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Patent Abstract
The present invention is directed to a piece of jewelry, such as
a ring, comprising two faceted stones of different colors, one placed
on top of the other, to produce a distinctly new faceted color combination.
Unique color combinations are thus achieved based on the particular
stones that are used.
Patent Claims
1. A jewelry item comprising: a first faceted stone of a first color
comprising a faceted surface and a base portion; a second faceted
stone of a second color having a faceted surface and a base portion;
wherein the base portions of said first and second stones abut one
another such that said first stone is positioned on top of said
second stone in order to define a stone unit.
2. The item of claim 1, further including a setting in which said
stones are seated.
3. The item of claim 2, wherein said setting includes a band for
encircling said stone unit along where said base portions abut.
4. The jewelry item of claim 3, further including a band on which
said setting is mounted.
5. The jewelry item of claim 4, wherein said setting includes a
base element overlying a portion of the faceted surface of said
second stone and a plurality of post elements interconnected between
said band and said base element.
6. The jewelry item of claim 3, wherein said encircling band includes
a series of depending prongs for capturing at least one of said
stones.
7. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein said first and second stones
each have a similar cut.
8. The jewelry item of claim 1, wherein each of said stones has
a color selected from the group consisting of green, blue, purple,
red and yellow.
9. The jewelry item of claim 5, wherein said setting further includes
a plurality of side windows, each separated from the other by one
of said plurality of post elements, said windows enabling viewing
of said second stone.
Patent Description
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/687,113 filed Jun. 3, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Jewelry, including rings, necklaces, bracelets and the like
typically comprise metals such as gold, silver, platinum or various
combinations thereof, and faceted precious or semiprecious stones
that are mounted into one or more settings within a given piece
of jewelry. In the context of jewelry having a plurality of stones,
the stones are mounted beside one another in a generally linear
or somewhat offset linear formation (i.e, one stone is slightly
raised relative to other stones beside it) such that at least the
top portion of all of the stones are clearly visible when viewing
the particular piece of jewelry. In these conventional forms of
jewelry, when a ruby, for example, is mounted in a particular location,
the color perceived at that location will be red; with a sapphire,
the color perceived will be blue; with an amethyst the color will
be purple; with a yellow topaz the color perceived will be yellow
and so on and so forth. While a particular color given off by any
one stone may be aesthetically pleasing for a period of time, it
is of course strictly limited to the specific stone used in the
setting of the jewelry. In particular, for a faceted one-stone ring
or other piece of jewelry, this may lead to monotony and dullness
and ultimately cause a user to cease wearing that piece of jewelry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a piece
of jewelry, such as a ring, comprising two faceted stones of different
colors, one placed on top of the other, to produce a distinctly
new faceted color combination. The unique color combinations are
reflected in the particular stones that are used. For example, a
ring may combine a Peridot stone, which is predominantly green in
color, with a Blue Topaz, wherein the green of the Peridot and the
blue of the Blue Topaz reflect through one another bringing about
a color combination of greenish-blue that is different from each
stone individually. These color combinations are the product of
positioning one stone on top of the other in a setting.
[0004] In a preferred embodiment, the inventive jewelry item has
a setting comprising a four-post "basket" for holding
a bottom stone of a first color in place. The basket permits substantial
viewing of the bottom stone on all four of its sides as well as
through the bottom of the basket, which may be exposed as well.
At the top of the basket, there is provided a circular shoulder
or band for holding the top stone of a different color in place
above the bottom stone. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment,
the setting permits substantial viewing of both the top and bottom
stones when the stones are properly positioned.
[0005] In addition, one embodiment also utilizes stones of the
same or similar "cut," wherein the facets of each stone
are of the same or similar overall configuration. After both stones
are properly set, a user looking directly downward through the top
stone into the bottom stone may also see a "kaleidoscope"
type effect as the ring is rotated.
[0006] Different color and stone combinations include Peridot with
Blue Topaz (as discussed above), Amethyst with Light Blue Topaz,
Citrin with Dark Blue Topaz, etc. may be used. Certainly, other
complimenting colored stones may be used in practicing the invention
as well. Of course, different metals or combinations thereof may
be used in the construction of the setting as well.
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide
an item of jewelry having at least two faceted stones of different
colors.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide an item of
jewelry having at least two faceted stones of different colors with
one stone placed on top of the other.
[0009] Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an item
of jewelry having at least two faceted stones of different colors
and which permits substantial viewing of both stones.
[0010] Still other objects and advantages of the invention will
be obvious from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following description, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring assembly made in
accordance with the invention;
[0013] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of two faceted stones of different
colors to be used in the ring assembly showing FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a pendant assembly
made in accordance with the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of
FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 7 is rear elevational view of the pendant assembly
depicted in FIG. 5; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a necklace assembly
made in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, a ring assembly made in accordance
with the invention and generally indicated at 11 is now described.
Ring assembly 11 includes a band 13 and a setting generally indicated
at 15 in which a top faceted stone 27 and a bottom faceted stone
31, each of a different color than the other, are mounted one on
top of the other. Setting 15 may be constructed of precious or semi-precious
metals (for example--gold, silver, platinum) and defines a basket
17 comprising a shoulder or band 21, a base 23 and a series of posts
19 connected between shoulder 21 and base 23. Together, shoulder
21, base 23 and connecting posts 19 define a series of side openings
or windows 22; base 23 itself defines a bottom window 24.
[0022] Top stone 27 includes a tapered surface 29 that leads to
a base portion 35, while bottom stone 31 has a hemispherical surface
33 that leads to a base 37. In assembly, base portion 35 of top
stone 27 and base portion 37 of bottom stone 31 are disposed in
an abutting relationship such that shoulder or band 21 wraps around
and otherwise hides the interface between top stone 27 and bottom
stone 31. The two stones are then held in position within setting
15 by a series of prongs 25 that depend from shoulder 21.
[0023] As can be appreciated, basket 17 of setting 15 permits substantial
viewing of surface 33 of bottom stone 31, both from four different
side directions through windows 22, as well as from underneath through
window 24. Surface 29 of top stone 27 is fully visible when ring
assembly 11 is viewed from the top.
[0024] Significantly, the cut of top stone 27 and bottom stone
31 are substantially the same. Thus, once top stone 27 and bottom
stone 31 are appropriately mounted in setting 15, a user looking
directly down through top stone 27 and into bottom stone 31 will
see a "kaleidoscope" effect, especially as ring assembly
11 is rotated.
[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a pendant assembly made in accordance
with the invention and generally indicated at 111 is shown. The
pendant assembly includes a setting 115 defined by a circular shoulder
or band in which two faceted stones 127 and 131 of different colors,
placed one on top of the other are mounted therewithin. As before,
a circular shoulder or band 121 hides the interface between top
stone 127 and bottom stone 131. Shoulder 121 has a pivoting loop
113 depending therefrom for use in supporting pendant assembly 111
on a jewelry chain.
[0026] In order to secure stones 127 and 131 in position within
setting 115, a first series of prongs 125 extend upwardly from shoulder
121 in order to grab top stone 127 and a second series of prongs
125 extend downwardly from shoulder 121 for grabbing bottom stone
131.
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates the incorporation of multiple units of
the inventive design in a necklace 211. Necklace 211 incorporates
a plurality of multi-stone units 213 interconnected by different
length metal loop elements. Each multi-stone unit 213 is similar
in design to the pendant assembly depicted in FIGS. 5-7, and includes
a setting defined by a shoulder or band 221 in which one faceted
stone 227 of a first color and a second faceted stone (not visible)
of a second color are placed one on top of the other. The stones
are held in place via prongs 225, as described before.
[0028] It will thus be seen that the object set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description, are attained
by the design of the inventive jewelry item.
[0029] The scope of the invention will now be defined in the claims. |