Method of forming a jewelry chain and chain formed therefrom

Abstract

A method of forming a decorative chain includes joining a first and second material in a layered relationship, each material having a different appearance, and forming such joined material into a spiral. A core is introduced into the spiral and then the core plus spiral are shaped into a desired configuration. Thereafter a portion of the first material along the outer surface is removed to reveal or expose a portion of the sub-layer of second material along the outer surface.

1 . A method of forming a jewelry chain comprising:
 a) providing a first material and a second material;   b) joining the first and second materials in a layered relationship to form a joined material so that the first material is on top of or exterior to the second material;   c) processing the joined material to a predetermined dimension;   d) wrapping the joined material around a support to form a spiral of joined material with the second material being adjacent the support, the spiral having a central axis;   e) removing the spiral from the support and inserting a core of third material along the central axis of the spiral;   f) shaping the spiral around the core to formed a shaped material with an interior including the core and an exterior, the second material being adjacent the core within the interior; and   g) removing a portion of the first material to expose the second material along the exterior.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , the first and second materials each having a different appearance. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , at least one of the first and second materials comprising a precious metal. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , each of the first and second materials comprising a different precious metal. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second materials comprise different colors. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , the processing further comprising reducing the thickness and extending the length of the joined material. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , the processing further comprising simultaneously cutting the joined material into a plurality of separate strips of joined material. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , the core being formed from a precious metal. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , the shaping further comprising compressing the spiral between a first shaping element having a first profile and a second shaping element having a second profile. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second profiles are the same. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second profiles are different. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one profile is rounded and one profile is not rounded. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first material is removed by polishing, grinding, cutting, burnishing, faceting or a combination of the same. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing an entirety of the first material from one side of the shaped material so that the exterior of the shaped material has a first side formed from the first material and a second side formed from the second material. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second sides are on opposite sides of the shaped material. 
   
   
       16 . A decorative chain comprising:
 a) a first and second material joined together in a layered relationship and formed into a spiral having a central axis, an interior and an exterior;   b) an outer surface of the exterior further comprising the first material, the second material forming a sub-layer to the first material; and   c) a third material disposed along the central axis of the spiral to form a core of the chain;   d) wherein a portion of the first material is removed from the outer surface to expose a portion of the sub-layer of second material along the outer surface.   
   
   
       17 . The decorative chain of  claim 16 , the first and second materials each having a different appearance. 
   
   
       18 . The decorative chain of  claim 16 , the chain further comprising a first side and a second side, the first side comprising the first material and the second side comprising the sub-layer of second material. 
   
   
       19 . The decorative chain of  claim 16 , wherein the second material is positioned adjacent the core. 
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a jewelry chain comprising:
 a) providing a strip of first material and a strip of second material;   b) joining the first and second materials to formed a joined strip comprising the first material on one side of the joined strip and the second material on an opposite side of the joined strip;   c) creating chain links from the joined strip and joining the chain links together to form a string of links having an exterior; and   d) removing a portion of the first material from the exterior of the string of links to expose the second material to form a jewelry chain.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, prior to removing, wrapping the string of links around a support. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the jewelry chain comprises a box chain, ball chain, Forzatina chain, or rope chain.