the store regarding the strength and durability of silver, a sort of "buyer beware". I have owned silver rings and never lost a stone. I just want to make buyers aware of how the jewelry is made. Make sure the jewelry has prongs holding the stone in and that the silver is not just wrapped around the stone and squeezed tight - a lesson I have learned the hard way. I was also told that it would be easy and inexpensive to replace the stone, but, for all their stones, they don't do repairs. I was given no recommendations of where to go, so I am on my own with the problem. So, buyers beware of the limits of some silver jewelry and be sure to check on how it is made and pick a lapidary shop with a knowledge and facility to deal with problems re the jewelry it sells.