IMPROVED ILLUSION PLATE FOR SETTING DIAMONDS

Abstract

This invention relates to enhancing the visual effect of diamonds held in an illusion plate. The improved illusion plate provides enhanced diamond reflectivity by changing the shape and angle of the facet cuts in the annular ring forming the illusion plate, providing greater depth, which creates enhanced reflectivity of the combination of the diamond in the illusion plate such that the diamond appears to be larger than its actual size.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application incorporates the contents of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/852,857, filed May 29, 2019 and claims thereof, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to enhancing the visual effect of diamonds held in an illusion plate.

Flat plates have been used to enhance a diamond's size presentation for many years. These plates are essentially one dimensional, merely expanding the apparent size of the diamond without materially impacting light reflection of the diamond held in the plate. Conventionally, such prior plates are normally under 2 mm in depth.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION

The improved illusion plate provides enhanced diamond reflectivity by changing the shape of the illusion plate as well as enlarging it slightly. The present invention provides enhanced reflectivity thereby providing an improved visual appearance of the diamond held in the illusion plate, making it appear that the diamond is large than its actual size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, respectively, show top, side and perspective or 3D views of a prior art traditional illusion plate for setting diamonds.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, are top, perspective and side views, respectively, of the improved illusion plate of this invention.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are top, side and perspective views, respectively, of the improved illusion plate incorporating a halo setting beneath the illusion plate.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a round diamond.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a round diamond.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A diamond 10 is shown in the top, side and perspective views of FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c of the prior art illusion plate. Faceted cuts 14 are made in the prior art faceted annular illusion plate 12 which holds stone 10. The flat cut illusion plate 12 of FIG. 1 is generally, approximately, 1.0 mm in height. While the facets 14 in faceted annular ring 12 surround the stone, the physical relationship of the stone to the faceted cuts do not materially contribute to the brilliance or light reflection of the stone itself. The faceting merely provides an expanded reflected appearance because of the facets 14 in the illusion plate 12.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show an illusion plate 16 of this invention having a domed shape structure 18.

The illusion plate 16 has a greater depth than the prior art illusion plate, with the illusion plate of this invention having a preferred depth or height of at least 1.2 mm as compared to 1.0 mm for the plate shown in FIG. 1. Other depths may be employed.

The depth of the illusion plate 16 of this invention will be greater than the corresponding depth of the prior art traditional illusion plate 12. The dimensions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are merely illustrative. The greater depth allows for an angled faceted cut 18 to be provided in the annular illusion plate 16 so the light reflection off the facets 18 mimic the light performance (up and out) of a larger stone, further enhancing the overall brilliant appearance and enhanced size of a diamond 20 set with the improved illusion plate 16. The stones are set using conventional pic setting techniques.

While the angle cut of facet 18 shown in FIG. 2c is 45°, other angle cuts may be employed, such as at least 40°, which also enhance the overall illusion and brilliance of the diamond set in the illusion plate 16.

In accordance with the teachings of this invention, a center stone set in the dome illusion plate 16 can provide a stone with an appearance approximately two to four times larger than the actual karat weight of the stone.

The doming effect and faceting of the illusion plate 16 is carried from the bezel and star facets (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the center set diamond. Further, the angle that light reflects from the facet cuts 18 of the illusion plate 16 is substantially similar to the angle that light is reflected by the center stone itself. Therefore, the combination of the domed illusion plate 16 holding center stone 20 materially enhances the overall apparent size and brilliance of the stone.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and top views of a round diamond 40. They contain the basic structures of a diamond with crown 42 on top, girdle 44 in the approximate upper middle of the diamond 40 and a pavilion 46 located between the girdle 44 and bottom 48 of the diamond.

FIG. 5 is a top view of diamond 40 with the table facet 50 on top, upper girdle facets 52 and bezel 54 and star facets 56 on the sides of the diamond.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are views of still a further improvement over the prior art by incorporating a halo setting 30 beneath the illusion plate 16 holding a diamond 20. The halo 30 is a round plate holding an annular ring of small stones 32 in a circumference larger than the circumference of the illusion plate 16. The combination of the halo setting 30 in FIG. 3 with the improved illusion plate 16 further enhances the visual appearance of a stone set with the present invention.

The domed illusion plate of the present invention has a substantially convex shape compared with the flat or concave shape of prior art illusion plates. Different size stones will utilize varying angles of the facet cut other than 45° as well as potentially altering the facet setting shape of the improved illusion plate to enhance and augment the center set diamond. In this way, customers can enhance the look and implied value of their jewelry.

Although the Figures show an illustrative depth of 1 mm for the prior art illusion plate, and a depth of at least 1.2 mm for the improved illusion plate of this invention, other ratios as to the depth to the circumference of the illusion plate may be employed to achieve the dome effect. A depth of up to 4 mm or larger for the illusion plate provides sufficient doming and convex areas for the angled faceting of the improved illusion plate of this invention.

While the angle of the annular facet cuts in the improved illusion plate is uniform around the diamond, such uniformity is not required and varying the angle of the annular facets may be achieved so long as the doming effect is maintained.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. An illusion plate to enhance the appearance of a stone set therein, said illusion plate comprising:

an annular structure having an opening in the center to hold said stone,

an annular ring surrounding said opening comprising repeating facets having facet cuts therein, and

said facet cuts forming a domed shape structure.

2. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein said domed shape structure comprises a substantially convex shape.

3. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein said facet cuts have angular cuts, wherein said angular cuts are approximately at least 40° angles.

4. An illusion plate according to claim 3, wherein the angle of said annular cuts is at least 45°.

5. An illusion plate according to claim 3, wherein the angles of said facet cuts are uniform in said annular ring.

6. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein the height of said illusion plate is at least 1.2 mm.

7. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein said stone is a diamond.

8. An illusion plate according to claim 7, wherein said diamond has bezel and star cuts and the facets of said annular ring of said illusion plate continues the faceted appearance of said bezel and star cuts.

9. An illusion plate according to claim 1, further comprising a halo surrounding said illusion plate.

10. An illusion plate according to claim 9, wherein said halo comprises a plurality of stones surrounding said illusion plate.

11. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein said illusion plate has a depth of at least 4 mm.