I have looked in my books and can’t find any information on this problem that I am having. Maybe it’s so simple, no one needed to publish a fix
While cleaning an 18 size Elgin, I removed the jewels from the balance cock, put them in the basket and proceeded to clean. When I removed the jewel setting from the basket the pivot jewel had fallen out of the setting, the cap jewel was fine. The jewel looks fine and doesn’t appear damaged. When I look at the jewel setting it doesn’t appear to be a pressed in jewel, and I can sit the jewel back in the setting and it seems to fit with no pressure required. Are these jewels held in place with shellac?

Grant,
These jewels are burnished in. If you look at the setting, there is a cut around where the jewel sits, leaving a thin band of the setting metal surrounding the edge of the jewel. Using a dull needle, or something similar, you can burnish this thin metal protrusion over the top edge of the jewel, securing it in place.
This procedure takes a little practice to master, (in my case a LOT of practice) so start slowly, the jewel may have a tendency to jump out of the setting hole and go skittering across the table if too much pressure is used.
Let is know how you make out.

Ed:

Thank you for the reply. I was hoping you were going to say crazy glue is the way to go
I will give the burnishing a go tonight!

Thaks again,
gp

Thank you Ed:
Your suggestion paid dividends!
It took a while to get the right pressure on the needle to burnish. The first few times, I thought I had it, but...no...the jewel fell out. The watch is running perfect.
Thanks again,
Grant