How to Glue Jade Jewelry

Repairing broken jade pieces can be challenging.

Jade jewelry is often valued by its owner for its beauty. Jade is known for its toughness and is considered to be stronger than granite. Jade is also more complicated to shape than steel so taking your jade jewelry to a jeweler to repair can be costly. You can repair your broken jade jewelry by using strong adhesive glue such as epoxy cement. There are other types of household cements that bond precious stones but a two-part epoxy made for gemstones and metal is better because it dries or cures clear and takes 24 hours to set. A crafts shop or hardware store should carry a few different brands.

Things You'll Need

• 2-part epoxy cement
• Toothpick
• Plastic bowl
• Metal mixer
• Rubbing alcohol
• Rubber gloves
• White paper
• Acetone/nail polish remover
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Clean the broken jade with rubbing alcohol. Put on rubber gloves because you want the jewelry pieces to be free of fingerprints, oil and dirt. Place the clean pieces of jewelry on a clean piece of white paper to dry.

2. Assemble the broken pieces together to see where they fit and where gaps are. Continue this until you are satisfied with the arrangement. If the jewelry goes in a setting, arrange all the pieces together in the setting so you will get an idea of how you want everything to look before you cement it together.

3. Mix the two-part epoxy in a disposable plastic bowl; follow the mixing directions on the box. Take any disposable metal object with a point and apply a small amount of the cement to the broken edge of the jade; fit the pieces together to see if any extra cement runs over the edges. The epoxy is not durable until it dries so if you have to add more or remove some, this is possible.

4. Allow the jewelry to cure before placing it in its setting. Once the jade is completely dry, apply cement to the setting and position the jewelry in the setting the way you want it. Take a toothpick and apply cement around the gap edges if needed.

5. Check to see if everything is to your liking before allowing the cement to dry completely. If you are not satisfied with your initial attempt use acetone or nail polish remover to clean the jewelry off. Start over by making a new mixture of epoxy and reapplying it to the jewelry.

Tips & Warnings

• Normally the epoxy cement will cure in two hours. However, allow 24 hours for drying just to be on the safe side.

References

• "The Crafter's Guide to Glue: Techniques & Projects"; Pattie Donham; 2007