Below is a description of the method of cutting a new setting for a jewel hole in a Geneva watch. The watch plate is cemented with shellac to a brass face-plate about 1/2in. or 3/4in. in diameter, run in the lathe. A spirit lamp held underneath the face-plate softens the shellac, and a sharp-pointed watch peg is then steadied upon the band-rest and the point inserted lightly in the pivot hole as the lathe runs slowly. This centres the plate, and as the shellac hardens the plate remains true. The cutters are generally made from the tang ends of old flat files; these can be laid flat upon the T-rest, and with the aid of an eye-glass the setting is turned out to receive the jewel, the hole being opened and a slight ledge being left for the jewel to rest upon. A circular groove is then turned round the setting, to leave aD extremely thin wall of brass standing up all round the edge of the jewel. The jewel is then placed in, and the thin brass edge burnished over it by a round-pointed burnisher slightly oiled.

The plate is then melted off the chuck and the shellac dissolved by boiling in methylated spirit in a metal spoon over the flame of a spirit lamp.