Composite jewel

Abstract

A composite jewel comprising: a) a central baguette stone element, b) four peripheral baguette stone elements disposed adjacent to the four sides of the central baguette stone element, c) four complementary peripheral stone elements, located at the four corners of the central stone element, each of the stone elements having a crown with a table and two or more bevel steps. The inner sides of the stone elements are invisibly set in a mount and secured below the girdle level and the outer sides of the peripheral stone elements are visibly set and secured at the girdle level such that the peripheral baguette stone elements and the peripheral complementary stone elements are downwardly inclined relative to the table of the central stone element and a bevel step facet is created around the central stone element, the whole assembly resembling a large rectangular or square stone with an emerald cut.

Description

[0001] It is well known that precious stones are associated with wealth and success. In fact, the larger the size of the stone, the more affluent and successful the person wearing it is held by the people around him. In traditional societies the true value of a gem was appreciated and it was a matter of convention that only people of distinction or the nobility could afford large and expensive pieces of jewelry. The clarity, light and genuineness of a brilliant, emerald or ruby were considered important and valued no less than mere size.

[0002] Present day fashion however emphasizes glamour and ostentatious appearance whereas genuineness has become a minor consideration. At the same time brilliants are now owned by a wide range of people, not necessarily rich and not necessarily famous or of noble origin.

[0003] A demand has been created therefore for precious stones of a large size that look impressive while their price is affordable, whereas it is well known that the price of a gem is size dependent and a large precious stone may be highly expensive.

[0004] It is therefore desirable to devise a method for creating a precious stone for an article of jewelry that males the impression of a large and expensive stone while having a moderate price by assembling several stones of smaller size. It has become desirable to create a large precious stone for an article of jewelry by joining a number of smaller precious stone modules in an invisible setting in a manner that produces the brilliance, lustre and fire of the precious stone that make the jewel so appealing to the customer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A composite jewel that is combined of several precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc. comprising a central baguette stone of generally rectangular shape with two pairs of parallel sides and four corners and a number of peripheral stones, one peripheral baguette stone on each of the sides of the said central stone and one complimentary stone opposite each of the corners of the said central stone. Each of the individual stones has a girdle, a crown with a table and two or more bevel steps above the said girdle and a pavilion below the said girdle and each of the individual stones is cut to a shape and size that complements the shape and size of the other stones.

[0006] The individual stones are invisibly set in a mount that is divided into compartments suitable for receiving and fixedly holding the individual stones according to the above described arrangement such that the table of the central stone is oriented substantially in a horizontal plane and the tables of each of the peripheral stones respectively are downwardly oriented at a predefined angle relative to the said horizontal plane and a piece of jewelry resembling a single large emerald cut stone of rectangular or square shape with fine grooves along the connection lines between the sides of the central stone and the peripheral stones and along the connection lines between adjacent peripheral stones is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a blow up of the inventive Composite jewel

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and an end view of a peripheral baguette stone

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of a finished Composite jewel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention will be described hereinbelow in detail and in respect of a preferred embodiment. It will be appreciated however that the invention may be realized in many other ways and in respect of many different designs for precious stones that still remain within the scope of the description and the claims.

[0011] The invention proposes a method for creating a composite jewel of large size and moderate price by assembling a number of smaller precious stones having complementary shapes, henceforth designated stone elements, and invisibly setting the said stone elements in a setting that is divided into compartments suitable for securely holding the said stone elements such that adjacent elements are closely joined to each other and an overall shape that resembles a large gem stone with one of the cuts known in the art such as an emerald cut. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the invention concerns an article of jewelry that is a composite jewel of large size and moderate price.

[0012] The invention is especially suitable for assembling a piece of jewelry that resembles a precious stone with a straight cut such as a rectangular or square stone with an emerald cut. As known to those versed in the art, emerald cut stones are characterized by a crown with a flat table in a generally horizontal plane, the table having the shape of a rectangle with truncated corners and one or more bevel steps, preferably 2-4 steps downwardly inclined at an angle relative to the table, the size of the said angle being selectable according to the esthetic requirements of the specific cut and according to the size and shape of the raw stone as known in the art.

[0013] The invention is preferably applied to assembling a composite stone that resembles an emerald having a crown comprising a table with a width and a length formed by two pairs of opposing sides and with four truncated corners. As known in the art, the emerald cut stone further comprises a girdle and a pavilion with a culet below the girdle. The straight lines of the said table sides, the said truncated corners and the said steps may be conveniently emulated by invisibly setting several baguette cut stone elements with straight sides and flat tables in a mount while tightly coupling adjacent stone elements. The substantially flat surfaces of the tables of the said stone elements make it possible to arrange the said stone elements such that a single piece of jewelry that resembles an emerald cut stone is achieved, with a series of fine grooves extending along the junction lines between the said stone elements.

[0014] In the framework of the present invention the term emerald cut will refer to both rectangular and square stones with an emerald cut.

[0015] In accordance with the invention, the jewel is made up of nine stone elements consisting of one central stone element and eight peripheral stone elements, the eight peripheral stone elements consisting of two pairs of identical baguette cut peripheral stone elements and four complementary peripheral elements each having at least one corner, each stone element having a girdle, a crown above the said girdle and a pavilion below the said girdle. In the preferred embodiment the crowns of each of the stone elements are cut to have a table and 24 bevel steps, and the number, width and the angle relative to the table of the said bevel steps in each of the peripheral stone elements is similar to the number, width and angle relative to the table of the bevel steps of the central stone element. It will be understood however that the number of the steps, their width and their angles may be selected to be different for the central stone element and for the peripheral stone elements according to any design requirements or requirements arising from the structure of the raw stone.

[0016] It is envisaged in the framework of the present invention that the table of the central stone element may have the shape of a rectangle with four truncated corners or an octagon, in which case the shape of the complementary peripheral stones will be suited to the shape of the said central stone element by truncating the said corner of each of the complementary peripheral stones such that the truncated corner of each of the complementary peripheral stone elements may be juxtaposed with a truncated corner of the central stone element.

[0017] The composite jewel is assembled by setting the stone elements in a mount of pliable material such as gold, with the said peripheral baguette stone elements aligned with the sides of the said central stone elements and a corner of each of the said complementary stone elements juxtaposed to a corner of the said central stone element. The mount comprises a perpendicular outer wall and a number of perpendicular division walls, whereby the said mount is divided into nine compartments. Each compartment is suitable in size and shape for receiving one stone element and the compartments are arranged in accordance with the respective positions planned for the stone elements, with a central compartment and eight peripheral compartments. In each of the stone elements incisions are provided below the girdle, extending along the periphery of the stone element. It will be understood by those versed in the art that the said incisions need not extend throughout the said periphery of the said stone element and they may be limited to one or more sections of the said periphery of the said stone element.

[0018] In the central stone element the said incisions extend on all four sides of the said central stone element whereas in the said peripheral stone elements they may be limited to 1-3 sides of the stone element, the sides on which the incisions are provided being the sides adjacent to the other peripheral stone elements and/or to the central stone element. It will be understood by those versed in the art that where an incision is provided in a side of a stone element the said incision may be limited to one or more sections of the said side of the said stone element. An invisible setting is achieved by inserting each of the stone elements in its respective compartment and forcing sections of the top edges of the division walls surrounding the said compartment into the said incisions such that the stone element is strongly held in place within its respective compartment by the pressure that the said top edge sections exert on the inner walls of the said incisions. Due to the pliability of the material of which the setting is constructed, the said material being gold in the preferred embodiment, the said sections of the said top edges of the division walls may be alternately forced into the incisions provided in the stone elements at either side of the division walls.

[0019] It will be understood by those versed in the art that the said sections of the said top edges of the division walls need not be forced into the said incisions throughout their length but rather forcing a small number of short sections into each of the incisions in the adjacent stone elements will suffice to securely attach the stone elements to the setting. In accordance with the inventive method, the outer sides of the said peripheral stones have no incisions and they are set in the visible manner known in the art by plying the outer walls of the setting around the stone at the level of the girdle.

[0020] It will be understood that due to the different setting techniques applied to the outer sides of each of the said peripheral baguette stone elements and the inner sides of the peripheral baguette stone elements that are adjacent to the sides of the central stone element, a slight inclination is created such that the said peripheral stone elements are set at a downwards angle to the said central stone element. The size of the said downwards angle is selected according to design requirements and the size and shape of the four complementary peripheral stone elements is selected in accordance with the space that is left free between a pair of adjacent peripheral baguette stone elements when the said peripheral baguette stone elements are set around the said central stone element on the four sides of the said central stone element and oriented according to the said predefined downwards angle. The four complementary peripheral stones are of substantially equal size and shape due to esthetic as well as geometrical considerations.

[0021] It will be further understood that due to the stepped cut characteristic of the crowns of the said central stone element and the said peripheral stone elements a plurality of grooves is created between the adjacent sides of the said central stone element and the said peripheral stone elements, with a pair of opposing upward slopes extending along the said grooves, each of the said slopes having 2-4 bevel steps according to design. A second plurality of grooves is created between each pair of adjacent peripheral stone elements, the said second plurality of grooves also having a pair of opposing upward slopes extending along each of the said grooves respectively, each of the said slopes having 2-4 bevel steps according to design.

[0022] According to one advantage of the invention, the composite jewel created by the above described process is a large and impressive piece of jewelry while its price is but the sum of the prices of the stone elements, therefore being affordable to many more members of the consumer public.

[0023] According to a further advantage of the invention, the composite jewel retains the scintilla, brilliance and fire of the individual stones due to the stepped baguette cuts and the multiple faceted pavilions of the said individual stones.

[0024] According to yet another advantage of the invention, the finished stone resembles the design of an emerald cut stone, a classic and highly popular design. It will be understood that the invention is suitable for assembling composite jewels that resemble rectangular emerald cuts of different sizes and various proportions between the length and the width of the stone, as well as square emerald stones.

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a blown up drawing of an array of nine stone elements generally designated A with a central stone element A1 and eight peripheral stone elements respectively designated A2-A9.

[0026] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a mount, generally designated B, that is made of a pliable material such as metal. In the preferred embodiment the mount is made of gold, that is an especially soft and moldable metal while it is also attractive to the purchaser public. The mount B comprises an outer wall section b1 extending around the outer periphery of the said setting B and it is divided by dividing wall sections b2, b3, b4 and b5 into nine compartments, respectively designated B1-B9, in which the stone elements A1-A9 are set. The said compartments B1-B9 are of a size and shape that is suitable for receiving the nine stone elements A1-A9 such that central stone element A1 is received in compartment B1, either of peripheral baguette stone elements A2 and A3 may be received in either of compartments B2 or B3, either of peripheral baguette stone elements A4 or A5 may be received in either of compartments B4 or B5 and any of complementary peripheral stone elements A6-A9 may be received in any of compartments B6-B9. It will be understood that the dashed lines shown in the drawing of the mount B represent parts of the said mount B that are invisible in the perspective of FIG. 1.

[0027] As seen in FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment each of the stone elements A1-A9 has a girdle, a pavilion below the said girdle and a crown with two steps and a table above the said girdle. The central stone element A1 and the two pairs of peripheral baguette stone elements A2-A3 and A4-A5 are cut according to the rectangular baguette shape that is well known in the art while the four complementary peripheral stone elements A6-A9 are baguette cuts with a shape that is substantially pentagonal in the horizontal plane. It will be understood by those versed in the art that in case that the complementary peripheral stone elements A6-A9 are of a small size, they will be cut to a shape that is substantially triangular in the horizontal plane.

[0028] The design of a peripheral stone element with a rectangular baguette cut according to the preferred embodiment is best demonstrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 contains an end view A and perspective view B of a baguette cut stone such as may be used for any of the peripheral stone elements A2-A5. The stone of FIG. 2, generally designated C has a crown c1 with four corners c1.a, c1.b, c1.c, c1.d the said crown comprising a table c4 with two opposite short sides c4.1, c4.2 and two opposite long sides c4.3, c4.4 lying in a substantially horizontal plane and a pair of steps c2 and c3 extending around the said four sides of the said stone C wherein step c3 is disposed at an angle a2 to the plane of the table c4 and step c2 is disposed at an angle a3 relative to the said table c4. A girdle c1 lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the table c4. Beneath the girdle is a pavilion c5 with a culet c6, multiple facets c7, c8 and c9 on the short side of the said stone C and multiple facets c10, c11, c12 on the long side of the said stone C. It will be understood that similar facets are extending on the opposite sides of the said stone C that are invisible in either the perspective view B or the end view A of FIG. 2. It is obvious to those versed in the art that while in the preferred embodiment the pavilion is made with a culet, the invention may also be applied to stone elements that have been cut without a culet.

[0029] It will be understood that while in the preferred embodiment each of the stone elements A1-A9 has a crown that comprises a table with two steps such as in the stone C of FIG. 2, the inventive jewel may be designed and cut with a different number of steps, preferably 2-4 steps. It will be further understood that other embodiments may also be made in accordance with the invention wherein the peripheral stone elements A2-A9 have an equal number of steps disposed at equal angles relative to the central tables of the said peripheral stone elements while the number of steps and the angles of the said steps relative to the table in the crown of the central stone A1 is different.

[0030] Referring again to FIG. 2, in the stone C an incision c7 is provided below the girdle c1, extending into the stone in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the girdle c1.

[0031] In each of the peripheral stone elements A2-A9 of FIG. 1 respectively similar incisions are provided below the girdle of the respective peripheral stone element, along the side that is adjacent to the central stone element A1 when the stone elements are set in the setting B. Further groove sections are provided along the sides of the said peripheral stone elements that are adjacent to other peripheral stone elements when the said peripheral stone elements are set in the said setting B. None of the said incisions are shown in FIG. 1 as the exact position of the incisions is not prescribed in the inventive method. It will be understood by those versed in the art that the said incisions need not extend throughout the said sides of the said stone elements and they may be limited to one or more sections of the said sides of the said stone elements. In the central stone element the said incisions are provided on all four sides of the said central stone element whereas in the said peripheral stone elements they may be limited to 1-3 sides of the stone element, the sides on which the incisions are provided being the sides adjacent to the other peripheral stone elements and/or to the central stone element.

[0032] The stone shown in FIG. 2 may also describe the central stone element A1 with the difference that in the central stone element A1 one or more incisions similar to c7 are provided on each of the sides of the said central stone element A1 below the girdle of the said central stone element A1.

[0033] According to the inventive method, a piece of jewelry that is a composite jewel resembling an emerald cut gem stone may be achieved by inserting each of the stone elements A1-A9 into their respective compartments B1-B9 within the said setting B and invisibly setting the said stone elements A1-A9 by forcing the top edge sections of the dividing walls b2-b5 of the said setting B into the said incisions provided in the adjacent stone elements. It will be understood by those versed in the art that small sections of the said top edge sections may be forced alternately into the incisions in the adjacent sides of each of a pair of adjacent stone elements such as A1 and A2, A2 and A9, A2 and A6 etc. Due to the forces exerted by the pliable and flexible material of which the setting is made, the stone elements A1-A9 are firmly held within the compartments B1-B9 of the setting. The top edge sections of the outer wall section b1 of the setting B are then folded around the outer girdle sections of each of the peripheral stone elements A2-A9 respectively to create a visible setting as known in the art that further reinforces and holds the stone elements A1-A9 within the setting B.

[0034] It will be understood by those versed in the art that as a result of the inventive setting method the respective tables of the peripheral stone elements A2-A9 are downwardly inclined relative to the table of the central stone A1 due to the fact that at the side adjacent to the central stone A1 each of the said peripheral stone elements A2-A9 is attached to a top edge section of the dividing wall section of the setting B at a level that is below the girdles of the said peripheral stones A2-A9 while the outer side of each of the said peripheral stones A2-A9 is attached to a top edge section of the outer wall section of the said setting B at the level of the respective girdles of the said peripheral stone elements A2-A9. In accordance with the inventive method, the inclination of the respective peripheral stone elements is adjusted such that a continuous bevel facet is created around the said central stone element A1, consisting of the tables of the said peripheral stone elements A2-A9. As will be described hereinbelow in respect of FIG. 3, the said continuous bevel facet is intersected by groove sections extending between pairs of adjacent peripheral stone elements. Due to the said bevel facet created by the downwardly inclined tables of the said peripheral stones A2-A9 around the central stone A1, the composite jewel achieved by the inventive setting design assumes the general shape of an emerald cut stone.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a top view of a finished composite jewel according to the invention, demonstrating the harmonious design that gives the composite jewel its esthetic and attractive appearance. FIG. 3 shows the central stone element A1 with its table a1, two upper pairs of opposing bevel steps a1.1.2, a1.3.2 and a1.2.2, a1.4.2 and two lower pairs of opposing bevel steps a1.1.1, a1.3.1 and a1.2.1, a1.4.1. Around the central stone element A1 are seen the eight peripheral stone elements: baguette cut peripheral stone element A2 with its table a2, two upper pairs of opposing bevel steps a2.2.2, a2.4.2 and a2.1.2, a2.3.2 and two lower pairs of opposing bevel steps a2.1.1, a2.3.1 and a2.4.1, a2.2.1; baguette cut peripheral stone element A3 with its table a3, two upper pairs of opposing bevel steps a3.1.2, a3.4.2 and a3.3.2, a3.2.2 and two lower pairs of opposing bevel steps a3.1.1, a3.4.1 and a3.3.1, a3.2.1; baguette cut peripheral stone element A4 with its table a4, two upper pairs of opposing bevel steps a4.2.2, a4.3.2 and a4.1.2, a4.4.2 and two lower pairs of opposing bevel steps a4.2.1, a4.3.1 and a4.1.1, a4.4.1; baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 with its table a5, two upper pairs of opposing bevel steps a5.1.2, a5.3.2 and a5.2.2, a5.4.2 and two lower pairs of opposing bevel steps a5.1.1, a5.3.1 and a5.2.1, a5.4.1; complementary peripheral stone element A6 with its table a6, upper bevel steps a6.1.2, a6.2.2 and a6.3.2 and lower bevel steps a6.1.1, a6.2.1 and a6.3.1 and opposing pairs of upper and lower bevel corner facets a6.5,a6.5.1: a6.4 a6.4.1; complementary peripheral stone element A7 with its table a7, upper bevel steps a7.1.2, a7.2.2, a7.3.2, lower bevel steps a7.1.1, a7.2.1, a7.3.1 and opposing pairs of upper and lower bevel corner facets a7.4, a7.4.1; a7.5, a7.5.1, complementary peripheral stone element A8 with its table a8, upper bevel steps a8.1.2, a8.2.2, a8.3.2, lower bevel steps a8.1.1, a8.2.1, a8.3.1 and opposing pairs of upper and lower bevel corner facets a8.4, a8.4.1; a8.5, a8.5.1; complementary peripheral stone element A9 with its table a9, upper bevel steps a9.1.2, a9.2.2, a9.3.2, lower bevel steps a9.1.1, a9.2.1, a9.3.1 and opposing pairs of upper and lower bevel corner facets a9.4, a9.4.1 and a9.5, a9.5.1. In accordance with the invention, the baguette cut peripheral stone elements A5 and A4 are substantially identical in size and shape and the baguette cut peripheral stone elements A3 and A2 are also substantially identical in size and shape. The four complementary peripheral stone elements A6, A7, A8 and A9 are cut to a shape that enables each of the said peripheral stone elements to be accommodated opposite a corner of the said central stone element in the space between pairs of adjacent baguette cut peripheral stone elements A2,A4; A4,A3; A3,A5 and A5,A2 respectively. The said complementary peripheral stone elements A6, A7, A8 and A9 are also substantially identical in size and shape. It will be further appreciated that the shape of the four complementary peripheral stone elements. A6, A7, A8 and A9 must be designed in accordance with the degree of the downward inclination of the baguette cut peripheral stone elements A3, A4, A5 and A6. Where the size of the complementary peripheral stone elements A6, A7, A8 and A9 is relatively small, each of the said complementary peripheral stone elements will be cut with a triangular table and without any opposing pairs of upper and lower bevel corner facets as known in the art.

[0036] Due to the invisible setting along the adjacent sides of the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A2, along the adjacent sides of the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A3, along the adjacent sides of the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A4 and along the adjacent sides of the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 as well as along the adjacent sides of the peripheral stone elements A8 and A5, A5 and A9, A9 and A2, A2 and A6, A6 and A4, A4 and A7, A7 and A3 and A3 and A8 a large composite piece of jewelry is achieved that has substantially the shape of an emerald cut, with a central table consisting of the table of the central stone element A1 and a bevel facet consisting of the tables of peripheral stone elements A2-A9 respectively. It will be understood that the said bevel facet is downwardly inclined relative to the plane of the table a1 of the central stone element A1 as clarified hereinabove in respect of FIG. 2. The said downward inclination is not visible in the top view of FIG. 3 due to geometrical reasons. As seen in FIG. 3, between the said central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A2, between the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A3, between the central stone element A1 and baguette cut peripheral stone element A4, between the central stone element A1 and baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 a plurality of groove sections are extending, defined by the bevel steps surrounding the tables of each of the said stone elements respectively. A further plurality of grooves are extending between the pairs of peripheral stone elements A8 and A5, A5 and A9, A9 and A2, A2 and A6, A6 and A4, A4 and A7, A7 and A3 and A3 and A8 respectively. Thus the groove extending between the central stone element A1 and baguette cut peripheral stone element A2 is defined by bevel steps a1.3.1 and a1.3.2 of the said central stone element A1 and by bevel steps a2.1.1 and a2.1.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A2; the groove extending between the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A3 is defined by bevel steps a1.1.1 and a1.1.2 of the said central stone element A1 and by bevel steps a3.3.1 and a3.3.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A3; the groove extending between the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A4 is defined by bevel steps a1.2.1 and a1.2.2 of the said central stone element A1 and by bevel steps a4.1.1 and a4.1.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A4; the groove extending between the central stone element A1 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 is defined by bevel steps a1.4.1 and a1.4.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A1 and by bevel steps a5.3.1 and a5.3.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A5; the groove extending between the baguette cut peripheral stone element A2 and the complementary peripheral stone element A6 is defined by bevel steps a2.2.1 and a2.2.2 of the baguette cut peripheral stone element A2 and by bevel steps a6.2.1 and a6.2.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A6; the groove extending between the complementary peripheral stone element A6 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A4 is defined by bevel steps a6.3.1 and a6.3.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A6 and by bevel steps a4.3.1 and a4.3.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A4; the groove extending between the baguette cut peripheral stone element A4 and the complementary peripheral stone element A7 is defined by bevel steps a4.2.1 and a4.2.2 of the said peripheral stone element A4 and by bevel steps a7.3.1 and a7.3.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A7; the groove extending between the complementary peripheral stone element A7 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A3 is defined by bevel steps a7.2.1 and a7.2.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A7 and by bevel steps a3.4.1 and a3.4.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A3; the groove extending between the baguette cut peripheral stone element A3 and the complementary peripheral stone element A8 is defined by bevel steps a3.1.1 and a3.1.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A3 and by bevel steps a8.3.1 and a5.3.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A8; the groove extending between the complementary peripheral stone element A8 and the baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 is defined by bevel steps a8.2.1 and a8.2.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A8 and by bevel steps a5.2.1 and a5.2.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 and the groove extending between the baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 and the complementary peripheral stone element A9 is defined by bevel steps a5.4.1 and a5.4.2 of the said baguette cut peripheral stone element A5 and by bevel steps a9.2.1 and a9.2.2 of the said complementary peripheral stone element A9.

[0037] The bottom side of the composite jewel is not shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood by those versed in the art that the said bottom side comprises the mount, the respective girdles of the stone elements and the respective pavilions of the said stone elements.

[0038] It is one of the advantages of the present invention that it is applicable in producing pieces of jewelry resembling emeralds with different shapes and designs. Thus for example, the composite jewels produced in accordance with the invention may have the shape of an emerald cut having a table of a generally rectangular shape with a first pair of opposing short sides of equal length and a second pair of opposing long sides with equal length. The invention is also applicable for producing a composite jewel that resembles a square emerald cut with a table having four substantially equal sides.

[0039] It is further envisaged in the framework of the inventive method that the central stone element may have the shape of a rectangle or a square with truncated corners or an octagon. It will be understood that in this embodiment the complementary peripheral stone elements will have a trapezoid shape, and each of the complimentary peripheral stone elements will be made with a truncated corner to be aligned juxtaposed with a truncated corner of the said central stone element.

[0040] The inventive method may be applied for producing composite pieces of jewelry from many kinds of precious stones known in the art such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds etc. thereby making these highly coveted articles of jewelry available to an enlarged section of the consumer public while at the same time creating a new market for precious stones of a small size.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements comprising the following steps:

a. invisibly setting a central baguette stone element with a crown comprising a table of generally rectangular shape, four peripheral baguette stone elements each with a crown comprising a table of generally rectangular shape and eight peripheral complementary stone elements, each with a crown comprising a table of suitable shape, in a mount divided by an outer perpendicular wall section and a plurality of inner perpendicular wall sections into nine divisions suitable for receiving and holding the said stone elements such that the said peripheral baguette stone elements are disposed along the four sides of the said central baguette stone element and the said peripheral complementary peripheral stone elements are disposed opposite the four corners of the said central stone element

b. folding the said outer wall section around the said peripheral stone elements and adjusting the said stone elements such that the said central stone element is lying in a substantially horizontal plane, the respective tables of the said peripheral stone elements are downwardly inclined at a predefined angle to the said table of the said central stone element creating a bevel facet extending around the said table and a unified structure is achieved wherein a series of groove sections are defined between pairs of adjacent stone elements.

2. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to claim 1 hereinabove wherein the said central baguette stone element comprises 3-4 bevel steps beneath the said table.

3. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to claim 1 hereinabove wherein the crown of the said central baguette stone element comprises 2 bevel steps beneath the said table.

4. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the crown of each of the said peripheral baguette stone elements comprises 3-4 bevel steps beneath the said table.

5. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of claims 1-3 hereinabove wherein the crown of each of the said central baguette stone elements comprises 2 bevel steps beneath the said table.

6. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to claim 1 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are diamonds.

7. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to claim 1 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are emeralds.

8. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to claim 1 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are rubies.

9. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said setting is made of precious metal.

10. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said precious metal is gold.

11. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said table of the said central stone element has four substantially equal sides and the said peripheral baguette stone elements consist of four baguette stone elements of substantially equal size.

12. A method of creating a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said tables of the said complementary peripheral stone elements have a substantially trapezoid shape.

13. A method of assembling a composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone from a plurality of smaller stone elements according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said tables of the said complementary peripheral stone elements have a substantially triangular shape.

14. A composite jewel comprising a central baguette cut stone element surrounded by four peripheral baguette cut stone elements disposed on the four sides of the said central baguette cut stone element and four complementary peripheral stone elements, a corner of each complementary peripheral stone element disposed opposite a corner of the said central baguette cut stone element and between a pair of adjacent peripheral baguette stone elements such that the said complementary peripheral stone element fits in the gap between the said pair of adjacent peripheral baguette stone elements, the said stone elements set in an invisible setting such that the table of the said central stone element lies in a substantially horizontal plane, the tables of the said peripheral baguette stone elements and the said complementary peripheral stone elements are downwardly inclined relative to the said horizontal plane and the said composite jewel has the general aspect of an emerald cut gem stone wherein the crown of the said emerald cut gem stone comprises the said table of the said central baguette stone element and also comprises a step consisting of the said tables of the said peripheral baguette stone elements and of the tables of the said complementary peripheral stone elements, with grooves extending between adjacent stone elements of the said composite jewel.

15. A composite jewel according to claim 14 hereinabove wherein the said central baguette cut stone element has a crown with a generally rectangular table and two or more bevel steps.

16. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14 or 15 hereinabove wherein each of the said peripheral baguette cut stone elements has a crown with a generally rectangular table and 2-4 bevel steps

17. A composite jewel according to claim 14 hereinabove wherein the said table of the said central stone element has four truncated corners, the said peripheral baguette cut stone elements have a trapezoidal shape with a shorter side adjacent to a side of the said central stone element, a longer side parallel to the said shorter side and two opposing tapering sides and the said corners of the said complementary stone elements are truncated to suit the truncated corners of the said central stone element.

18. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-17 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are diamonds.

19. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-17 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are rubies.

20. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-17 hereinabove wherein the said stone elements are emeralds.

21. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-19 hereinabove wherein the said mount is made of precious metal.

22. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-20 hereinabove wherein the said mount is made of gold.

23. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-22 hereinabove wherein the said table of the said central baguette cut stone element has two equal pairs of opposing sides and the said peripheral baguette stone elements consist of two pairs of baguette stone elements of equal size.

24. A composite jewel according to any of claims 14-22 hereinabove wherein the said table of the said central baguette cut stone element has a table with four equal sides and the said peripheral baguette stone elements consist of four baguette stone elements of equal size.

25. A composite jewel that resembles an emerald cut gem stone comprising a central baguette stone element with a table in a substantially horizontal plane, the said table having four sides and four corners, the said central baguette stone element having two or more bevel steps extending parallel to each of the sides of the said table, a girdle extending below the said bevel steps and a pavilion disposed below the said girdle with one or more incisions extending on each side of the said central baguette stone element below the said girdle, the said composite jewel further comprising four peripheral baguette stone elements disposed adjacent to the four sides of the said central baguette stone element, each of the said peripheral baguette stone elements having a table with four sides and four straight angles, each of the said peripheral baguette stone elements having an equal number of two or more bevel steps extending parallel to each of the sides of the said tables of the said peripheral baguette stone elements respectively, a girdle extending below the said bevel steps and a pavilion below the said girdle with one or more incisions extending along the periphery of each of the said the said peripheral baguette stone elements below the said girdle on the sides adjacent to other stone elements, the said composite article of jewelry also comprising four complementary peripheral stone elements, located opposite the said four corners of the said table of the central baguette stone element, wherein the said adjacent sides of the said stone elements are invisibly set and secured below the girdle level and the outer sides of the said peripheral stone elements are visibly set and secured at the girdle level such that the said peripheral baguette stone elements and the said peripheral complementary peripheral stone elements are downwardly inclined relative to the said table of the said central stone element, the respective tables of the said peripheral baguette stone elements and the said peripheral complementary peripheral stone elements creating a series of bevel facets that extend around the said central stone element similarly to a bevel facet that extends around the table of an emerald cut stone and between pairs of adjacent stone elements channel sections are extending defined by opposing bevel steps of the said adjacent stone elements.

26. A method for assembling a composite jewel from a plurality of smaller gem stones substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

27. A composite jewel substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.