If there’s one moment when you want to repair something instead of replacing it, it’s when working with jewelry.

It may hold sentimental value is it’s very expensive, and replacing it is not an option.

But if you want to repair it, you’ll need a good adhesive, which I’ll present in this article!

Whether you want to create your jewelry or repair old ones doesn’t matter. The glues on this list will help you do both.

I’ll also give you a buying guide and tips on gluing precious stones.

As there are many types of jewelry, knowing how to work with them will help you greatly.

Below, you’ll find a detailed guide on gluing jewelry and my top 5 glues for bonding jewelry!

Types of Glue for Jewelry

I’ve found three main adhesive types that work best for jewelry. Each has its unique characteristics that you should know about:

Super Glue

The best adhesive option for repairing or creating jewelry is super glue.

This instant adhesive will dry and cure quickly, forming a strong bond instantly.

After it cures, super glue will resist water, most impacts, and shock. You don’t need to clamp down a super glue either.

If you’re careful, you won’t make a mess because super glue is efficient and easy to use.

My only beef with super glue is that it doesn’t bond non-porous materials too well.

You’ll have problems bonding plastics, but it works great on jewelry, which is the article’s main topic.

This type of glue is also great if you need glue for mirrors.

Two-Part Epoxy

Second on my list is the two-part epoxy, which you’ll need to mix before applying.

The adhesive and the hardener must be properly stirred before doing their job.

Two-part epoxies won’t set instantly like super glues; they’ll also need some clamping before they dry and cure completely.

Still, you worry less about making a mistake during the bonding procedure.

That’s because it won’t set instantly, so you have enough time to reposition the jewelry pieces and try again.

Two-part epoxy glues also form strong and durable bonds and work on porous and non-porous materials.

Craft Glue

Lastly, craft glue is also good for crafting or repairing jewelry.

This type of glue is non-toxic and quite versatile since it can be used for fabrics, gems, wood, plastics, metals, stones, beads, and more.

Craft glue may not offer a super strong and durable bond, but it’s easier and safer to use than other glues.

It depends on your requirements. Craft glue is all you need if you don’t need a strong bond.

But if you need to craft a high-quality piece of jewelry made from multiple pieces, then you’ll need a two-part epoxy or a super glue.

Unsuitable glues for jewelry include epoxy glue, hot glue, gorilla glue, UV resin, and epoxy resin.

Best Glue for Jewelry

Here are my recommendations for the best glue for jewelry.

1. Aleene’s 21709 Jewelry & Metal Instant Adhesive

After trying multiple adhesives, I found that Aleene’s 21709 Jewelry Instant Adhesive is best for bracelets, earrings, and other types of jewelry.

This glue was designed to work on jewelry and precious stones, offering near-instant drying capabilities.

It’s also mess-free, which further boosts the bonding experience.

Aleene’s Jewelry Adhesive works with many materials, including beads, stones, metals, glass, and most other materials used in jewelry making.

After application, you’ll only need to wait a couple of minutes before the adhesive fully sets and cures.

Aleene’s Adhesive is great if you need to bond multiple jewelry pieces quickly.

It’s completely waterproof and impact-resistant but may leave a residue after use.

Still, it doesn’t need clamping should make up for this fault.

The precision applicator and the drip-free formula help you finish quicker and more efficiently.

Lastly, Aleene’s Adhesive dries clear and permanent, so you won’t have to reapply it later.

The bond is super strong and durable, which further improves the lifespan of any piece of jewelry you bond with it.

2. E6000 Jewelry and Bead Adhesive

The E6000 Jewelry Adhesive is a great substitute for my number one pick on this list.

It remains flexible after drying and curing, making it ideal for earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that aren’t rigid.

Once dry, the bond is near-indestructible and durable, with high resistance to water and impacts. Even if you drop the jewelry, the glue will stay in place.

There’s no clamping involved, which makes it much easier to bond jewelry in a short time.

Moreover, the bond is resistant to most known solvents, which means the bond is nearly permanent.

The clear finish after it dries makes it great for jewelry where visible glue would take from the overall aesthetics of the jewelry.

You’ll need to work very fast, though, since the E6000 Adhesive takes 20 seconds to dry out fully.

This is both a pro and a con, depending on the type of project you’re working on.

If the piece of jewelry you’re making has multiple pieces that need to be bonded in a quick time, then this adhesive is perfect for the job.

The E6000 adhesive isn’t a great option for stones, though. It works on wood, glass, leather, plastics, gems, metals, and more.

Its versatility comes in handy when considering how varied jewelry materials are.

3. G-S Hypo Cement

In terms of tensile strength and durability, G-S Hypo Cement is among the best adhesives.

It creates a powerful bond that lasts a few years with problems.

The glue is also resistant to most known solvents; it’s waterproof, UV light-resistant, heat-resistant, and impact-resistant.

The superfine applicator allows for extra accuracy, which is great for jewelry projects requiring fine artistry.

G-S Hypo Cement is a good choice for stones, beads, gems, and other small types of jewelry.

The thick formula means it won’t make a mess and drip everywhere, which further improves jewelry-making or repairs.

This adhesive dries quickly and has a clear, transparent color once it finishes drying out.

G-S Hypo Cement is similar to superglue in that it dries almost instantly and forms a near-impregnable bond that remains durable throughout the years.

One disadvantage is that the applicator tip could detach from the tube. But that’s hardly a critical fault.

G-S Hypo Cement is also suitable as glue for marble.

4. CAT PALM B-7000 Adhesive

This adhesive is a versatile multi-purpose glue that works on many material and jewelry types.

It can bond plastic, metals, rubber, fabrics, glass, nylon, PVC, wood, ceramics, cloth, beads, gems, stones, and many more.

In other words, CAT PAML Adhesive is one of the best glues for diversification.

It also has superb impact resistance once dry; not even severe drops will destroy the bond.

Its flexibility once dry allows many jewelry pieces to remain durable even when intensely used.

CAT PALM Adhesive can stretch to nine times its original length. It’s also waterproof and resistant to most known solvents.

The precision applicator and no-drip formula ensure a mess-free experience perfect for the fine artistry required for crafting jewelry.

It does have a very toxic smell, and the tubes may leak from time to time. But otherwise, CAT PALM is a great choice for repairing jewelry!

5. Aleene’s Jewel-It Embellishing Glue

Aleene’s Jewel-It Embellishing Glue is designed to bond stones, rocks, beads, gems, and other jewelry pieces to the fabric.

It’s especially efficient at porous bonding materials, so bear this in mind if you want to pick a glue for porous materials.

Aleene’s Jewel Embellishing Glue can be used on other materials than the ones I mentioned, but they should all be porous.

This glue dries clear, so it’s perfect for bonding multiple materials to the fabric.

It’ll become invisible and quite flexible once dry, allowing for a free-flowing movement on fabric materials.

You’ll need to wait 10 days before the curing process finishes, especially if you want to wash it down to clear it.

Buying Guide

Before buying any jewelry glue, you should pay attention to what I’m about to say next.

Several factors dictate how a glue performs, and not everyone knows about these factors.

But before that, what is jewelry glue? What is it supposed to do differently than other types of glue?

For starters, jewelry glue isn’t a specific adhesive.

Many types of glue can work on jewelry if they bond with stones, glass, beads, metals, plastics, gems, and other similar materials.

These are porous or semi-porous materials, and some are even non-porous. So, jewelry glue needs to bond materials of various porosities.

Moreover, a good jewelry glue should work on pearls, sterling silver, and other related materials while retaining a strong and durable bond over time.

It should also dry clear and set quickly enough to work efficiently and not waste time.

How to Glue Stones and Gems

It may seem hard to glue stones and gems, but it’s not. You’ll need to bond stones to plastic, other beads, metal, or gems when crafting or repairing jewelry.

This requires finesse and precision, and a good glue should do everything for you.

I recommend choosing a glue that can bond porous materials since stones are porous.

Choose a superglue that sets and dries quickly into a permanent bond. You also won’t need to clamp because the glue will dry quickly.

You’ll want to get glue that dries clear because I assume you don’t want the adhesive to be visible when you finish repairing the jewelry.

As for safety tips when working with jewelry glues, make sure to:

• Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent the glue from intoxicating you with its toxic fumes. Wearing a respirator should also help if you can’t open a window or ventilate the work environment.
• Wear protective gloves to prevent the glue from bonding with your skin. Superglues dry very quickly, and removing the adhesive from your skin will be a hassle.
• Close the adhesive’s lid tightly after using it to prevent it from drying out
• Don’t ingest any glue whatsoever, for any reason.
• Wear eye protection to prevent the glue from getting into your eyes. If it does, it’ll cause extreme harm.

Wrap Up

Now that you have my top 5 recommendations for jewelry glue, you should have no problem crafting or repairing your jewelry pieces.

Aleene’s 21709 Jewelry & Metal Instant Adhesive is my number one pick, thanks to its strong and durable bond, high resistance to impact, water, heat, and quick setting time.

This superglue is just what you need to finish your project quickly and efficiently!

There are various types of glue out there, and you can choose any one, but super glue has been proven superior in the case of jewelry.