Gemstone jewelry with enhanced appearance

Abstract

The appearance of gemstones, such as diamond, of various cuts is enhanced with a narrow non-planar strip of a reflective, color matched material, such as gold with yellow gems or platinum with clear gems, is peripherally positioned around the visible portion of the gemstone in a setting. A realistic multiple reflective optical illusion is created of a larger size gemstone. The appearance of a gemstone is also visually enhanced in a ring setting with the band of the ring being constructed of separated ring elements which permit additional ambient light to strike the normally hidden lower and lateral portions of the gemstone and increase sparkle. Optionally, connecting members between the separated ring elements incorporate monograms or design. The invention includes the jewelry items of gemstones and settings having the enhanced appearances of size and/or increased sparkle.

1 . A method for creating an optical appearance of a larger than actual gemstone size in a jewelry setting, comprising the steps of:
 i) causing a gemstone, in a jewelry setting, to have an exposed visible display surface with an external contour peripheral to the exposed surface; and   ii) positioning a length of a narrow reflective strip with a non planar exposed surface into the jewelry setting and with an inner side of the length of the strip arranged to follow at least a portion of the external contour directly adjacent the exposed visible display surface of the gemstone.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the narrow reflective strip is positioned to follow the entire external contour of the exposed surface of the gemstone. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the gemstone is provided with facets and the narrow reflective strip is positioned to reflectively interact with the facets to provide the optical appearance of a larger than actual gemstone size. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the width across the non planar surface of the narrow reflective strip is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non planar exposed surface of the narrow reflective strip is in the form of a sinusoidal-like wave extending along the length of the narrow strip. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a color of the surface of the narrow reflective strip is generally matched with a color of the gemstone. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a series of small gem stones are positioned to adjacently abut an outer side of the length of the narrow reflective strip. 
   
   
       8 . The method  claim 7  wherein the gemstone is a diamond and the narrow reflective strip is comprised of a metal selected from gold and platinum. 
   
   
       9 . An article of jewelry, comprising:
 a setting;   a gemstone held by the setting and having an exposed visible display surface with an external contour peripheral to the exposed surface; and   a narrow reflective strip with a non planar exposed surface directly adjacent the exposed visible display surface of the gemstone, with the length of the strip arranged to follow at least a portion of the external contour to provide an optical appearance of a larger than actual gemstone size.   
   
   
       10 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein the narrow reflective strip follows the entire external contour of the exposed visible display surface of the gemstone. 
   
   
       11 . The article of jewelry of  claim 10 , wherein the gemstone is provided with facets and the narrow reflective strip is positioned to reflectively interact with the facets to provide the optical appearance of a larger than actual gemstone size. 
   
   
       12 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein the width across the non-planar surface of the narrow reflective strip is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein the non-planar exposed surface of the narrow reflective strip is in the form of a sinusoidal wave extending along the length of the narrow reflective strip. 
   
   
       14 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein a color of the non-planar surface of the narrow reflective strip is generally matched with a color of the gemstone. 
   
   
       15 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein the gemstone is a diamond and the narrow reflective strip is comprised of a metal selected from gold and platinum. 
   
   
       16 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein an outer side of the length of the narrow reflective strip is closely surrounded by a series of small gem stones. 
   
   
       17 . The article of jewelry of  claim 9 , wherein the article of jewelry is one of a ring, a pendant, a brooch and a bracelet. 
   
   
       18 . An article of jewelry with a setting and a support member for the setting with the setting holding a gemstone having an exposed upper visible display surface and a lower non display portion wherein at least one of the setting and the support member is comprised of separated parts with at least one separation between the parts permitting ambient light to strike the lower non-display portion to an extent sufficient to increase sparkle of the gemstone at the exposed upper visible display surface. 
   
   
       19 . The article of jewelry of  claim 18 , wherein the article of jewelry is a ring having a setting support member configured to be placed on a finger and wherein the setting support member is comprised of two elements which individually surround the finger and support the setting, with the two elements being held together by at least one bridging element which holds the members apart to provide the separations which permit ambient light to strike the lower non-display portion of the gemstone. 
   
   
       20 . The article of jewelry of  claim 19 , wherein the bridging element is configured to depict a design or monogram. 
   
   
       21 . The article of jewelry of  claim 19 , wherein at least one small gem stone is positioned within the separations and wherein the at least one small gemstone permits ambient light to pass therethrough.