Jewelry assembly

Abstract

A jewelry item includes a support element provided with inner and outer zones, first and second support surfaces having a resilience and facing one another with a taper from the inner to the outer zones. The taper provides a bisector extending along the axis of taper. First and second spaced recesses or protrusions are provided on each of said support surfaces. A collet for holding a stone or other item having first and second collet surfaces complementary to the first and second support surfaces, said collet surfaces having a taper substantially corresponding to the taper of the support surfaces, each of said collet surfaces including first and second spaced protrusions or recesses designed to cooperate and fit together with associated recesses or protrusions of the support surfaces. Said collet being fittable to said support. Each of said protrusions includes a surface extending substantially transverse to said bisector.

1 . An item of jewelry, comprising:
 a support element provided with inner and outer zones, and first and second support surfaces which face one another and taper from the inner to the outer zones, wherein said taper provides a bisector extending along the axis of taper, there being provided on each of said support surfaces first and second spaced recesses or protrusions, said support element having a resilience; and   a collet for holding a stone or other item, said collet including first and second collet surfaces complementary to the first and second support surfaces, said collet surfaces having a taper substantially corresponding to the taper of the support surfaces, each of said collet surfaces including first and second spaced protrusions or recesses designed to cooperate and fit together with associated recesses or protrusions of the support surfaces,   wherein at least one of said protrusions includes a surface extending substantially transverse to said bisector.   
   
   
       2 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a length of no more than substantially 1 millimetre. 
   
   
       3 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions and recesses are round in transverse cross-section, square, rectangular, and/or a half-D shape. 
   
   
       4 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 3 , wherein the protrusions are of different shapes. 
   
   
       5 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 4 , further comprising one pair of protrusions which are square in axial cross-section and one pair which are a half-D shape in axial cross-section, one of each of said pairs being located on opposite sides of the collet or support. 
   
   
       6 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have one or more of: substantially flat ends, rounded ends; and narrow or narrowing ends. 
   
   
       7 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are located on the collet. 
   
   
       8 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces and the collet surfaces are curved. 
   
   
       9 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of taper of the support and collet surfaces ranges from around 10 degrees to around 140 degrees 
   
   
       10 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of taper of the support and collet surfaces ranges from around 20 degrees to around 90 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the collet includes a plurality of stone supports, which stone supports are located outside an area of the collet surfaces and outside an area of the support surfaces. 
   
   
       12 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 11 , wherein the stone supports are in the form of or include support arms. 
   
   
       13 . A kit for the manufacture of an item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of support elements each provided with inner and outer zones, and first and second support surfaces which face one another and taper from the inner to the outer zones, wherein said taper provides a bisector extending along the axis of taper, there being provided on each of said support surfaces first and second spaced recesses or protrusions, said support element having a resilience; and   a plurality of collets for holding a stone or other item, each collet including first and second collet surfaces complementary to the first and second support surfaces, said collet surfaces having a taper substantially corresponding to the taper of the support surfaces, each of said collet surfaces including first and second spaced protrusions or recesses designed to cooperate and fit together with associated recesses or protrusions of the support surfaces, wherein each of said protrusions includes a surface extending substantially transverse to said bisector,   wherein at least one of the plurality of supports and the plurality of collets includes at least two different designs.   
   
   
       14 . A kit according to  claim 13 , further comprising supports and collets of valuable and/or non-valuable material. 
   
   
       15 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the item of jewelry is a ring having a ring body and a shank, the support being either the ring body or the shank. 
   
   
       16 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 1 , wherein the support and collet are fixed to one another to inhibit their subsequent separation by one or more of: soldering, welding, and bonding. 
   
   
       17 . A method of manufacturing a jewelry assembly, comprising the steps of:
 providing a jewelry item according to  claim 1 ,   mounting the collet onto the support; and   fixing the collet to the support to inhibit their subsequent separation.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the protrusion or protrusions are used as a connection point for a sprue and runner system during moulding. 
   
   
       19 . An item of jewelry, comprising:
 a support element provided with inner and outer zones, and first and second support surfaces which face one another and taper from the inner to the outer zones, said support surfaces having an area, there being provided on each of said support surfaces one or more recesses or protrusions, said support element having a resilience,   a collet for holding a stone or other item, said collet including first and second collet surfaces complementary to the first and second support surfaces, said collet surfaces having a taper substantially corresponding to the taper of the support surfaces, said collect surfaces having an area, each of said collet surfaces including one or more protrusions or recesses designed to cooperate and fit together with associated recesses or protrusions of the support surfaces, said collet also including a plurality of stone support elements,   wherein said stone support elements are located outside the area of the collet surfaces and outside the area of the support surfaces.   
   
   
       20 . The item of jewelry according to  claim 19 , wherein the areas of the support surfaces and the collet surfaces are complementary.