Magnifying jewelry setting and method of producing same

Abstract

A gemstone is enclosed within a transparent spherical setting. The transparent spherical structure is partially filled with a polyester or acrylic resin which is permitted to harden. The gemstone is disposed upon the surface of the hardened resin and the remainder of the sphere filled with a resin having equivalent visual properties. When the gemstone is set in place within the sphere, the visual image of the gemstone is measurably larger than the actual gemstone based upon the spacial relationship of the gemstone, the radius of the sphere and reflective and refractive properties of the materials of the sphere and maintaining resin. When light strikes the boundary surface between the sphere and the ambient atmosphere, a portion will penetrate into the sphere. The light reflected from the facets of the gemstone will be refracted out the boundary with ambient air and will result in a visual image which is substantially the same in appearance as the gemstone but is magnified to a size which exceeds that of the actual gemstone.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A jewelry setting for enhancing the apparent size of a gemstone comprising a spherical housing having substantially uniform optical transparency disposed about and fully enveloping the gemstone.  
     
     
         2 . A jewelry setting for enhancing the apparent size of a gemstone as defined in  claim 1  wherein the spherical housing has an inner surface and an outer surface uniformly separated from one another and creating an interior, spherical cavity and a transparent resin disposed within the entire, interior cavity of said sphere, the gemstone being fully enveloped by said transparent resin and being suspended at substantially the center of said spherical housing.  
     
     
         3 . A jewelry setting as defined in  claim 2  wherein said resin consists of transparent amorphous fusible matter which, when hardened, has an index of refraction substantially equal to glass.  
     
     
         4 . A jewelry setting as defined in  claim 2  wherein said resin consists of transparent amorphous fusible matter which, when hardened, has an index of refraction substantially equal to quartz.  
     
     
         5 . A method for producing a jewelry setting for magnifying a gemstone comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a transparent spherical housing having an inner surface and an outer surface which are uniformly separated from each other and creating a central, spherical cavity;    (b) disposing an aperture through the inner surface and outer surface of said transparent sphere into said cavity;    (c) suspending the gemstone within the cavity at substantially the center of said spherical housing; and    (d) disposing a transparent fusible resin within the cavity of said transparent spherical housing fully enveloping the gemstone substantially at the center of said sphere.    
     
     
         6 . A method for producing a jewelry setting as defined in  claim 5  wherein the step of disposing a fusible resin comprises: 
 (a) disposing a first quantity of transparent fusible resin within the cavity of said transparent sphere;  
 (b) hardening the first quantity of transparent fusible resin creating an upper surface;  
 (c) placing the gemstone upon the hardened surface of the transparent fusible resin; and  
 (d) disposing a second quantity of second fusible resin within the cavity of said transparent sphere fully enveloping the gemstone.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a jewelry setting as defined in  claim 5  wherein the index of refraction of transparent fusible resin is substantially equal to glass.