WO2007014223A2

WO2007014223A2 - Jewelry with simulated gemstone cuts of reflective metal

Info

Publication number: WO2007014223A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/028877
Authority: WO
Inventors: Queenie Shuk Ying Cheung
Original assignee: Paj, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-07-26
Filing date: 2006-07-26
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: WO2007014223A3

Abstract

Jewelry having lines of simulated gemstone cuts made from metal having a reflective surface. The simulated gemstone cuts are held in recesses of the settings to form a jewelry item, such as bracelets, rings, and the like. Preferably, corner edges of the simulated gemstone cuts are concealed and thus do not become a hazard.

Description

JEWELRY WITH SIMULATED GEMSTONE CUTS OF REFLECTIVE METAL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to jewelry with simulated gemstone cuts that are made of reflective metal as opposed to precious gemstones, semi-precious gemstones or artificial or synthetic gemstones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Precious stones are natural gemstones exemplified by diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. Semi-precious stones are all other types of natural gemstones. Artificial or synthetic gemstones imitate the look and color of natural gemstones, but do not contain their chemical or physical characteristics, and may include high-lead glass, synthetic cubic zirconia, synthetic corundum, synthetic spinel, and/ or synthetic moissanite.

When employed in jewelry, the precious gemstones, semi-precious gemstones or artificial/synthetic gemstones may be cut into different shapes, such as round or polygonal shapes exemplified by squares, rectangles, hexagons, and octagons. The different kinds of cuts that form the different shapes are many, exemplified by baguette cuts, tapered baguette cuts and princess cuts. Baguettes are typically mounted about the entire circumference of a jewelry band or placed adjacent larger precious or semi-precious natural gemstones or synthetic gemstones.

Cosmetic jewelry generally uses such artificial or synthetic materials to copy the look and color of natural gemstones in jewelry, but at a much lower cost than would be the case if the natural gemstones were used. There is a need to employ metal baguettes in cosmetic jewelry to copy the look and color of natural gemstones yet at a lower cost than that provided by artificial or synthetic materials. In addition, there is a need to prevent sharp edges, such as at corners, from being exposed that might otherwise give rise to a risk of becoming caught in fabric or scratching a surface or causing injury.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention resides in jewelry with settings and simulated gemstone cuts made of reflective metal. The simulated gemstone cuts are mounted in recesses of the settings so that the settings in contact with at least a portion of an edge of the simulated gemstone cuts to conceal the portion of the edge, preferably by overlapping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a bracelet in accordance with an embodiment of the invention that has simulated gemstone cuts arranged in succession end to end but with no artificial or synthetic gemstone present.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a bracelet as a variation of Fig. 1 that has the simulated gemstone cuts arranged in groups end to end with each group separated from the next in succession by an artificial or synthetic gemstone. Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a bracelet in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention that has groups of simulated gemstone cuts (rose cuts) arranged in succession end to end that are separated from each other by successive groups of further simulated gemstone cuts of a different type and without any artificial or synthetic gemstone present.

Fig.4 is a schematic representation of a bracelet as a variation of Fig. 3 that has artificial or synthetic gemstones present spaced apart from each other by two groups of the rose cuts and one group of the further simulated gemstone cuts.

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a bracelet in accordance with another embodiment of the invention that has simulated gemstone cuts arranged in succession end to end but separated from each other by respective links and with no artificial or synthetic gemstone present. Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a variation of Fig. 5 with artificial or synthetic gemstones present between neighboring groups of the rose cuts. Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a further variation of Fig. 1 with simulated gemstones (rose cut) extending along the lengths of both sides of the embodiment of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a further variation of Fig. 2 with simulated gemstones (rose cut) extending along the lengths of both sides of the embodiment of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of an additional variation of Fig. 1, expect that two side-by-side strings of simulated gemstones are provided that abut each other with a cluster of four held in a common mounting.

Fig. 10 is a variation of the Fig. 9 with an artificial or synthetic gemstones spaced apart from each other along uniform lengths along the bracelet. Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a bracelet in accordance with yet another embodiment in accordance with the invention, but without simulated gemstones. Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a bracelet of a variation of Fig. 9, but with simulated gemstones spaced apart from each other in an alternating pattern. Fig. 13 is an isometric view of a ring with simulated gemstone cuts in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 14 is an isometric view of a bracelet in a closed condition in accordance with the invention. Fig. 15 is an isometric view of a bracelet in an open condition in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of conventional shapes of gemstone cuts. Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of conventional geometric shapes of gemstone cuts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the drawing, Figs. 1-12 show different variations of bracelets containing simulated gemstone cuts in accordance with the invention. Each bracelet in Figs. 1- 12 have groups of simulated gemstone cuts 10 that are held in position with settings 12. The simulated gemstone cuts 10 are made of metal with a reflective surface. The metal itself may be any kind of metal, such as brass, copper, aluminum, sterling silver, etc. and is preferably of the same metallic material as the settings. Either or both the settings and the simulated gemstone cuts may be plated with metals such as silver, gold, platinum, rhodium or any combination.

For decorative purposes, certain ones (generally uniformly spaced in succession from each other) of the settings may hold an artificial or synthetic gemstone 14 (Fig. 1) and thereby provide a break in the otherwise continuous succession of mounted simulated gemstone cuts 10 (Fig. 1). Certain clusters 16 of simulated gemstone cuts may share their own common settings 18 and be separated from each other by the artificial or synthetic gemstones 14 and/or by differently shaped simulated gemstone cuts 20 (Figs. 3 and 4).

If desired, the simulated gemstone cuts 14 may be separated from each other by links 22 (Figs. 5 and 6) with artificial or synthetic gemstones 14 interspersed uniformly (Fig. 6). As Figs. 7 and 8 show, parallel lines of different shaped (rose cut) simulated gemstone cuts 24 may be arranged on both side edges of the simulated gemstone cuts 10 and artificial or synthetic gemstones 14 where present (Fig. 8).

Multiple rows of simulated gemstone cuts 10 may be arranged side-by-side in an abutting relationship as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, as well as in an abutting end to end relationship, except where separated from each other by artificial or synthetic gemstones 14 (Fig. 10). A cluster 26 of four of the simulated gemstone cuts 10 is shown sharing a common mounting.

As Figs. 11 and 12 show, the simulated gemstone cuts 28 arranged in an alternating relationship between two rows of decorative strip settings 30. A connecting linkage 32, which itself may be formed as a simulated gemstone cut made of metal, spans the gap between one side of each of the simulated gemstone cuts 28 and a respective one of the two rows of decorative strip settings 30. Artificial or synthetic gemstones 14 may take the place of where certain ones of the cuts might otherwise reside (Fig. 12).

Fig. 13 shows the simulated gemstone cuts 10 within recesses of a mounting for a ring on either side of an artificial or synthetic gemstone 14. Figs. 14 and 15 show pairs of simulated gemstone cuts 10 within a bracelet that are arranged in a side by side abutting relationship and held in position in recesses of a common setting 12. While Figs. 1-12 show top views only, the side and end views are not but may be any desired depth and configuration, such as that exemplified by the settings 12 of Figs. 14 and 15. The main concept is that the settings have a recess in which is positioned the simulated gemstone settings so that opposite edges of the simulated gemstone settings are in contact with opposite walls of the settings and/or are sandwiched by surfaces of the settings so as to preferably conceal opposite edges of the simulated gemstone settings. This helps to prevent exposing corners of the simulated gemstone settings from being accessible to catch onto fabric, scratch a surface or cause injury.

The setting 12 rigidly secures the simulated gemstone cut 10 in its mounting in a manner devoid of play. During assembly, the simulated gemstone cut 10 is placed in the recess of the setting and surfaces of the setting are press fit so as to sandwich edges of the simulated gemstone cut 10 against relative movement.

Where the simulated gemstone cuts 10 are arranged side by side in the setting 12 so that the substantially flat light reflective surfaces lie substantially in a common plane, edges 34 between the side-by-side simulated gemstone cuts abut each other in position to block lateral movement of the simulated gemstone cuts. Portions 36 of sidewalls of the setting may be sized and in position to block lateral movement of the simulated gemstone cuts from occurring. Such portions 36 may be adjacent the outward corners of the simulated gemstone cuts.

The settings 12 preferably have lips 38 that extend over and to the side of the outward corners of the simulated gemstone cuts and over and along two opposite edges of the simulated gemstone cuts. The lips 38 preferably span full lengths of the two opposite edges between respective pairs of corners of the simulated gemstone cuts. Such is exemplified in Figs. 14 and 15.

The light reflective surface 40 that is substantially flat and faces outwardly is preferably separated from opposite sides of the gemstone cut preferably by neighboring transition regions 42, each transition region 42 being either rounded off, tapered, inclined or beveled. Such transition regions 42 appear in Figs. 14 and 15 that adjoin the longitudinal edges of the outward facing light reflective surfaces of the gemstone cuts.

Fig. 16 shows conventional shapes of gemstone cuts. They include brilliant bullet cuts 50, brilliant straight baguette cuts 52, brilliant tapers cut 54, brilliant trapezoid cuts 56, bullet cuts 56, calf cuts 58, cushion cuts 60, emerald step cuts 62, heart brilliant cuts 64, kite cuts 66, moon cuts 68, oval brilliant cuts 70, pear brilliant cuts 72, princess cuts 74, radiant cuts 76, round cuts 78, square emerald cuts 78, tapered baguettes 80, tapered bullets 82, trapezoids 84, trilliant or trillion cuts 86, marquise cuts 88 and briolette cuts 90. Fig. 17 shows additional conventional shapes of gemstone cuts, i.e., round brilliant cut 92, marquise cut 94, oval cut 96, pear cut 98, heart brilliant cut 100, princess cut 102, radiant cut 104, octagon cut 106, cushion cut 108, square brilliant cut 110, triangle cut 112, trillion cut 114, straight baguette 116 and tapered baguette 118.

Any of the conventional shapes of gemstone cuts shown in Figs. 16 and 17 maybe simulated with reflective metal of the present invention instead and used in the bracelets of Figs. 1-12 or the ring of Fig. 13 or bracelets of Figs. 14 and 15. It is within the scope of the invention to employ the simulated gemstone cuts of Figs. 1-15 having any of the shapes of Figs. 16 and 17 into any type of cosmetic jewelry, i.e., bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, brooches, tiaras, French combs, headbands, crown pins, chokers, fashion pins, fashion watch bands, fashion watch faces, keychains, etc.

In each of the embodiments, at least a portion of an edge of the simulated gemstone cut is concealed by the mounting, which overlaps the edge on the outward side of the simulated gemstone cut. Such is advantageous in preventing sharp corners of the simulated gemstone (if present) from being exposed. For simulated gemstone cuts that have rounded edges or are oval or round in their periphery, there are no sharp corner edges. Nevertheless, the overlapping feature of the mounting gives the appearance of the simulated gemstone cuts being within recesses of the settings. In each of the embodiments, the metal that forms the simulated gemstone cuts each have a light reflective surface that faces outwardly. Such a light reflective surface appears substantially flat because it has a depth that is a multiple number of times smaller in dimension than that of the width of the surface and that of the length of the surface. Indeed, the light reflective surface appears to shine or sparkle to simulate the look of natural gemstone cuts when light reflects off. Such may be attributed the shape of the light reflective surface. The simulated gemstone cuts may be used in jewelry with gemstones and/ or in cosmetic jewelry.

Preferably, the light reflective surfaces of at least a pair of the simulated gemstone cuts, if arranged side-by-side as exemplified in Figs. 9, 10, 13-15, lie in a common plane. They may also abut each other or be spaced apart. If arranged end-to-end as exemplified in Figs. 1-10 and 14-15, the light reflective surfaces of a pair of simulated gemstone cuts likewise lie in a common plane provided the jewelry item that contains the simulated gemstone cuts is stretched out onto a flat surface. For example, the embodiment of Fig. 14 is stretched out in the manner of Fig. 15. they may also abut each other (Figs. 1-10) or be in a spaced apart relationship (Figs. 11 & 12).

The metal working techniques used to shape the simulated gemstone cuts in each of the embodiments, as well as the settings, is conventional and exemplified by that performed by retaining the services of DIAMONDLITE JEWELRY COMPANY LIMITED at No. 184, Yin Ping Road Xiao Ping Industry District, Shi Quiao, Pan Yu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Jewelry, comprising at least one setting that defines a recess bounded by surfaces of the setting; and at least one simulated gemstone cut with at least one edge and being defined by a depth, a length and a width, the simulated gemstone cut being mounted within the recess of the setting in a manner that sandwiches and conceals at least a portion of the at least one edge by the surfaces of the setting, the simulated gemstone cut being metallic with a light reflective surface that faces outwardly that has a portion spaced from the at least one edge that is clear of the setting, the light reflective surface being substantially flat so that the depth of the simulated gemstone cut is of a dimension that is a plurality of times smaller than that of the length and the width, the setting having an outward facing surface that is metallic and light reflective.

2. Jewelry of claim l, further comprising a band having links connecting a plurality of settings to each other in succession that is inclusive of the at least one setting in a manner that is pivotable relative to each other across each of said links.

3. Jewelry of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of simulated gemstone cuts inclusive of the at least one gemstone cut; a plurality of settings that are inclusive of the at least one setting and are all secured to a common base and are secured in a manner that keeps them stationary relative to each other.

4. Jewelry of claim 1, wherein the light reflective surface of the simulated gemstone cut has a shape selected from a group consisting of rectangular, square and trapezoidal.

5. Jewelry of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of simulated gemstone cuts that are inclusive of the at least one gemstone cut, the plurality of simulated gemstone cuts include those that are in a side by side relationship with each other, the light reflective surfaces of at least a pair of the simulated gemstone cuts that are in the side-by-side relationship with each other being arranged to lie in a common plane.

6. Jewelry of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of simulated gemstone cuts that are inclusive of the at least one gemstone cut, the plurality of simulated gemstone cuts include those arranged in clusters that are in end to end relationship with each other, each cluster having respective ones of the simulated gemstone cuts arranged in the side by side relationship with each other.

7. Jewelry of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of simulated gemstone cuts inclusive of the at least one simulated gemstone cut, the plurality of simulated gemstone cuts including those that are in an end to end relationship with each other.

8. Jewelry of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of settings that are inclusive of the at least one setting, the plurality of the settings being flexibly connected to each other to permit relative pivoting movement of the settings with respect to each other; and a plurality of simulated gemstone cuts that are inclusive of the at least one simulated gemstone cut, at least a pair of the simulated gemstone cuts that are arranged in the end to end relationship with each other also being arranged to lie in a common plane as the plurality of settings flex into at least one relative position.

9. Jewelry of claim 1, wherein the at least one simulated gemstone cut is selected from a group consisting of baguettes, tapered baguettes, and princess cuts.

10. Jewelry of claim 1, wherein the at least one simulated gemstone cut is selected from a group consisting of brilliant bullet cuts, brilliant straight baguette cuts, brilliant tapers cut, brilliant trapezoid cuts, bullet cuts, calf cuts, cushion cuts, emerald step cuts, heart brilliant cuts, kite cuts, moon cuts, oval brilliant cuts, pear brilliant cuts, princess cuts, radiant cuts, round cuts, square emerald cuts, tapered baguettes, tapered bullets, trapezoids, trilliant or trillion cuts, marquise cuts and briolette cuts.

11. Jewelry of claim l, wherein the at least one simulated gemstone cut is selected from a group consisting of oval cuts, pear cuts, octagon cuts, and triangle cuts.

12. Jewelry of claim i, wherein the at least one simulated gemstone cut is metal plated with a metal selected from a group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, rhodium and any combination thereof.

13. Jewelry of claim 1, wherein the at least one setting is metal plated with a metal selected from a group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, rhodium and any combination thereof.

14. Jewelry of claim 1, wherein the at least one simulated gemstone cut has opposite sides separated from the portion of the light reflective surface that is substantially flat by neighboring transition surfaces, the neighboring transition surfaces each being rounded off, tapered, inclined or beveled in configuration.