Stones sometimes come loose in their settings, especially;

• After a prolonged period of continual use.
• From impact through a fall or other sudden strike.
• From intense vibration sometimes caused by transport or machinery.
• From the radical movement of one environment to another, especially where heat is involved (metals and stones expand and contract to different degrees).
• After cleaning, especially using machinery.

If you get a loose stone in your jewellery it is best to stop wearing it until you have carefully examined it and decided that the stone is not going to fall out. There are many examples where stones have rattled about in their settings for years, and just as many of people who continued wearing a loose stone to look down one day and see an empty setting. The best advice is to get the stone secured as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment.

This can be done in two ways;

• Give it to a jeweller. They will probably tighten it in the setting and / or apply glue.
• Apply a small amount of good glue (see recommendations below) carefully around the edges of the stone in the back of the setting. Do it on a piece of paper to protect your working surface. Make sure the glue does not spill out from the front of the setting and if it does, carefully wipe it off the front of the stone and the metal. Push the stone from the back up into the setting and place on the paper with the stone pointing up. A small amount of blue-tack or putty between the back of the stone and whatever it is resting on will help prevent the stone from falling in again and gluing out of place.  When the glue has almost dried, unwanted visible remnants can be removed from the front of the piece with a finger nail, and from inside the back with a toothpick, a scalpel, or a sharp tool. Be careful not to scratch the silver or gold plate. Leave the piece for 24 hours for the glue to cure and to avoid getting the glue wet.

We recommend the following glues:

• Hypo-Lube Cement – perfect for the job.
• Bond 527 Multi Purpose Cement – needs applying carefully because it is quite thick.
• Or ask your jeweller / watch repairer / bead store / hobby specialist, which glues they recommend.

Super-Glue is not so good because it is too runny and is likely to come out through the front of the setting onto the stone, silver, and your fingers. It also tends to weaken with dampness over time.