Jewelry image projection and method

Abstract

An article of jewelry comprising; a frame; and a decorative element secured within the frame, wherein two-dimensional array of optical phase shifting structures is embedded in the decorative element; wherein the two-dimensional array of optical phase shifting structures project an image when illuminated with a light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of jewelry comprising:
 a frame;   a decorative element having at least one surface, wherein the decorative element is secured within the frame; and   a phase mask is embedded in the decorative element on the at least one surface, wherein the phase mask is a two-dimensional array of optical phase shifting structures.   
     
     
         2 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative element is transparent. 
     
     
         3 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the phase mask is comprised of a plurality of altered sections and unaltered sections of the decorative element. 
     
     
         4 . The article of jewelry of  claim 3 , wherein the altered sections are of all substantially the same depth. 
     
     
         5 . The article of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface of the decorative element is a reflective surface.