Method of decorating an article

Abstract

A method of decorating an article of manufacture, e.g. a jewelry item, watch casing or a mobile phone, including the steps of (a) providing the article with a substrate made of a metal or metal alloy and having a number of recesses; (b) providing a number of engagement members made of the same metal or metal alloy; (c) positioning at least part of the engagement member within the recess; (d) fixedly engaging the engagement members with the substrate by laser beam welding or cold welding; and (e) fixedly engaging a decorative element with the engagement member in a snap-fit manner.

1 . A method of decorating an article of manufacture, including the steps of:
 (a) providing an article of manufacture with a substrate made of a metal or metal alloy and having at least a recess;   (b) providing at least an engagement member made of said metal or metal alloy;   (c) positioning at least part of said engagement member within said recess;   (d) fixedly engaging said engagement member with said substrate by laser beam welding or cold welding; and   (e) fixedly engaging a decorative element with said engagement member in a snap-fit manner.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said article is a jewelry item, a watch casing or a mobile phone. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said metal or metal alloy is stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, karat gold or gold. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said decorative element is a diamond, precious stone, semi-precious stone, synthetic precious stone, glass or zircon. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement member has a plurality of claw members adapted to fixedly engage with said decorative element in a snap-fit manner. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein, when said engagement member is positioned at least partly within said recess, said claw members extend generally away from said recess. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement member is generally cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
       8 . An article of manufacture including:
 a substrate made of a metal or metal alloy and having at least a recess,   at least an engagement member made of said metal or metal alloy, and   at least a decorative element,   wherein at least part of said engagement member is positioned within said recess,   wherein said engagement member is fixedly engaged with said substrate by laser beam welding or cold welding, and   wherein said decorative element is fixedly engaged with said engagement member in a snap-fit manner.   
   
   
       9 . An article according to  claim 8  wherein said article is a jewelry item, a watch casing or a mobile phone. 
   
   
       10 . An article according to  claim 8  wherein said metal or metal alloy is stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, karat gold or gold. 
   
   
       11 . An article according to  claim 8  wherein said decorative element is a diamond, precious stone, semi-precious stone, synthetic precious stone, glass or zircon. 
   
   
       12 . An article according to  claim 8  wherein said engagement member has a plurality of claw members adapted to fixedly engage with said decorative element in a snap-fit manner. 
   
   
       13 . An article according to  claim 8  wherein said engagement member is generally cylindrical in shape.