Abstract: A method of forming a jewelry product includes forming an initial partially formed chain having a plurality of portions which are displaceable relative to one another, and a strand of wire that retains the portions together but does not limit their displacement. The initial partially formed chain is further wound around a mandrel and heated. During heating, the portions of the initial partially formed chain are being set into the shape of the mandrel while wire portions are prevented from displacing relative to one another. This final shaped spiral is then cut into individual links which are then formed into the jewelry product.

Abstract: A method of imparting flat facets on hollow chain links intertwined to form a jewelry chain by tightly winding said jewelry chain about a drum of an ice lathe. Then freezing said drum and rotating it with said jewelry chain, next spraying water on said rotating chain in a controlled manner, to freeze at least part of each link of the chain in ice, and finally applying force by means of a pressure roller against at least one of said links of said chain, thereby at least partially flattening the outer wall of said at least one link to form a facet. After melting the ice, the chain is removed from the drum.

Abstract: A jewelry rope chain formed of a number of links of wire of a cross sectional configuration. The links are intertwined to form an outer appearance of a double helix. A predetermined number of the links is required to form a full helix cycle. At least some of the overall geometric shapes of the links within a full helix cycle are different from the overall geometric shapes of the other links within the same helix cycle. The chain can be formed either by initially selecting the links of different geometric shapes and intertwining them in accordance with a desired sequence. Alternately, initially the chain can be formed of uniform links and thereafter the entire chain rolled or reshaped so as to reconfigure the shape of at least some of the links with respect to other of the links within a full helix cycle.

Abstract: A method of imparting flat diamond cut facets on hollow coiled chain links intertwined to form a jewelry chain, each coiled link having X+Y turns, where X is an integer, preferably from 1-5, and Y is one or a fraction, preferably about 3/4, and where the coiled links have the coil axes oriented diagonal to the length of the chain, includes tightly winding the jewelry chain about a drum of an ice lathe with the coiled links diagonal to the drum surface, each coiled link having at least part of a turn close to the drum surface and at least part of a turn distant from the drum surface, freezing the drum and rotating it along with the jewelry chain, and spraying water on the rotating chain in a controlled manner, to freeze all turns of the hollow coiled links in ice, with the exception of at least part of the coil turns distant from the drum surface. Then a force of a pressure roller is applied to at least part of the coil turns distant from the drum surface to flatten the outer wall of the distant coil turns.

Abstract: A commercially viable process for producing chain links suitable for use in making fine jewelry rope chains, said chain links having gaps for intertwining one link within another, comprising the steps of providing a sheet of precious metal of an appropriate thickness determined by the thickness of the link to be produced; piercing said sheet with a single punch from a mating punch and die set having the predetermined shape of the link to produce a finished link with a gap in the range of 0.2-0.7 mm which link is separated from said sheet; and recovering the link.