Abstract: Improved 14-karat rose-colored gold alloy compositions include: about 58.5% gold; about 9.0-12.0% silver; about 0.0-0.2% zinc; about 0.3-0.4% cobalt; about 0.0-0.02% iridium; and about 29.0-33.0% copper. Improved 18-karat rose-colored gold alloy compositions include: about 75.2% gold; about 7.0% silver; about 0.0-0.2% zinc; about 0.3-0.4% cobalt; about 0.0-0.02% iridium; and about 17.0-17.5% copper. The hardness of these compositions are capable of being selectively changed between their respective annealed-hardness and age-hardness values. The color of these compositions is between about 5-7 CieLab a* color units and between about 17-21 CieLab b* color units.

Abstract: A sterling silver alloy composition of exceptional and reversible hardness and enhanced tarnish resistance, consists essentially of the following parts by weight: at least about 92.5% silver; about 4.4% to about 5.25% copper; about 0% to about 1.0% zinc; about 0.85% tin; about 0.05% to about 0.3% lithium; about 0.05% to about 0.5% silicon; about 0% to about 1.2% germanium; and about 0% to about 0.02% boron.

Abstract: A nickel-free white gold alloy composition having selectively reversible hardness characteristics between its annealed- and aged-hardness values, consists essentially of: about 55–60% gold; about 6.0–10.0% palladium; about 5.0–12.0% copper; about 0.1–2.0% zinc; and about 20–30% silver. A 14-karat nickel-free white gold alloy composition, consists essentially of: about 58.5% gold; about 25.0–27.15% silver; about 6.0% palladium; about 5.0–12.0% copper; about 0–2.0% zinc; about 0–0.2% cobalt; about 0–0.005% iridium; and about 0–0.01% lithium.

Abstract: A 14-karat gold alloy composition having a desirable yellow color and with reversible hardness contains about 58.65 weight percent gold, about 11.5-25.0 weight percent silver, about 11.85-23.35 weight percent copper, and about 2-7 weight percent zinc. The color of the composition has a value of between about −3.0 to about 0.5 CieLab a* color units, and has a value of between about +20.0 to about 22.0 CieLab b* color units. The alloy has a hardness ratio between about 0.4-2.0, and color ratio of less than about 1.0.

Abstract: An improved jewelry finding (20) has a first member (21) provided with a first opening (24) therethrough, and a second member (22) provided with a second opening (25) therethrough. The two members are fixed to one another such that the axes (y1—y1, y2—y2) of the first and second openings are oriented at an acute included angle (&thgr;) with respect to one another when seen along a line joining the center of these members. The finding may include a third member (e.g., 33 or 43). The center of the third member may be on this imaginary line, or the center of the three members may be arranged at the apices of an imaginary triangle. A multi-strand necklace formed by passing stylets through the member openings will have a generally twisted or intertwined appearance.

Abstract: An improved 18-karat green gold alloy composition comprises about 75.0% gold; about 6.0-7.0% silver; about 9.0-11.7% copper; and about 6.5-9.0% zinc. The improved alloys are capable of being age-hardened to a hardness of about 240 VHN by being heated to about 550° F. for about one hour, and thereafter being permitted to cool in air. The hard-nesses of the alloys are reversible between their aged-hardness and annealed-hardness values. The color of said composition is between about −1.5 to about −3.0 CieLab a* color units, and between about 19 to about 26 CieLab b* color units.

Abstract: A hardenable white gold alloy consists essentially of about 55-60 % gold, about 12-20% silver, about 8-15% copper, about 8-18% palladium, about 0.0-1.0% tin, zinc indium or cobalt, and, optionally, about 0.005-0.02% iridium and/or ruthenium, and also about 0.01-0.03 weight percent lithium. The alloy is nickel-free, but has a pleasing white color similar to that of nickel-containing white gold alloys. The alloy has a fine grain structure, a lower hardness in its annealed condition, but is capable of being hardened to an exceptional hardness value. The hardening procedure is reversible.

Abstract: A springless jewelry finding (25) includes an hinge plate (26) and an ear-wire (28) having one marginal end portion (34) secured to the hinge plate, having an intermediate arcuate portion (35) and having a distal marginal end portion (36). A lever-paddle (29) has one marginal end portion (38) pivotally mounted on the hinge and has another marginal end portion (39) mounted for arcuate movement toward and away from the ear-wire distal marginal end portion. The lever-paddle other marginal end portion has a concave surface that is adapted to selectively embrace the ear-wire distal marginal end portion and has a detent (40) that is so configured and dimensioned with respect to the ear-wire distal marginal end portion as to require that the ear-wire distal marginal end portion be forcibly passed through the detent as the lever-paddle is moved between opened and closed positions relative to the ear-wire.

Abstract: A round bangle (20) has an improved clevis-like hinge assembly (23) and an improved bangle closing mechanism (24). The hinge assembly is in the form of two end caps, which are operatively mounted on adjacent marginal end portions of the bangle halves. A clevis-type connection is recessed in one of the bangle halves such that there is the appearance of a generally smooth continuous exterior when the bangle is closed. The improved closing mechanism includes a keeper wire (42) extending outwardly from one of the bangles within the other, with an intermediate support ball (43) and a distal button (44) located on the keeper wire. When the bangle is closed, the button passes through an opening (45) in the other bangle half to releasably lock the bangle halves together.

Abstract: An improved bangle closing mechanism (26) is adapted to releasably join two tubular arcuate bangle halves (11, 12). The improved closing mechanism has a keeper bar (28) provided with a proximal portion (29) adapted to be operatively engaged with the first bangle half (11), an intermediate portion (30) extending between the bangle halves and penetrating a narrowed opening (23) in the second bangle half (12), and an enlarged ball-like head portion (31) operatively arranged within the second bangle half. The projected diameter (d.sub.1) of the head portion is greater than the projected diameter (d.sub.2) of the narrowed opening. The head portion prevents the keeper bar from being withdrawn from the second bangle half, and facilitates sliding movement within the second bangle half as to the bangle halves are moved relatively toward or away from one another.

Abstract: This invention most generally relates to a clip mechanism assembleable to the back-side of an ornament member, most preferably jewelry objects or fanciful buttons and the like, to be displayed by removable attachment to clothing mainly through "button-holes" and used, for example, as tuxedo-studs, cuff-links, lapel-pins, etc. The clip mechanism may also be used with hooks or posts upon which may be placed, or hung, tools, pictures, or articles for display. The clip mechanism is removably insertable into a mounting hole or peg-board hole and because of the particular design of the clip mechanism will support the article hung on the hook or post. The clip mechanism is removable with a pulling force in a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the mechanism.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a jewelry piece such as a ball earring pin which includes a predetermined length of the solder-filled wire that serves as both an earring wire post and domed cup for seating and attachment of an ornament, namely, the ball of a ball earring. At one end of the wire, the wire casing is flared back and separated from the core thereby exposing a nib of solder. The wire casing which is separated from the core is formed into the shape of a domed cup complimenting with the curvature of the ball. The nib which extends into a hole in the ball is then heated to melt the solder such that the ball is secure within the cup after the solder cools.

Abstract: A unique hardenable gold based alloy, especially a 14 karat gold alloy containing gold, silver, copper, zinc, cobalt and an alternative alloy additionally containing iridium. The alloy has a fine grained structure, a lower hardness in the soft condition, a nice yellow color and a capability to be hardened to an exceptional hardness value. The alloy contains approximately 58.3% gold (Au), between about 10% to about 14% silver (Ag), between about 2.5% to about 3.0% zinc (Zn), between about 0.2% to about 1.0% cobalt (Co) and the balance of the alloy being copper (Cu) with the special provision that the ratio of the weight percent amounts of copper to, the sum of the silver and two (2) times the zinc amount, [Cu/(Ag+2Zn)], has a value of between about 1.3 to about 2.5. The copper to silver weight percent ratio [Cu/Ag] of between about 2.0 to about 3.8, in combination with the ratio of copper to, silver+2.times.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the electroless plating of easily reducible metals onto ultrafine, usually inert, particles. Such plating is achieved through careful and accurate control of such parameters as the feed rates of the various solutions, the control of pH of the solution, the temperature, pressure and the rate of agitation of the solution in which the plating is taking place. The plated ultrafine composite particles and the powders made from the particles produced by the process are also a part of the invention. There is also provided a metal article of manufacture consisting of a metal such as copper, silver, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and platinum with a plurality of spherical shaped ultrafine particles with a diameter of less than about 10 microns dispersed substantially evenly through the metal article.

Abstract: Gold, copper, silver, palladium or aluminum and their alloys, but preferably gold or gold alloy, which may be in the form a wire, has deposited thereon or contained within the wire, a material such as metals or metal alloys which diffuse into the gold or into the other listed metals. With the passage of time and exposure to temperature the deposited metal or metal alloy continues to diffuse into the gold forming intermetallics with the gold and thereby causing the resistivity of the gold to increase and causing the gold to become progressively more brittle until such time as the gold wire ruptures at a stress point. At a given temperature the elapsed time until rupture takes place depends upon the metal or metal alloys deposited on or contained within the gold. Lead, indium, gallium, tin, bismuth and aluminum and the alloys of these metals diffuse into and form intermetallics with the gold.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is the development of new alloys along with new processing approaches for the utilization of the alloys. A particular class of alloys comprises at least one noble metal selected from the group comprising gold, palladium, silver and copper and an amount of between about 0.20 weight percent and about 0.80 weight percent of at least one metalloid selected from the group of metalloids consisting of boron, phosphorous, silicon and lithium. Rapid solidification technology in powder fabrication and the addition of metalloids have been combined to produce a new class of palladium based alloys. The metalloid additions greatly increase the hardness, enhance the fine grain structure and aid sintering densification. Net-shape forming is a benefit derived from the characteristics of the new alloys.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the electroless plating of easily reducible metals onto ultrafine, usually inert, particles. Such plating is achieved through careful and accurate control of such parameters as the feed rates of the various solutions, the control of pH of the solution, the temperature, pressure and the rate of agitation of the solution in which the plating is taking place. The plated ultrafine composite particles and the powders made from the particles produced by the process are also a part of the invention. There is also provided a metal article of manufacture consisting of a metla such as copper, silver, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and platinum with a plurality of shperical shaped ultrafine particles with a diameter of less than about 10 microns dispersed substantially evenly through the metal article.

Abstract: A unique hardenable silver alloy is provided which is solution annealed and preferably age-hardened to yield a silver alloy of exceptional and reversible hardness. The alloys utilize intermetallic systems comprising; silver, copper, combined with lithium alone or tin alone in varying percent amounts, or silver, copper, lithium and either tin or antimony, or silver, copper, lithium, tin and antimony, or silver, copper, lithium, tin and bismuth, or silver, copper, lithium, tin, bismuth and antimony.

Abstract: A unique hardenable silver alloy is provided which is solution annealed and preferably age-hardened to yield a silver alloy of exceptional and reversible hardness. The alloys utilize intermetallic systems comprising silver, copper, combined with lithium alone or tin alone in varying percent amounts, or silver, copper, lithium and either tin or antimony, or silver, copper, lithium and either aluminum or indium or zinc, or silver, copper, antiomony and either aluminum or indium or zinc, or silver, copper, lithium, tin and antimony, or silver, copper, lithium, tin and bismuth, or silver, copper, lithium, tin, bismuth and antimony.