What is watchmaker's cement? Where can I get it in the UK?

My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.

Use two part epoxy found at most hardware stores. I am sure someone in UK
carries it.
Roxan
"Typo" wrote in message
...
My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.

On Sun, 07 Mar 2004 19:46:47 -0800, in rec.crafts.jewelry
(Typo) wrote:

My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.

Probably, she's heard of what watchmakers call crystal cement. It's a simple
solvent based cement similar to many household cements used to glue in the
crystals in older, non-waterproof type watches, where often the crystals were
not pressure fit all that much. The benefits of crystal cement for this use
are several. One, it hold enough to be good enough for this use, while still
being weak enough that when the crystal needs to be removed or changed in the
future, the watchmaker can simply push the crystal back out from inside the
case. And, though it's solvent based (acetone, I think, though I'm not sure)
it doesn't give off fumes that endanger the inner workings of the watch.

For the use you've got, neither of these concerns apply. You can use just
about any decently permanent cement. If your stones are 'foil backs", which
means the back surfaces of the stones (usually glass, sometimes plastic) are
coated with a mirror backing to make them nice and bright), then you can just
super glue or epoxy the stones in with little concern. Use a toothpick or
something small to dab just a bit of the glue in, so as not to flood the whole
piece. If the backs of the stones are still clear and uncoated, then you'll
need to be sure the cement you use can be confined to the edges of the stone,
not allowed to coat the transparent back surfaces (or it shows, and makes the
stones not look all that good) Two part epoxies are easier to use for this,
though you can do it with super glues (cyanoacrylates), especially the "gel"
forms, if you're very careful and use just a very little (the drops straight
from the container are usually way too much).

For some costume jewelry, the more rubbery flexible solvent glues such as E6000
work very nicely. they're better at filling gaps than super glues, and less
fuss to dispense than epoxies, which need you to mix up often more than you
need. Similar general household cements like "duco" cement (do you have that
in the UK?) also will work just fine, though not be as strong or permanent as
epoxy or super glues.

Hope that helps.

Peter

your best bet is 2 part epoxy araldite heat cured,
use only a very small amount as when it cures hot it will flow and
become clear.

I think he's looking for watch crystal cement.......try under
watchmakers or horologists inthe phone book.

roxan wrote:

Use two part epoxy found at most hardware stores. I am sure someone in UK
carries it.
Roxan
"Typo" wrote in message
...
My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.

I bought some years ago from Micro Mark and have yet to use it, so cannot
comment on its performance.
MicroMark still carries it.
Cheers,
Max Bryant


"Typo" wrote in message
...
My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.

In article ,
(Typo) writes:

She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

The most common brand readily available in the US seems to be "Hypotube"--
after you remove the cap, there is a fine, hollow "needle" to apply the cement.
When dry, it remains a bit flexible. Not sure where to get it in UK-- but see
if you can find a bead store.
Kaytee
"Simplexities" on
www.eclecticbeadery.com

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread. You've been a
great help.

I've managed to find GS Hypo Cement from a number of suppliers in the
UK and will probably be ordering from jillybeads.co.uk


(Typo) wrote in message
. ..
My wife is looking for a cement to reattach lose stones to metal
settings on costume jewellery. She's read of "watchmaker's cement"
but the local jeweller and model shop haven't heard of it. Could
someone please tell me what sort of substance this is and where I
might find it in the UK.

Thanks.