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

This is patently untrue. Where do you get your information?

You need to use a watch crystal cement, or the backing on the stones will
degrade after a short while. HypoCement is available in the US -- I don't know
about the UK.

Never, ever use SuperGlue on jewelry.

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.


~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

though you can do it with super glues (cyanoacrylates)

No, no, no no NO. Do not use these.
~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

It is available from

http://www.hswalsh.com

look under adhesives.
Shirley





In article , Dr. Sooz
writes
This is patently untrue. Where do you get your information?

You need to use a watch crystal cement, or the backing on the stones will
degrade after a short while. HypoCement is available in the US -- I don't know
about the UK.

Never, ever use SuperGlue on jewelry.

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.


~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

--
Shirley Shone

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.

Hey Sooz, my LBS carries a special jewelry super glue. Do you think this would be ok
to use? What should I look for, chemical wise?
--
Jalynne - Keeper of the Quilt for ME club list
Queen Gypsy (snail mail available upon request)
see what i've been up to at www.100megsfree4.com/jalynne
See what DH is up to at http://www.teamintraining.org/participant/kinney-162652

"Dr. Sooz" wrote in message
...
This is patently untrue. Where do you get your information?

You need to use a watch crystal cement, or the backing on the stones will
degrade after a short while. HypoCement is available in the US -- I don't know
about the UK.

Never, ever use SuperGlue on jewelry.

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.


~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

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.