Jewelry with Invisible Design and Method of Creating Same

Abstract

A jewelry setting having a first appearance in ambient light a second appearance displaying an embedded design in ultraviolet light. The setting is formed from first and second groups of gemstones that have the same color quality in ambient light. The second group of gemstones that form the embedded design, have a different color quality when subject to the ultraviolet light. When the setting is subjected to ultraviolet light the second group of gemstones fluoresces to display the embedded image.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based on and claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/812,894 filed Apr. 17, 2013.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to jewelry and more particularly gemstone settings. Specifically it is directed to a setting and method of creating a design or other indicia that becomes visible in a setting when the setting is subjected to ultraviolet light such as "black light".

[0003] A group of gemstones fluoresce or have a tendency to emit a soft colored glow when subjected to ultraviolet light. When UV light strikes certain gemstones, particularly a diamond with fluorescent properties, the stone emits a glow that is usually blue, but can also reflect shades of green, yellow, white, pink, orange, and red. The sources of fluorescence, boron and nitrogen, are the same mineral properties that lend color to a diamond. There are a large number of gemstones that have fluorescent qualities, but diamonds are the preferred stone for creating jewelry. Examples of stones that exhibit fluorescent properties are amber, beryl, synthetic emerald, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, coral, corundum, synthetic corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, ivory, jadeite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, quartz, shell, spinel, synthetic spinel, topaz and tourmaline.

[0004] Roughly 30% of diamonds fluoresce to some degree. Colorless (D-F) fluorescent diamonds sell at a discount price since the fluorescence is perceived as a defect. In fact, the visible effects of faint to medium fluorescence are perceptible only to a gemologist using a special ultra violet ("UV") light source. Due to the nature of diamonds, fluorescence can occur in different intensities.

[0005] Because the fluorescent glow is usually blue (which is the complementary color to yellow) fluorescence can make diamonds of I-M color appear up to one grade whiter. For this reason, I-M diamonds tend to sell at a slight premium when they possess Medium to Very Strong fluorescence.

[0006] Applicant's unique method is to create a design in a setting that is substantially imperceptible to the naked eye in normal ambient conditions, but becomes visible when the setting is subjected to UV or "black light". Applicant's inventive setting has a group if gemstones that have the same appearance under normal ambient light. However, some of the gemstones that have fluorescent qualities are placed in a design in the setting. When the setting is subject to the UV light, the fluorescent stones create a visible image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a piece of jewelry having a pave setting as viewed in ambient light.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same piece of jewelry as viewed when exposed to ultraviolet light in which the invisible design is now visible.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] Applicant's invention is directed to a unique method of setting gemstones in a setting such that a design or other desired indicia becomes visible in the setting when the setting is subjected to ultra violet light.

[0010] Applicant's invention is particularly suited when setting diamonds in a pave or pave setting. This is a stone setting in which multiple small stones are set close together and very close to the surface of a piece of jewelry, making it look like the jewelry has been paved in gemstones. One classic use of this setting is in diamond jewelry, where multiple small diamonds can shine with brilliance when set this way. This type of setting is especially popular for rings and pendants.

[0011] The appearance of a pave setting makes it look like the jewelry has been created in a bed of gemstones. Although the description herein refers to a diamond pave setting, it is meant to include a setting using any fluorescent gemstones that fluoresce under UV light. This may include stones from the following group: amber, beryl, synthetic emerald, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, coral, corundum, synthetic corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, ivory, jadeite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, quartz, shell, spinel, synthetic spinel, topaz and tourmaline.

[0012] To make the inventive setting, the jeweler first selects a group of gemstones, which in the preferred embodiment are diamonds that fluoresce blue (or any other selected color). Next, the selected design, drawing or indicia (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "design") to be created on the piece of jewelry is drawn. The jeweler then sets the fluorescent diamonds (namely those that fluoresce or glow blue when subjected to ultraviolet light) in a series of impressions that create the desired design in a base material 6, which in the preferred embodiment is a base metal. These impressions are used to seat the stones, and small beads or prongs are used to pin the stones in place. The balance of the pave setting is completed with additional diamonds that do not fluoresce or have very little fluorescence. The goal is to have as little of the base material showing as possible, so that the brilliance of the stones can be clearly seen. The base material is preferably sterling silver or gold, but plastic or other materials can be used that is suitable for the intended purpose.

[0013] In ambient light, a setting 8 appears as a single paving of clear or white diamonds as seen in FIG. 1. The hidden design is not visible to the naked eye in ambient light. However, when the setting is subjected to ultraviolet or "black light" a group of fluorescent diamonds 10 appear blue while a group of adjacent white diamonds 12 remain white or colorless and the invisible design now is visible. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 where the letter "A" is now clearly visible.

[0014] A combination of fluorescent diamonds can be selected so that different colors are possible in the design. Furthermore, a combination of different color gemstones can be combined to create various designs in ambient light and different designs in UV light. The jewelry created using the inventive method is particularly well suited for people that visit night clubs and bars where UV light is commonly used for visual effects. In this environment, the hidden design is frequently visible to others. However, in other environments, such as outside or an office environment, the design is not visible and the jewelry appears as a conventional pave setting.

[0015] Thus there has been provided an article of jewelry and method of manufacturing the same that fully satisfies the objects set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A jewelry setting comprising: a base of a selected material, a first group of gemstones set in the base, the first group having a first substantially similar color quality in ambient light and maintaining the first color quality when subjected to ultraviolet light, a second group of gemstones set in the base, the second group having substantially the first color quality in ambient light and a second different fluorescent color quality when subjected to the ultraviolet light, the second group of gemstones set in the base in a preselected pattern in the base to form an image when subjected to the ultraviolet light.

2. The jewelry setting of claim 1 wherein the first group of gemstones are selected from the group consisting of amber, beryl, synthetic emerald, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, coral, corundum, synthetic corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, ivory, jadeite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, quartz, shell, spinel, synthetic spinel, topaz and tourmaline.

3. The jewelry setting of claim 1 and further comprising a third group of gemstones set in the base, the third group having the first color quality in ambient light and a third different fluorescent color quality when subjected to ultraviolet light.

4. The jewelry setting of claim 3 wherein the third group is set in the base in preselected locations to form a second image when subjected to the ultraviolet light.

5. The jewelry setting of claim 1 wherein the setting is a ring.

6. The jewelry setting of claim 1 wherein the jewelry setting is a pendent.

7. A jewelry setting comprising: a base of a selected material, a first group of gemstones set in the base, the first group having a first substantially color quality in ambient light and second different fluorescent color quality when subject to ultraviolet light, a second group of gemstones set in the base, the second group having a third color quality in ambient light and a fourth different fluorescent color quality when subject to the ultraviolet light, the first and second groups of gemstones set in the base in preselected locations in the base to form a first image in ambient light and a second different image when subject to the ultraviolet light.

8. The jewelry setting of claim 7 wherein the first and second groups of gemstones are selected from the group consisting of amber, beryl, synthetic emerald, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, coral, corundum, synthetic corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, ivory, jadeite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, quartz, shell, spinel, synthetic spinel, topaz and tourmaline.

9. The jewelry setting of claim 7 wherein the setting is a ring.

10. The jewelry setting of claim 7 wherein the setting is a pendent.

11. A method for creating a jewelry setting comprising the steps of: a. selecting a base material for the jewelry setting, b. creating a design in the base material, c. selecting a first plurality of gemstones that do not fluoresce a color when subject to a ultraviolet light, d. selecting a second plurality of gemstones that fluoresce a color when subjected to the ultraviolet light, e. setting the first and second plurality of gemstones in the base material with the second plurality of gemstones forming the design and the first plurality of gemstones around the first plurality of gemstones.

12. The method of claim 11 and further selecting the first plurality of gemstones and the second plurality of gemstones from gemstones that have substantially the same color in ambient light.

13. The method of claim 12 and the further step of subjecting the jewelry setting to an ultraviolet light so that the design is visible due to the fluorescence of the second plurality of gemstones.

14. The method of claim 11 and selecting the first and second plurality of gemstones are selected from the group comprising amber, beryl, synthetic emerald, chalcedony, chrysoberyl, coral, corundum, synthetic corundum, diamond, feldspar, garnet, ivory, jadeite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, quartz, shell, spinel, synthetic spinel, topaz and tourmaline.

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