Method for manufacturing articles of jewellery, in particular chains for ornamental purposes, and articles which can be obtained by means of said method

Abstract

Article of jewelry such as a chain for bracelets, necklaces or the like, in particular of the double-face type, comprising an inner core ( 2 ) made of flexible material, preferably precious metal, and a continuous winding obtained with a multi-layer strip ( 3 ) wrapped around so as to cover the outer surface of the core ( 2 ). The outer layer ( 3 a ) may undergo diamond-machining operations so as to leave visible an underlying layer ( 3 b , 3 c ) with the desired form and dimensions.

1 . Method for manufacturing an article of jewelry comprising the following operating steps: 
 at least one first step for preparing a first strip of precious metal or precious metal alloy;    at least one second step for preparing a second strip of precious metal or precious metal alloy;    a step for joining and fixing said first strip on top of said second strip with the arrangement of a welding or braze-welding layer in between;    a step for fixing said superimposed strips by means of melting of said welding or braze-welding layer;    a step for winding said multi-layer strip onto an elongated core so as to cover its outer surface in order to obtain an elongated article composed of at least one outer layer consisting of said first strip, at least one middle layer consisting of said second strip rigidly fixed to said first layer and at least one inner layer consisting of said core;    a step for removing material from at least one portion of a face of said elongated article so as to leave visible at least one underlying layer.    
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which said winding step is performed by wrapping adjacent turns of the strip with a continuous extension around the core.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which a plurality of steps for preparing strips of precious material or precious metal alloy is envisaged and in which said joining and fixing steps are performed on the plurality of strips superimposed on each other so as to obtain said multi-layer strip.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which at least one step for drawing said multi-layer strip is envisaged, said step to be performed before and/or after said step for fixing said individual strips.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which a step for drawing said elongated article is envisaged, so as to form it with the desired shape and dimensions.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which said welding or braze-welding layer continuously lines the joining surface of at least one strip.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which said welding or braze-welding layer extends continuously on said joining surface in the longitudinal direction of said strip and discontinuously in its transverse direction.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which at least one said strip is made of precious metal chosen in particular from among gold, platinum and silver or is made of a precious metal alloy chosen in particular from among a gold alloy, a silver alloy and a platinum alloy.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , in which said removal step is obtained by means of diamond-machining.  
     
     
         10 . Article of jewelry of the type with an elongated form such as a chain for bracelets, necklaces or the like, comprising: 
 at least one inner core;    at least one substantially continuous winding obtained with a multi-layer strip wrapped so as to cover the outer surface of the core, said multi-layer strip being composed of at least one outer layer and at least one middle layer rigidly fixed to said outer layer by means of a welding or braze-welding layer and situated between the latter and said core; said outer layer having at least one missing portion so as to leave an underlying layer visible.    
     
     
         11 . Article of jewelry according to  claim 10 , in which said article is provided with at least two faces, i.e. a visible face and a resting face, and in which said missing portion is situated on one of the two faces so as to form an article with two faces having a different aspect.  
     
     
         12 . Article of jewelry according to  claim 10 , in which said core is made of flexible material in particular consisting of strands of precious metal.  
     
     
         13 . Article of jewelry according to  claim 10 , in which at least one layer is made of precious metal chosen in particular from gold, platinum and silver or is made of a precious metal alloy.  
     
     
         14 . Article of jewelry according to  claim 10 , in which said multi-layer strip is composed of a plurality of superimposed layers joined together.  
     
     
         15 . Article of jewelry according to  claim 10 , in which material is removed from areas of at least one face of said layers so as to leave underlying layers visible.