Combined pearl and precious gem jewelry

Patent Abstract
An article of jewelry includes a pearl section that has a notch formed within the core and extending from the outer surface to generally a center of the core. The apparatus further includes a faceted gem section that is selectively positionable within the notch and has an upper surface extending above the outer surface of the pearl section. A fastening mechanism secures the gem section within the notch so that the gem section can be maintained at a substantially stable position.

1. An article of jewelry comprising: a pearl section having a substantially spherical shape and a solid core and a substantially smooth outer surface, said pearl section further having a notch formed within said core and extending from said outer surface to generally a center of said core; a faceted gem section having an outer surface and being selectively positionable within the notch and having an upper surface extending above said outer surface of said pearl section; and means for fastening said gem section within said notch so that said gem section can be maintained at a substantially stable position, said fastening means being engageable with said outer surface of said gem section and the notch respectively.

2. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises: an non-corrosive adhesive gel.

3. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises: a prong member including an elongated lower portion glued to the notch and further including an upper portion integral with said lower portion and extending outwardly from the notch, said upper portion being engageable about said outer surface of said gem section and being disposed adjacent said outer surface of said pearl section.

4. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises: molten metal.

5. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises: a metal bezel secured to a perimeter of said gem section and said top surface of said pearl section.

6. An article of jewelry comprising: a pearl section having a substantially spherical shape and a solid core and a substantially smooth outer surface, said pearl section further having a notch formed within said core and extending from said outer surface to generally a center of said core, wherein the notch has a length equal to approximately a radius of said pearl section; a faceted gem section having an outer surface and being selectively positionable within the notch and having an upper surface extending above said outer surface of said pearl section; and means for fastening said gem section within said notch so that said gem section can be maintained at a substantially stable position, said fastening means being engageable with said outer surface of said gem section and the notch respectively.

7. The article of jewelry according to claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises: an non-corrosive adhesive gel.

8. The article of jewelry according to claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises: a prong member including an elongated lower portion glued to the notch and further including an upper portion integral with said lower portion and extending outwardly from the notch, said upper portion being engageable about said outer surface of said gem section and being disposed adjacent said outer surface of said pearl section.

9. The article of jewelry according to claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises: molten metal.

10. The article of jewelry according to claim 6, wherein said fastening means comprises: a metal bezel secured to a perimeter of said gem section and said top surface of said pearl section.

11. An article of jewelry comprising: a pearl section having a substantially spherical shape and a solid core and a substantially smooth outer surface, said pearl section further having a notch formed within said core and extending from said outer surface to generally a center of said core, wherein the notch has a length equal to approximately a radius of said pearl section and further converging inwardly towards a center of said core; a faceted gem section having an outer surface and being selectively positionable within the notch and having an upper surface extending above said outer surface of said pearl section; and means for fastening said gem section within said notch so that said gem section can be maintained at a substantially stable position, said fastening means being engageable with said outer surface of said gem section and the notch respectively.

12. The article of jewelry according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises: an non-corrosive adhesive gel.

13. The article of jewelry according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises: a prong member including an elongated lower portion glued to the notch and further including an upper portion integral with said lower portion and extending outwardly from the notch, said upper portion being engageable about said outer surface of said gem section and being disposed adjacent said outer surface of said pearl section.

14. The article of jewelry according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises: molten metal.

15. The article of jewelry according to claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises: a metal bezel secured to a perimeter of said gem section and said top surface of said pearl section.

Patent Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Technical Field

[0005] This invention relates to jewelry and, more particularly, to combined pearl and precious gem jewelry.

[0006] 2. Prior Art

[0007] Pearls from oysters have been from time immemorial a beloved and desired type of jewelry and since the beginning of pearl cultivation approximately 100 years ago an independent pearl market has developed which plays an important role in the jewelry industry. Amongst pearls those which have an ideal or almost ideal spherical shape and a uniformly formed spherical surface have always been preferred and consequently traded most.

[0008] In pearl cultivation and also in nature, however, it frequently happens that the pearl has a so-called "open place". This means: the seed which the cultivator has inserted into the oyster or which has reached it in the natural manner is not uniformly covered with mother-of-pearl by the oyster but at one or more places no mother-of-pearl at all or only a relatively very thin layer of same is deposited, such that more or less deep pits of the most varied shape and extent have arisen. These "imperfect" "open places" on pearls count generally as a defect and considerably lessen the quality and thus the market value of the affected pearls.

[0009] It is admittedly generally known that a natural or artificial pearl can be provided with a through-bore or a blind end bore in order to draw it up on a thread and thus manufacture for example necklaces or bracelets, or in order to place it on a pin and secure it thus for example to rings, decorative pins and other jewelry bases. These bores are however in many if not even most cases not suitable for concealing "open places", solely for the reason that the relevant "open place" has too great a diameter and/or the affected pearl has a plurality of "open places" which do not lie (by chance) on a line through the pearl center.

[0010] The use of pearls is varied and includes also the combination of pearl(s) with precious stone(s). With such combinations it is generally a question of additions, i.e. a side-by-side arrangement of pearl(s) and stone(s), pearl(s) and stone(s) respectively representing separate, independent components of a brooch, a necklace, a bracelet, ring or some other piece of jewelry.

[0011] Accordingly, a need remains for combined pearl and precious gem jewelry to overcome the above-noted shortcomings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structurally sound and ornamental jewelry. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by an article of jewelry including a pearl section having a substantially spherical shape and a solid core and a substantially smooth outer surface. The pearl section further has a notch formed within the core and extending from the outer surface to generally a center of the core.

[0013] The present invention further includes a faceted gem section that has an outer surface and is selectively positionable within the notch and has an upper surface extending above the outer surface of the pearl section.

[0014] The apparatus also includes a mechanism for fastening the gem section within the notch so that the gem section can advantageously be maintained at a substantially stable position. The fastening mechanism preferably includes a non-corrosive adhesive gel that is engageable with the outer surface of the gem section and the notch respectively.

[0015] In an alternate embodiment, the fastening mechanism may include a prong member including an elongated lower portion glued to the notch and further including an upper portion integral with the lower portion and extending outwardly from the notch. The upper portion is advantageously engageable about the outer surface of the gem section and is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the pearl section.

[0016] In yet another embodiment, the fastening mechanism may include molten metal, preferably forming a metal bezel secured to a perimeter of the gem section and the top surface of the pearl section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0017] The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a combined pearl and precious gem, in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. Prime and double prime notations refer to alternate embodiments of similar elements.

[0025] The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in FIGS. 1-6 by the reference numeral 10 and is intended to provide a combined pearl and precious gem jewelry. It should be understood that the apparatus 10 may employ various gems and should not be limited to any particular type of gem.

[0026] Referring initially to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 includes a pearl section 20 having a substantially spherical shape and a solid core 21 and a substantially smooth outer surface 22. The pearl section 20 further has a notch 23 formed within the core 21 and extending from the outer surface 22 to generally a center of the core 21.

[0027] The present invention further includes a faceted gem section 30 that has an outer surface 31 and is selectively positionable within the notch 23 and has an upper surface 32 extending above the outer surface 22 of the pearl section 20.

[0028] The apparatus 10 also includes a mechanism 40 for fastening the gem section 30 within the notch 23 so that the gem section 30 can advantageously be maintained at a substantially stable position. The fastening mechanism 40 includes a non-corrosive adhesive gel 41 that is engageable with the outer surface 31 of the gem section 30 and the notch 23 respectively. This type of fastening mechanism 40 gives the gem 30 and pearl 20 assembly a smooth appearance almost as if the gem 30 "grew" inside of the pearl 20, thus granting the invention a very exotic look which any woman would adore.

[0029] In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the fastening mechanism 40 includes a prong member 42 including an elongated lower portion 43 glued to the notch 23 and further including an upper portion 44 integral with the lower portion 43 and extending outwardly from the notch 23. The upper portion 44 is advantageously engageable about the outer surface 31 of the gem section 30 and is disposed adjacent the outer surface 22 of the pearl section 20. The choice of this fastening mechanism 40 provides a strong hold for the gem 30, giving the assurance that this invention can be worn under many circumstances, whether it is an elegant evening out or just a day in the mall.

[0030] In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the fastening mechanism 40 includes molten metal 45, forming a metal bezel 46 secured to a perimeter 33 of the gem section 30 and the top surface 24 of the pearl section 20. The border formed by the metal bezel 46 gives the jewel a very elegant appearance, often appreciated by women. The bezel 46 may of course also be formed from any type of metal, such as gold, silver and white gold, for example, thus granting even further versatility to the invention.

[0031] The appealing features of the apparatus 10 are its eye-catching design and attractiveness, and the inherent versatility of this invention. Everyone has different tastes, and this invention leaves most individuals satisfied because they get to choose the pearl 20, the gem 30 and the type of fastening mechanism 40 they want. This invention will garner a great deal of attention that any wearer will appreciate and will be quite a conversation piece.

[0032] While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

[0033] In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.