A machine configured to apply an adhesive rhinestone to a fabric, said machine comprising: - a feed conveyor having a front surface provided with a succession of seats each configured to contain at least one adhesive rhinestone, said conveyor being movable to cyclically carry at least one seat at a pickup station; - an applicator device configured to pick up an adhesive rhinestone from the feed conveyor in said pickup station and to position said adhesive rhinestone on a fabric at a release station, said applicator device being movable in rotation between said pickup station and said release station; - a gripping portion connected to an end (2a") of said applicator device and configured to engage with said adhesive rhinestone, said gripping portion being movable by translation according to an alternate linear motion between a position distal to said applicator device, in which said gripping portion is at least partially extracted from said applicator device, and a position proximal to the applicator device, in which said gripping portion is at least partially retracted in said applicator device; - a thermal activation device configured to define a support for said fabric during the application of the rhinestone, said thermal activation device being configured to raise the temperature of at least one adhesive portion of the adhesive rhinestone positioned on said fabric in the release station, in particular while said rhinestone is still in contact with said applicator device; wherein at least one among said rotation movement of the applicator device and said translation movement of the gripping portion is obtained by means of an electric actuator (5a, 5b); wherein said thermal activation device is movable between an operating position, in which it is arranged in the release station to be in contact with a portion of fabric configured to receive said adhesive rhinestone, and a rest position, away from the release station to disengage said fabric; characterised in that said thermal activation device is movable between the operating position and the rest position by means of an oscillating motion around a pin. - a feed conveyor having a front surface provided with a succession of seats each configured to contain at least one adhesive rhinestone, said conveyor being movable to cyclically carry at least one seat at a pickup station; - an applicator device configured to pick up an adhesive rhinestone from the feed conveyor in said pickup station and to position said adhesive rhinestone on a fabric at a release station, said applicator device being movable in rotation between said pickup station and said release station; - a gripping portion connected to an end (2a") of said applicator device and configured to engage with said adhesive rhinestone, said gripping portion being movable by translation according to an alternate linear motion between a position distal to said applicator device, in which said gripping portion is at least partially extracted from said applicator device, and a position proximal to the applicator device, in which said gripping portion is at least partially retracted in said applicator device; - a thermal activation device configured to define a support for said fabric during the application of the rhinestone, said thermal activation device being configured to raise the temperature of at least one adhesive portion of the adhesive rhinestone positioned on said fabric in the release station, in particular while said rhinestone is still in contact with said applicator device; wherein at least one among said rotation movement of the applicator device and said translation movement of the gripping portion is obtained by means of an electric actuator (5a, 5b); wherein said thermal activation device is movable between an operating position, in which it is arranged in the release station to be in contact with a portion of fabric configured to receive said adhesive rhinestone, and a rest position, away from the release station to disengage said fabric; characterised in that said thermal activation device is movable between the operating position and the rest position by means of an oscillating motion around a pin.