Method of forming hollow and solid jewelry chains and chains 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 thread comprising a core of a third material. In one embodiment, the thread is introduced onto a support to form a spiral, and the spiral is separated into chain elements or links that are intertwined to form jewelry chains. Thereafter a portion of the first material along the outer surface of the chain is removed to reveal or expose a portion of the sub-layer of second material along the outer surface. In one embodiment, the thread core is maintained for solid link chain. In another embodiment, the thread core is removed to form hollow link chain. In either case, the outer surface of the chain is provided with contrasting appearances from the first and second materials.

1 . A method of forming a jewelry chain comprising:
 a) joining a strip of first material and a strip of second material to form 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;   b) wrapping the joined strip around a core of third material to form a thread having an exterior defined by the first material;   c) creating chain links from the thread 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 at such removed portion.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the core from one or more chain links to form links of hollow cross-section. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second materials are precious metals and the third material is a non-precious metal. 
   
   
       4 . 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. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chain links are joined together by hand. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the jewelry chain comprises one of a box chain, ball chain, Forzatina chain, or rope chain. 
   
   
       7 . A jewelry element comprising:
 a) a first material and a second material,   b) the first material forming an exterior of the jewelry element, the second material comprising a sub-layer to the first material; and   c) a portion of the first material being removed from the exterior to expose a portion of the second material.   
   
   
       8 . The jewelry element of  claim 7 , wherein the jewelry element is hollow in cross-section. 
   
   
       9 . The jewelry element of  claim 7 , further comprising an annular, toroidal configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The jewelry element of  claim 7 , further comprising a spiral configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The jewelry element of  claim 7 , further comprising a square or rectangular configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The jewelry element of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of jewelry elements assembled to form a jewelry chain. 
   
   
       13 . The jewelry element of  claim 7 , the first and second materials each has a different appearance. 
   
   
       14 . The jewelry element of  claim 13 , at least one of the first and second materials comprising a precious metal. 
   
   
       15 . The jewelry element of  claim 14 , each of the first and second materials comprising a different precious metal. 
   
   
       16 . A jewelry chain comprising:
 a) a plurality of chain elements each formed from a first material and a second material,   b) the first material forming an exterior of the chain element, the second material comprising a sub-layer to the first material; and   c) a portion of the first material being removed from the exterior of one or more chain elements to expose a portion of the second material;   d) wherein the one or more chain elements is hollow in cross-section.   
   
   
       17 . The chain of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second materials have a different appearance. 
   
   
       18 . The chain of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second materials are different precious metals. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the jewelry chain comprises one of a box chain, ball chain, Forzatina chain, or rope chain. 
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a jewelry chain comprising:
 a) providing a plurality of chain links, each chain link comprising a first material and a second material, the first material forming an exterior of the chain link, the second material comprising a sub-layer to the first material;   b) forming an assembly of the plurality of chain links; and   c) removing a portion of the first material from one or more chain links of the assembly to expose the second material on the one or more chain links;   d) wherein the one or more chain links is hollow in cross-section.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more chain links further comprises a core of a third material prior to being formed into the assembly, the core being removed from the one or more chain links after being formed into the assembly in order to achieve a hollow cross-section. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the core is removed after the portion of the first material is removed from the one or more chain links. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , the first and second materials each has a different appearance. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least of the first and second materials are precious metals and the third material is a non-precious metal.