Modular gem appearance-enhancing jewelry setting and jewelry

Abstract

A jewelry setting that includes an inner plate securing a gem and a second plate physically secured to the inner plate is disclosed. The inner plate includes an outer wall that protrudes down from an outer edge of an upper surface of the inner plate to meet an upper surface of the second plate, such that an inner perimeter of the upper surface of the second plate abuts the first outer wall. The inner plate holds the gem such that a bottom of the gem extends no lower than half way down with respect to a height of the second plate. The upper surface of the second plate may be positioned lower than, and substantially parallel to, the upper surface of the inner plate. The plates may be secured together using prongs, and the prongs may project up from a securing plate positioned below the second plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jewelry setting configured to secure a gem, the setting comprising:
 an inner plate configured to hold the gem and comprising a first upper surface;   a second plate physically secured to the inner plate and comprising a second upper surface; and   the inner plate further comprising a first outer wall protruding down from an outer edge of the first upper surface of the inner plate to meet the second upper surface of the second plate such that an inner perimeter of the second upper surface of the second plate abuts the first outer wall,   wherein the second upper surface of the second plate has an inner circumference greater than the outer circumference of the first upper surface of the inner plate, and   wherein the inner plate is configured to hold the gem such that when the gem is held by the inner plate a bottom of the gem extends no lower than half way down with respect to a height of the second plate.   
     
     
         2 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper surface of the second plate is positioned lower than, and is substantially parallel to, the first upper surface of the inner plate. 
     
     
         3 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper surface of the inner plate and the second upper surface of the second plate are circular or substantially circular when viewed from above. 
     
     
         4 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper surface of the inner plate and the second upper surface of the second plate are both circular or substantially circular when viewed from the top and have circumferences that share a common axis. 
     
     
         5 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer wall is substantially perpendicular to the first upper surface of the inner plate and to the second upper surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         6 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the inner plate and the second plate have the same shape. 
     
     
         7 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the inner plate and the second plate each have a square shape when viewed from above. 
     
     
         8 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper surface of the inner plate and the second upper surface of the second plate are each engraved or carved so that cuts substantially align with cuts of the gem. 
     
     
         9 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the inner plate surrounds the gem positioned at a center of the inner plate, and a remainder of the first upper surface of the inner plate and an entirety of the second upper surface of the second plate are each free of any gem. 
     
     
         10 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing plate positioned below the second plate;   the securing plate comprising at least three prongs projecting up between the inner plate and the second plate, and configured to secure inner plate with the second plate.   
     
     
         11 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the prongs are substantially perpendicular to the first upper surface of the inner plate and to the second upper surface of the second plate for at least a majority of the lengths of the prongs. 
     
     
         12 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing plate positioned below the second plate;   the securing plate comprising at least three prongs projecting up outside the second plate and extending over the second plate to secure inner plate with the second plate.   
     
     
         13 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third plate comprising a third upper surface; and   the second plate further comprising a second outer wall protruding down from an outer edge of the upper surface of the second plate, and the third upper surface of the third plate abuts the second outer wall and is substantially perpendicular to the second outer wall and to the first outer wall.   
     
     
         14 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper surface of the inner plate, the second upper surface of the second plate, and the third upper surface of the third plate are each engraved or carved so that cuts substantially align with cuts of the gem, and
 wherein the inner plate surrounds the gem positioned at a center of the inner plate, and a remainder of the first upper surface of the inner plate and an entirety of the second upper surface of the second plate and third upper surface of the third plate are each free of any gem.   
     
     
         15 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper surface of the inner plate extends continuously around the gem,
 wherein the first outer wall extends continuously around the inner plate as a side of the inner plate, and   wherein the second upper surface of the second upper plate extends continuously around the first outer wall,   wherein the first outer wall is substantially perpendicular to the first upper surface of the inner plate and to the second upper surface of the second plate.   
     
     
         16 . The jewelry setting of  claim 1 , further comprising the gem. 
     
     
         17 . The jewelry setting of  claim 15 , wherein the inner plate is configured to hold the gem such that when the stone is held by the inner plate a bottom of the gem extends down no lower than the second upper surface of the second plate.