Brilliance Enhancing Gemstone Setting

Abstract

A gemstone setting that creates jewelry pieces of the same footprint at reduced cost. This disclosed gemstone composition has a brilliant, single center look. The gemstones are mounted on a base portion, said base portion is having a central cavity, said central cavity surrounded by a first set of round prong members. Said base portion comprising a first plurality of retaining cavities surrounding said central cavity, defining a second layer. Said second layer is surrounded by a second set of prong members. Said second set of prong members comprising at least one split prong.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present description relates generally to a brilliance enhancing gemstone setting. More particularly, to a round prong and split prong combined setting adapted to reach the gemstones to enhance brilliance and sparkle of the composite gemstone ring.

BACKGROUND

Jewelry setting techniques have been researched and developed in the industry for decades. Precious stones, such as diamonds, are inserted into three or more metal prongs that form a basket-like base. Several diamonds can be arranged together to create a larger diamond cluster as the main body of a composite ring. Composite rings are different from solitaire diamond rings which are made of only one diamond. Composite diamonds create a larger looking diamond at a lower cost. A diamond's price is dependent on quality, which is defined by the 4Cs—color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. Composite diamond jewelry pieces are made up of smaller diamonds that are lower in carat weight, thus lowering the price of the jewelry piece. These smaller diamonds are set together to create an impression of a larger carat diamond jewelry piece.

A skillfully arranged and held composite diamond piece can create an illusion of a single large diamond at a fraction of the price of a solitaire diamond. Prongs are normally provided in jewelry settings to hold the diamonds within the settings. Other settings including channel settings that are often used to mount a plurality of stones adjacent each other in a line or a row. Invisible mountings used to create the appearance that the stone is not supported in its mounting.

In a prong setting, each diamond, having any one of a number of shapes, is held in a setting which includes a plurality of spaced, upstanding prongs or claws. The prongs can be different in shapes, sizes, and number used. Each prong can be button-shaped, clawed, split or “V” shaped. The setter applies pressure at each of these points to securely hold the center-diamond in place.

A “V” shaped prong is used to protect the points of sharp-cornered diamonds namely princess cuts, pear shapes and marquise cuts. V-shaped prongs are necessary to ensure that fragile points of the diamonds remain intact and completely protected.

A split prong is where one prong splits into two once it reaches the stone, giving the illusion of double prongs. Split prongs take less space on the stone than V-shaped prongs, and add an illusion of different shapes, as well as a more intricate detail.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,452 discloses a center stone held by small prongs, an outer series of stones wherein each outer stone is held by a pair of large prongs, and an intermediate series of stones held by the larger outer prongs which hold the small stones so that the intermediate stones partially cover the center stone and outer series of stones in a manner which conceals the way the outer stones are held.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,546,749 describes an article of jewelry that supports a plurality of primary stones in a linear mounting array which is bordered on both sides by accent stones. The girdles of the primary stones and of the accent stones are positioned close to each other with the accent stone girdles being above the primary stone girdles. The patent disclosed a method of making the article of jewelry which includes the use of a lost wax casting process followed by hand-setting of the accent stones and an application of a highly reflective coating, such as rhodium to surfaces that are adjacent the areas of congruence of the primary and accent stones. The resultant piece of jewelry presents the appearance of floating or unsupported primary stones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide a composite gemstone setting that gives the same footprint at reduced cost. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gemstones are mounted on a base portion, said base portion having a central cavity, said central cavity surrounded by a first set of prong members. Said base portion comprising a first plurality of retaining cavities surrounding said central cavity, defining a second layer. Said second layer is surrounded by a second set of prong members. Said second set of prong members comprising at least one split prong. We also have included few other variation for this composite gemstone with different shapes of gemstones and different construction covering varies setting methods which will give the same look as the current invention and is being elaborated in the further draft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures accompanying the specification wherein:

FIGS. 1, 9, 13, and 16 are perspectives views of the mounting where all the gemstones are set in their respective slots.

FIGS. 2, 10, and 17 are perspective views of the mounting collet where all the cavities are shown for the gemstones to rest. (Collet mounting view for FIG. 9 will be similar to FIG. 2 & FIG. 10.)

FIGS. 3, 14 and 18 are top views of the gemstones to be rested in mounting. (The gemstone view of FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 3.)

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the chassis part of the present invention. (And will remain similar for gemstone set FIGS. 9, 13, and 16.)

FIGS. 5, 11, 15 & 19 are top down views of the chassis of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the mounting which shows the round and split prongs. Whereas FIG. 12, front plan view of mounting shows the channel wall with 2 L shaped prongs at corner (front plan view of gemstone sets 13 & 16 will be similar to FIG. 6).

FIGS. 7, 19, and 21 illustrate the center stone arranged slightly up from the two side baguette stones to make the table of each stone match on the same plane. (This arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is similar for composite set FIG. 9 as well).

FIGS. 8, 20, and 22 illustrate the center stone arranged slightly up from the two side princess stones to make the table of each stone match on the same plane. (This arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is similar for composite set FIG. 9 as well.)

FIG. 23 is a comparison of the same footprint of different gemstone settings.

FIGS. 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and 24E show a comparison of the same footprint of different gemstone settings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific example embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

In general, terminology may be understood at least in part from usage in context. For example, terms, such as “and”, “or”, or “and/or,” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend at least in part upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms, such as “a,” “an,” or “the,” again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. Nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. Further aspects and advantages are discussed below.

Referring to FIG. 1, the princess baguette composite setting 100 has a center stone 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the center stone 110 is a princess cut diamond in a size smaller than the surrounding princess cut diamonds 112, 114, 116 and 118 on the outer layer. The outer layer of the setting is formed by four princess cut diamonds 112, 114 116, and 118, and four baguette cut diamonds 120, 122, 124 and 126. The center stone 110, and princess 112, 114, 116, 118, and baguette 120, 122, 124 and 126 are placed adjacent to each other and secured under the prongs, which will be illustrated hereinafter. FIG. 9, Here the center stone 910, four princess cut 912,914,916 and 918 and four baguettes cut 920,922,924 and 926 though are set adjacent to each other but the outer layer of princess are set inside the channel metal wall wherein the princess are L grooved to make them secure under the framework, which will be illustrated hereinafter. FIG. 13—Here the center princess cut 1310 diamond is surrounded by four ascher cut diamonds 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 and four baguette diamond 1320,1322,1324 and 1326. The center stone 1310 and the ascher cut and the Baugettes are placed adjacent and secured under the prongs similar to illustration given for FIG. 1. FIG. 16—Here in this gemstone setting, the center is a round stone 1610 and is surrounded by Four princess cut diamond 1612, 1614, 1616, 1618 and four baguette diamond 1620, 1622, 1624 and 1626. The center stone 1610 and princess cut 1612, 1614, 1616, 1618 and baguette diamond 1620, 1622, 1624 and 1626 are also placed adjacent and are well secured under the prong construction.

FIG. 2 shows the collet of the setting 100. FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the setting 100. The cavities receive the gemstones shown in FIG. 1. Cavity 210 receives the center stone 110 from FIG. 1. Square cavities 212, 214, 216, 218 receive the four princess cut diamonds 112, 114, 116, 118, respectively. Rectangle cavities 220, 222, 224, 226 receive the four baguette stones 120, 122, 124, 126 respectively. Prongs 228 are originated from collet 230. The collet in this illustrated embodiment has a square shaped outer wall 230, surrounding the outer layer stones. Walls 232 and 234 are parallel to each other. Walls 236 and 238 are parallel to each other. Walls 232, 234, 236, 238 form the walls surrounding cavity 210. Prongs 228 sits directly on the intersections of walls 232, 234, 236, and 238. The walls 232, 234, 236, 238 and the collet outer wall 230 do not have any incisions or another mechanism to hold the stones. The stones are only secured by the prongs. The prongs will be further illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 10 Shows the setting of collet 900, Here except the center stone which is secured by the prong, the other baguettes stone are set partially within the prong on one side as well as channel metal wall of the outer body on the other side and the Four princess cut stones are being set with an invisible setting technique with grooves in each stone's girdle slip into metal framework below surface wherein the metal can't be seen. Wall 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038 play a vital role in the framework wherein by the use of lost wax technique the princess 912,914,916,918 are held on with the chassis strongly securing them. FIG. 13 which shows collet of the setting 1300, with cavities similar to 212, 214, 216, 218 take ascher cut 1312,1314,1316,1318 instead of four princess cut surrounded in the setting, within the same cavity. All the stones here as well are only secured with the prongs which will be illustrated further. FIG. 16 shows the collet of setting 1600, with cavities 1712,1714,1716,1718 takes four princess cut 1612,1614,1616 and 1618 in the setting and four baugettes diamonds 1620,1622,1624 and 1628 are set adjacent to each other, but it takes a small round 1610 in the center with four prong securing it.

FIG. 3 is top view of the nine gemstones to be rested in mounting. The center stone 110 in the illustrated embodiment is the smallest stone amongst the nine gemstones. Same princess cut as outer layer stones 112, 114, 116, and 118, center stone 110 is smaller than princess cut stones 112, 114, 116, 118. The two long edges of baguettes 120, 122, 124 and 126 are adjacent to outer princesses 112, 114, 116, and 118. The inner short edge of the baguettes are adjacent to center stone 110. FIG. 3 top view of the gemstone setting will remain same for collet setting 900 also. FIG. 14 also shows nine gemstones where ascher cuts 1312,1314,1316 and 1318 as outer layer stones and center stone 1310 which is smaller along with long edges baguettes 1320, 1322, 1324 and 1326 which are adjacent to outer ascher cuts and short edges are adjacent to center stone and all are placed along the same plane. FIG. 18 shows the same set of gemstones which is in collet set 100 where except the smaller center which is round stone 1610 replacing the small princess from collet set 100, and is been set exactly similar to setting illustrated for collet 100 and collet 1300.

FIG. 5 is a top down view of the collet of the present invention. Prongs 228 sit on the four corners of the walls surrounding center cavity 210. The four center prongs 228 are round prongs, and secure the center mini princess 110 (not shown in this figure). Prongs 510 sit on the four corners of the collet outer wall 230. The four outer corner prongs 510 are also round prongs. Round prongs 510, shown in FIG. 6, protect the points of sharp princess cut diamonds. Round prongs 510 are necessary to ensure that the fragile points of these diamonds remain intact and completely protected, (FIG. 11) Here the four center prongs 1028 are round and secure the center mini princess 910 as well as two corners of each baguette cut stone (not shown in the figure), so in the embodiment one prong 228 shares one corner of center princess and two corners of baugettes. Prongs 1110 here are L shaped prongs sits on the collet outer wall 1030, which also helps secure the princess and protect the sharp point of princess cut diamond.L shape prongs 1110 and the channel metal wall 1030 are necessary to ensure the diamond remain intact and completely protected as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is the same as the present invention where all the gemstones including four ascher cuts four baugettes and center princess are secured under round prongs itself, where the center princess cut is set under prong 1328, surrounded by four ascher cut which shares prong 1510, 1512 and 1328, whereas baugettes get secured under prong 1512 & 1328, which later are finely split to give a less prong look. FIG. 18 also replicates the same prong origination as shown in for collet set 100 & 1600, where four princess cuts, four baugettes and center round are secured under round prong itself. The center round is getting secured here under the round prong 1628, side baugettes are set under prongs 1912 & 1628 and the four princess cut diamonds are set under round prongs 1910, 1912 and 1628.

Middle prongs 512 share the baguettes. The outer princess prongs are finely split in the middle. The split 610 is shown in FIG. 6. The finely split prongs 512 give the setting a clean and less prong-like look, while still providing added security. FIG. 11 doesn't have any 512 prong (shown as in FIG. 6) as the baguettes are inserted within the side channel metal wall 1030, The metal wall 1030 covers all the nine gemstones from outer, to give a very clean and thin Bezel wall look, wherein the bezel wall not only secures all the four baguettes & four princess but it also enhances the looks of the gemstone setting and is being consistent from all the sides leaving the shape of composite stones perfectly square. FIGS. 15 & 19 where the outer prongs 1512,1912 respectively are also split in the middle like 512 in FIG. 5 acts in a similar way for giving less prongy look with same strength over the security of diamonds. Each stone having a pavilion 710, a girdle 712, and a crown 714, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The top flat surface of the crown 714 is the table 716. To create an enlarged, single center stone look of the present invention, all nine diamonds in the composite set at one same angle, completely flat to give a seamless look like a full center. In order to match the table 718 of the center stone 110 with the table 716 of the side baguette 120 and 124, the girdle 710 of the center stone 110 is set slightly up from side baguette 120 and 124's girdles 712. Girdles 712 are set on the same plane. In FIG. 8, the table 718 of the center stone 110 with the tables 816 of the outer princess 120 and 124. Outer princess girdles 812 are set on the same plane, and also slightly lower than the girdle 720 of center stone 110. With reference to collet set 1300, FIG. 19 & FIG. 20 all the gemstones are set at same angle here as well to give seamless look, but to match the table of center princess cut diamond with table of side baguettes & the four ascher cut diamonds , the girdle of the center stone is set slightly up than the girdle of ascher and baguette cut, Similarly with reference to collet set 1600, in FIG. 21 & FIG. 22, the center round girdle is set up slightly higher than the side baugettes as well as princess so that all table of gemstones comes on the same plane to give a seamless look.

The carat total weight of a single 7.0 mm princess stone 910 as shown in FIG. 9 is 2.0 carat. Using the prior art four stone princess quad setting 920, the same 7.0 mm footprint setting's carat total weight is 1.25 carat. Comparing with the presently disclosed princess and baguette setting 930, the carat total weight of the same 7.0 mm footprint setting is just 0.75 carat. Similarly comparing 940, 950 with 910, 920, the carat of the 7 mm footprint setting is 0.75 carat only wherein 940 we just have replaced the 930 four big princess cuts with ascher cut, and in 950 we have replaced the center small princess of 930 by small round cut diamond.

The carat total weight of a single 7.0 mm princess stone 2410 as shown in FIG. 24A is 2.0 carat. Using a prior art four stone princess quad setting 2420, the same 7.0 mm footprint setting's carat total weight is 1.25 carat. See FIG. 24B. However, the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 reduces the carat total weight of the same 7.0 mm footprint setting to just 0.75 carats as shown in FIG. 24C. The setting illustrated as 900 in FIG. 9 shares the same carat total weight for the same 7.0 mm footprint as illustrated in FIG. 24C. Similarly comparing the settings of 1300, 1600 with 2410, 2420, the carat of the 7 mm footprint setting is 0.75 carat even when the princess cuts are replaced with Ascher cuts.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A jewelry device comprising:

a. a base portion,

b. said base portion having a central cavity, said central cavity surrounded by a first set of prong members;

c. said base portion comprising a first plurality of retaining cavities surrounding said central cavity, defining an outer layer;

d. said second layer is surrounded by a second set of prong members;

e. a center stone secured in said central cavity; and

f. at least one outer stone secured in said retaining cavities surrounding said center stone.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said center stone is only secured by said first set of prong members.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one outer stone is secured by said second set of prong members.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said second set of prong members comprising at least one split prong.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said at least one split prong share two outer stones.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said first set of prong members comprising at least one round prong.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said second set of prong members comprising at least one round prong.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said second set of prong members comprising four round prong on the four corners of said outer layer.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said center stone is a princess cut diamond.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said center stone and said at least one outer stone each have one top surface, all of said top surfaces are on the same plane.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one outer stone comprising four princess cut diamonds and four baguette cut diamonds.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said base portion having a base outer peripheral wall surrounding said outer layer.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said base portion having two pairs of parallel inner walls forming the central cavity.