VIRTUAL WHOLE DIAMOND CREATIONS FROM PLURALITY OF STONES AND HAVING HOMOGENOUS TABLE

Abstract

The uniqueness of this invention is the duplication of an actual full cut diamond or other precious stones by assembling a plurality of stones cut with specific angles with a precision of 1 millionth of an inch and being assembled in a special setting so that the final jewelry piece has the look of one whole cut diamond or other precious stone. Another unique feature of the invention provides for the homogeneity of the stones table surface and appearing essentially invisible. The purpose of this invention was and is; to create the look and replication of a round brilliant or other various shape diamonds and other precious stones, in which the total carat weight used in the creation of the Virtual Diamond or other precious stones, is considerably less than what is now required to get the same shape and look of current methods utilized in cutting diamonds into their final shape for setting into a piece of jewelry. The embodiment of this invention is of a two fold nature; one, is the ability to utilize a plurality of smaller cut stones which for the same quality and clarity of larger stones, are far less expensive and therefore have a very significant commercial mass market appeal; Two, the actual look or size of the diamond or other precious stone creation will be several times the actual size of the carat weight of a conventionally cut whole stone. These Virtual Stone Creations with their included setting can then be mixed and matched to create a large verity of jewelry creations such as rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, broaches, anklets, etc . . .

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-stone round or other shape center stone and setting for holding therein a plurality of re-cut diamonds or other gemstones to produce the appearance of a combined rounded or other shape gemstone aggregate providing an appearance larger than that of a single round or other shape gemstone of a similar carat weight. More particularly, this multi-stone round or other shape center setting having a plurality of gemstones therein also gives the appearance that the setting is substantially invisible and appearing as one whole cut gemstone. Further, this invention provides for the homogeneity of the gemstones table surface.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Invisible gemstone settings are well known in the art and refers to a setting for gemstones in which the setting lies beneath the visible surface of the gemstones. Typically, to invisibly set a large number of gemstones, the approach of the prior art has been to notch the gemstones and to mount them in a setting having two or more parallel walls, with metallic projections, for example, prongs or the like, protruding from these walls for engaging the notches. Generally, these walls define channels in which the gemstones are set abutting one another in accordance with the invisible mounting method.

Invisible gemstone settings for jewelry products suffer from a number of disadvantages. First, casting of a jewelry item with a gemstone region including a recess and walls and preparing T-shaped cross bars is a relatively difficult and therefore a costly process. Second, the assembly of the jewelry item requires considerable time of a skilled worker and required high tech precision tools, and equipment which adds greatly to the overall cost of the jewelry item. And third, the finished jewelry item cannot be readily downsized without disturbing the invisible gemstone setting. Thirdly, the prior art does not provide for the homogeneity of the gemstones table surface but instead has a clearly visible notch between the adjoining stones making it very obvious that the jewelry piece is not homogenous and appearing as one whole cut stone.

Therefore, there remains a need for a novel invisible and multiple gemstone round or other shape setting for jewelry ornaments which overcomes the disadvantages of conventional multi-stone and invisible gemstone settings for jewelry items. The multi-stone round or other shape center setting would include a round or other shaped metal setting for holding a plurality of cut gemstones in which the combined gemstone aggregate gives a larger appearance than that of a single round or other shape gemstone of a similar carat weight and having an homogenous table surface. Additionally, the multi-stone round or other shape center setting would give the appearance that the round or other shape setting is essentially invisible to the eye of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND OF PRIOR ART

Invisible gemstone settings, multi-gemstone settings, jewelry settings and the like having various designs, structures, configurations and functions have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,539 discloses an invisible, multiple precious stone setting for mounting two or more rows of round-shaped precious stones. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.

U.S. Design Patents D462,634 S, D462,635 S, D472,181 S, D464,905 S, D 460,380 S discloses various ornamental designs for a jewelry setting having a multiple of stones who's pavilion is grooved and their assembly into an invisible setting shows a V shaped notch between the assembled stones making it very obvious that the ornamental design is made up of a multiple of stones and lacking an homogenous table. These prior art patents do not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.

U.S. Pat No. 6,442,971 B1 discloses a multi-stone round setting for six substantially triangular-shaped gemstones or diamonds, each having three side walls. The multi-stone round setting includes a curved corner prong assembly having six curved prong members; six side rail members connected to the six prong members to form a substantially round-shaped setting; a central support member having six connection points and six support ledges; and six radially extending spoke members connected at their outer ends to the six prong members, respectively, and connected at their inner ends to the six connection points, respectively, to form six seating areas. Each of the six seating areas are used for receiving one of six gemstones. This prior art patent does not disclose the structure and configuration of the present invention.

None of the aforementioned prior art patents disclose or teach the multi-stone round or other shape center setting of the present invention for receiving therein a multitude of different shaped diamonds or gemstones which gives the appearance of a single round or other shape gemstone with the setting having an invisible profile.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-stone round or other shape setting for holding therein a multiple of different cut shaped gemstones in which the combined aggregate of the gemstones gives a larger appearance than that of a single round or other shape gemstone of a similar carat weight Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shape setting having a multiple of gemstones therein that are less expensive than a single round gemstone of a similar carat weight (i.e., the 4 carat presentation of the combined multiple of gemstones is less expensive than an actual 4 carat single round gemstone of the same carat weight & quality).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shaped setting having a multiple of cut gemstones therein which gives the appearance that the round or other shape setting is substantially invisible and that unlike prior patents in this field, does not have a V shape dip or notch between stones but instead is set in such a way that the table of the assembled stones is homogenous and therefore appearing more like a true full cut stone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shape setting that can be varied in size depending upon the total combined carat weight of the multiple of gemstones within the setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shaped setting that can be made from precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum or palladium for setting precious gemstones including diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a method in which the center stone setting mounted to different ring styles can allow for the upsizing or downsizing of the finished jewelry item without disturbing the invisible gemstone setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shape setting having a multiple of gemstones therein for use in personal adornment in the form of ornamental jewelry such as rings, pins, brooches, pendants, clasps, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and earrings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stone round or other shaped setting that can be produced in an economical manner on a large scale and still be readily affordable by the jewelry consumer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention embodies methods and means for the duplication of the appearance of an actual full cut diamond or other precious stones into a verity of shapes and sizes by assembling a plurality of stones cut with specific angles with 1 millionth of an inch precision and assembled into various different shaped settings which allow for no spaces or grooves between the plurality of stones and therefore giving the appearance of homogeneity of the stones' table surface. In addition, the multiple of cut stones used in the assembly of the given shaped center stone creation are re-cut from already existing cut and polished stones readily available and who's shape is selected according to the needed requirements which have the basic shape required depending on the final shape desired and are therefore re-cut with specific angles to allow the assembly of the center stone creation to give the appearance of a single homogenous full cut stone and appearing substantially invisible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the 4 stone Esteem Round Cut with its elements and an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a 2 stone Esteem Hexagon Cut with its elements and an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 3 shows a 2 stone Esteem Octagon Cut with its elements and an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 4 shows a 2 stone Esteem Heart Shape Cut with its elements and an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 5 shows a Multi-Stone Esteem Princess Cut with its various elements and the capability of creating variations of length and width with unlimited possibilities. It also includes an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 6 shows an Esteem Baget Cut creation with it various elements and the capability of creating any desired length of stone creation required. It also includes an example/comparison of the prior art.

FIG. 7 shows the assembly of a plurality of the Esteem Hexagon Cut stones as described in FIG. 2 to create a round stone shape of any size.

FIG. 8 Shows an Isometric view of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The multi-stone round or other shape center stone, setting and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIGS. 1 through 8 of the patent drawings.

Essentially, the embodiment of this invention includes a means and method for the re-cutting of already cut stones to specific shapes with exact angles as represented in detail by the drawings FIGS. 1 through 8 utilizing methods and means as described in the prior art as listed above for the invisible setting of stones by a jeweler skilled in the art of invisible setting.

The embodiment of this invention describes the methods and means to be able to produce a number of different shapes and designs of center stones comprising of a plurality of stones re-cut to specific shapes with the proper mathematical geometric angles which allow the precision assembly of a verity of different shaped center stones. Included in the embodiment of this invention is the capability to create any size stone aggregate with essentially an invisible profile and having a homogenous look utilizing a combination of elements as specifically described in FIGS. 5 and 6 for Princess and Baget shaped cuts. For FIGS. 1 through 4, in order to create any size aggregate for center stones of any size desired, one merely has to increase the size of each single stone element so the their combination in the required setting will provide the final size center stone desired and having essentially an homogenous and invisible look and appearing as one whole stone. The approach which is embodied in this invention, allows the ability to use the same general idea to be able to design essentially any shape of center stone which can be imagined by one skilled in the art.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. Patent Documents
US D462,634 S	Sep. 10, 2002	Cohen	D11/90
US D462,635 S	Sep. 10, 2002	Cohen	D11/90
US D472,181 S	Mar. 25, 2003	Cohen	D11/92
US D464,905 S	Oct. 29, 2002	Cohen	D11/92
US D 460,380 S	Jul. 16, 2002	Cohen	D11/92
U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,633 B2	Jul. 12, 2005	Shuto	63/32
U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,971 B1	Sep. 3 2002	Gurevich	63/28
U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,846 B1	May 21, 2002	Siedenberg	63/26
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,539	Dec. 15, 1998	Ouzounian	63/28
US D514,014 S	Jan. 31, 2006	Hadad	D11/90

Claims

1. A method and means for the creation of virtual whole diamonds and other precious stone cut shapes utilizing a plurality of cut stones to create the look of a full cut diamond or other precious stone.

2. The actual look or size of the virtual stone creation will be several times that of the actual combined carat weight of the plurality of stones.

3. A method and means for providing homogeneity of the stones table surface giving it the appearance of one whole stone.