More stable princess cut diamond

Abstract

A princess cut diamond having no points, but instead having rounded corners, so that the diamond is more stable, and has a less propensity to have any breakage.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/463,746 filed Feb. 21, 2014.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a princess cut diamond not having any pointed corners so that the stone is more stable, and does not have a propensity to break or fracture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The princess cut is the second most popular cut shape for diamonds, next to a round brilliant. The face-up shape of the princess cut is square or rectangular and the profile and side-on shape is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. The standard princess cut has the same width as diameter of a round brilliant but will weigh more as it has four corners which would have otherwise been cut off and rounded to form a round brilliant. The princess cut while displaying the same high degree of brilliance, its faceting style is unique and completely different than that of a round brilliant. The princess cut combines the high degree of light return of a round brilliant cut with a distinctive square or rectangular shape.

With regards to diamonds, when it comes to damage from chipping, round is the safest shape. That's because it's basically a circle without large points protruding. The princess cut diamond, on the other hand is square when viewed from the top. Four corners are exposed for damage. This shape is so vulnerable that some jewelry experts characterize it is an accident waiting to happen.

When setting the princess cut diamond in a setting, they are usually set in v prongs which cover the four corners of the princess cut diamond.

US D489,283 relates to a princess cut diamond.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,966,938 relates to a ring with a composite diamond head setting that includes a head portion and a base portion. Inner and outer rim members of the ring have an off-centered orientation to facilitate the head portion to have a larger thickness than the base portion wherein the inner rim defines a circular boundary of hollow space within the ring adapted to define a finger size of the ring. The head portion includes a first channel structure that includes an indentation that is positioned with a plurality of multiple shaped diamonds through an invisible setting means in a juxtaposition arrangement to form a clustered diamond head that creates an illusion of a big diamond

U.S. Pat. No. 8,813,519 relates to a modified princess cut diamond and method of forming a modified princess cut diamond into a symmetrical shape possessing hearts and arrow pattern in a round cut diamond.

US D605,973 relates to a princess cut diamond design.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,199 relates to a mounting system for cut stones in the form of a setting that encloses, supports and visually enhances a cut stone such as a princess cut diamond.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,596 relates to a princess cut gemstone having a pavilion, a girdle, and a crown. In a preferred embodiment, the princess cut gemstone is a diamond with 101 facets, a pavilion of 64 facets, a girdle of 4 facets and a crown with 33 facets.

US Patent Publication No. 2011/0203317 relates to a jewelry articles with a gem invertedly set therein. A cut gem having a top and bottom is set into the jewelry article in an inverted position such that the bottom of the cut gem faces out to be viewed. The jewelry article may comprise a plurality of cut gems and a center gem. The jewelry article has a substantially star shape when the article is viewed.

US Patent Publication No. 2005/0005639 relates to a jewelry piece having a precious stone having a visible upper surface and a body extending below the upper surface, the body having facets that meet to from corners, each facet having a groove at each corner that extends from the corner along only a portion of the facet so that the grooves of the facets that form each corner meet at the corner.

US Patent Publication No. 2003/0010058 relates to a princess cut gemstone having a pavilion, a girdle, and a crown. It is preferred that the princess cut gemstone is a diamond with 101 facets, a pavilion of 64 facets, a girdle of 4 facets and a crown with 33 facets.

US Patent Publication No. 2009/0183525 relates to a gemstone including a substantially rectangular girdle, a crown extending in a first direction from the girdle and a pavilion extending in a second direction from the girdle opposite the first direction. The gemstone has 65 uniquely arranged and angled facets, 25 of which are in the crown, and 40 of which are in the pavilion. The crown has four sides, a table, and four bezel facets, each positioned at a respective corner of the crown. Each of the four sides of the crown have a first break extending from the girdle toward the table, a second break extending from the first break toward the table, a third break extending from the second peak to the table, and a pair of star facets provided between the third break and bezzle facets on each respective corner of the crown.

US Patent Publication No. 2005/0081563 relates to a method of cutting a gemstone known as a riemer cut. The gemstone has a crown portion, a pavilion portion characterized by having four main pavilion facets and a culet base and girdle portion provided between the crown portion and pavilion portion. The main pavilion facets are integrally formed with the culet base created a pavilion facet base. The riemer cut is applicable to all shapes of stones including round, square, oval, marquee, pair shaped and rectangular diamonds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a princess cut diamond wherein said diamond has no points. It is an object of the present invention for the corners on the princess cut diamond to be rounded corners. When a princess cut diamond having points is set, such that the prongs are on top of or covering the pointed corners, a large amount of pressure is put on the pointed corners causing a high risk of breakage on the pointed corner as well as on the whole stone.

Pointed corners at the manufacturing level are harder to set since there is only one point. There is more surface area available for setting when there is a rounded corner.

It is an object of the present invention for the rounded corners to be small enough so that once a prong is set upon each corner, visually there is no difference when looking straight up on whether the corner is rounded or pointed. Indeed, when a user looks at the top of the diamond within the setting, the user cannot tell if the corners are rounded or pointed.

Diamond cutters slice corners on a straight line. In the present invention, the pointed edges disappear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a princess cut diamond that has less breakage. Insurance writers will not insure princess cut diamonds because of the risk of breakage due to the pointed corners. Princess cut diamonds made by the present invention would more likely be insured.

It is an object of the present invention to maximize the square shape of the stone.

It is an object of the present invention to maximize dimensions of the top surface of the stone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a prior art design.

FIG. 7A is a top view of a prior art design of a princess cut diamond having pointed corners, without the setting and in the setting.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the princess cut diamond of the present invention with the rounded corners without the setting and in the setting.

FIG. 7C is a top view of a prior art design of a square-shaped cushion cut diamond without a setting and in a setting, with part of the large rounded corners visible under the prongs of the setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a princess cut diamond 10 having rounded corners 12, 14, 16, and 18. These rounded corners 12, 14, 16, and 18 may be for example slightly rounded corners. The princess cut diamond 10 does not have any pointed corners so that the stone is more stable, and does not have a propensity to break or fracture. Pointed corners at the manufacturing level are harder to set since there is only one point. There is more surface area when there is a rounded corner. As a consequence, it even becomes possible for a jewelry manufacturer to use delicate or thin prongs to securely set the princess cut diamond of the present invention to a setting/mounting. Prongs used for the setting of princess cut diamonds do not have to be thick, large or V-shape anymore for the princess cut diamonds to be securely set. The rounded corners of the princess cut of the present invention may thus be easily and fully covered and securely set by fine and high-end thin prongs which have the advantage to show more of the diamond material and less of the gold used to set it. The rounded corners of the princess cut of the present invention may be small enough so that even if a thin and/or delicate prong is set upon each corner, visually there may be no difference when looking straight up on whether the corner is rounded or pointed.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the princess cut diamond 10.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the princess cut diamond 10.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the princess cut diamond 10 having rounded corners 12, 14, 16 and 18.

FIG. 5 shows a further princess cut diamond 20 having rounded corners 22, 24, 26, and 28. The rounded corners have a smaller surface area than the rounded corners of princess cut diamond 10 of FIG. 1. For example, rounded corners 22, 24, 26 and 28 may be rounded to a minimum sufficient so that the princess cut 20 may be securely set to a high end jewelry setting/mounting comprising very thin or delicate prongs.

FIG. 6 shows a prior art princess cut diamond 30 having pointed corners 32, 34, 36 and 38. When the princess cut diamond having points is set, such that the prongs are on top of or covering the pointed corners, a large amount of pressure is put on the pointed corners causing a high risk of breakage on the pointed corner as well as on the whole stone. Many insurance writers may not insure the type of princess cut diamonds because of the risk of breakage due to the pointed corners. Moreover, the pointed corners at the manufacturing level are harder to set since there is only one point.

FIG. 7A is a top view of a prior art design of a conventional princess cut diamond 60, and a top view of the prior art design with the pointed corners 64, 66, 68 and 70 covered by prongs 72, 74, 76 and 78 of a setting 62. The four pointed corners are exposed for damage during or after setting.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the princess cut diamond 40 of the present invention, and a top view of the princess cut diamond with the rounded corners 44, 46, 48 and 50 covered by prongs 52, 54, 56 and 58 of a setting 42. In a preferred embodiment, the rounded corners (e.g. rounded corners 44, 46, 48 and 50 of FIG. 7B) are small enough, and/or rounded approximately to a minimum, so that once a prong is set upon each corner (e.g. prongs 52, 54, 56 and 58 of FIG. 7B):

• • 1) Visually there is no difference when looking straight up on whether the corner is rounded or pointed. For example, the princess cut diamond 40 of the present invention may look identical to the prior art design of princess cut diamond 60 of FIG. 7A with pointed corners once it is mounted in the setting 42, and even if the prongs used to set the princess cut of the present invention are delicate/thin prongs; and
  • 2) The stone is more stable, and does not have a propensity to break or fracture (e.g. princess cut diamond 40 of FIG. 7B), and
  • 3) The dimensions of the face-up surface of the princess cut of the present invention (e.g. princess cut diamond 40 of FIG. 7B) are equal, and/or substantially equal, to the dimensions of the face-up surface of a prior art design of a princess cut diamond with pointed corners (e.g. princess cut diamond 60 of FIG. 7A) once both of the diamonds are mounted in a similar setting (e.g. similar settings 62 of FIG. 7A and 42 of FIG. 7B).

FIG. 7C is a top view of a prior art design of a square-shaped cushion cut diamond 80, and a top view of the prior art design with part of the large rounded corners 84, 86, 88 and 90 being visible under the prongs 92, 84, 96 and 98 of a setting 82. A square-shaped cushion cut diamond (e.g. square-shaped cushion cut diamond 80) may have at least the following different characteristics from the princess cut of the present invention (e.g. princess cut diamond 40 of FIG. 7B):

• • 1) It comprises larger rounded corners which are still in part visible under the prongs of a setting (e.g. large rounded corners 84, 86, 88 and 90 being visible under the prongs 92, 84, 96 and 98 of a setting 82). Indeed, unlike the princess cut diamond of the present invention (e.g. princess cut diamond 40 of FIG. 7B), the square-shaped cushion cut does not look identical to the prior art design of a princess cut diamond with pointed corners (e.g. prior art design of princess cut 60 of FIG. 7A) once it is mounted in a setting (e.g. setting 42). Moreover, it may look even less similar to the prior art design of a princess cut diamond with pointed corners if the prongs used to set said square-shaped cushion cut diamond are delicate/thin prongs; and
  • 2) The dimensions of the face-up surface of the square-shaped cushion cut diamond, in the instance it is set or not set, are substantially smaller to the dimensions of the face-up surface of the princess cut diamond of the present invention since its rounded corners are at least substantially larger than the rounded corners of the princess cut diamond of the present invention. For example, the square-shaped diamond 80 and the princess cut diamond 40 of the present invention have the same width and length dimensions at their center, but the diametrical distance between the prongs of said square-shaped diamond 80 (e.g. diametrical distance between prongs 98 and 94) is smaller to the diametrical distance between the prongs of said princess cut diamond 40 of the present invention (e.g. diametrical distance between prongs 58 and 54).

Claims

1. A princess cut diamond comprising:

a diamond in the shape of a square or a rectangle having four sides and four corners;

each of said four corners being rounded corners wherein said corners do not have any points;

said rounded corners being of a size that when placed in a setting said corners are covered by said setting;

said diamond having a crown and a pavilion with four beveled sides.

2. The diamond of claim 1, wherein said princess cut diamond is within said setting, said a user cannot tell if said corners are rounded or pointed because setting covers said corners.

3. The diamond of claim 1, wherein said rounded corners of said princess cut diamond do not have a propensity to break or fracture during or after setting.

4. The diamond of claim 1, wherein there is more surface area available for setting at said rounded corners of said princess cut diamond than at pointed corners of a conventional princess cut diamond.

5. The diamond of claim 1, wherein said rounded corners of said princess cut diamond are fully covered and securely set using prongs.

6. The diamond of claim 1, wherein dimensions of face-up surface of said princess cut diamond are equal to dimensions of face-up surface of a princess cut diamond with pointed corners once said princess cut diamond and said princess cut diamond having pointed corners are mounted in a similar setting.

7. The diamond of claim 1 wherein said four corners of said princess cut diamond are rounded and symmetrical, creating a homogeneous and uniform shape.