Abstract:
A gemstone arrangement is provided which includes a pair of individual pear shaped stones abutting one another along a connecting facet to form a heart shape.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES  
       [0001]    This application derives priority from a Provisional Application Serial No. 60/354,293, filed on Feb. 7, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to gemstones and in particular, to a heart shaped arrangement.  
           [0004]    2. The Related Art  
           [0005]    Precious gems exist in many sizes and shapes. These stones are cut to enhance their brilliance. Some are insufficiently large to allow the creation of certain popular shapes. There have been disclosures which have attempted to solve this problem.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,307 (Frielich) describes a combination setting which employs princess or square cut gems having their edges lopped off. A group of stones are placed contiguous to each other, thereby forming an open or center area to accommodate an additional square or princess cut gem. When the corners have been lopped off at an angle, the bevel created along that angled edge in conjunction with an angled bevel in the facing stone creates a significant brilliance. This substantially hides the gap between the stones and creates the illusion of a single stone.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,907 (Wolf) sets forth a composite stone, including a first half-stone with a mating edge with a first length. A second half-stone having a mating edge with a second length, is provided to be approximately equal with the first length. At least a first and second baguette is mounted between the first and second half-stones.  
           [0008]    An object of the present invention is to enhance the value of small stones. More particularly, the object is to obtain a combined gemstone whose value is substantially greater than the sum of two stones taken individually.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A gemstone arrangement is provided which includes a pair of individual shaped stones abutting one another along a connecting facet to form a heart-shape. This arrangement enhances the value of each pear shaped component.  
           [0010]    The gemstone arrangement of the present invention includes a plane of symmetry. The arrangement is further characterized by a girdle laterally separating an upper and lower faceted surface on each of the pear shaped stones.  
           [0011]    In a further embodiment, the upper surface of one of the pear shaped stones will have an essentially identical number of facets as that of the upper surface of a second of the pear shaped stones. Likewise, the lower surface of one of the pear shaped stones will have an essentially identical number of facets as that of the lower surface of a second of the pear shaped stones.  
           [0012]    Advantageously, the pear shaped stones will have about 5 to about 30 facets, preferably from about 10 to about 20 facets.  
           [0013]    Each of the pear shaped stones on the upper surface will have a table facet of larger area than any other facet in the upper surface. The area of the table facet may cover at least 70% of the upper surface.  
           [0014]    The lower surface of each of the pear shaped stones will also have a table facet larger in area from any other facet in the lower surface.  
           [0015]    The preferred embodiment will have none of the facets identical in shape to any other. Furthermore, the table facet will have a greater number of edges than any other facet on the upper surface. The table facet may also be characterized by five or more edges.  
           [0016]    The lower surface may have a culet serving as a point common to a table facet, which is the largest facet in the lower surface, and common to five other facets.  
           [0017]    Advantageously, at least four facets on the lower surface will be triangles each cut at angles ranging from 39° to 42°. Moreover, it is further preferred that at least four facets on the upper surface are triangles each cut at angles ranging from 20° to 22°. At least seven facets are cut with each at angles ranging from 35° to 38°. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0018]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from consideration of the drawing in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the gemstone arrangement;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a top view of the gemstone arrangement;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a top view of the combined pear shaped stones;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the combined pear shaped stones;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a pear shaped stone viewed from Point F; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a pear shaped stone viewed from Point K.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Now there has been found an arrangement for enhancing the value of gemstones. Herein, the value of the combined gemstone arrangement is substantially greater than the sum of the two smaller stones taken individually.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 provides a bottom view showing a lower surface of a pear shaped stone. Fifteen facets  1  through  15  are cut into the lower surface. The largest among these facets is a table facet  15 . The table facet  15  has a larger area than any other facet on the lower surface.  
         [0027]    A culet at point C serves as a point common to the table facet  15  and to facets  2 ,  5 ,  8 ,  11  and  14 .  
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, surfaces  2  and  5  are cut @ 36°-38°. The surfaces  1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  6  are small triangles cut @ 39°-41°. Facets  3  and  4  can be divided as shown into  3 A and  3 B cut @ 40°-42°.  
         [0029]    Surfaces  7  and  9  are small triangles cut @ 43°-44°. Facet  8  is cut @ 40°-41°. Facet  11  is cut @ 35°-37°. Facets  10  and  13  are both cut @ 37°-40°. Facet  12  is cut @ 36°-39°. Facet  14  is cut @ 45°-46°. Facet  15  is cut @ 48°-49°.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the upper surface of the pear shaped stone forming half of the arrangement. Sixteen facets are formed on the upper surface. The largest of these is a table facet  16 . There are six edges defining the table facet  16 . None of the other facets on this surface have edges greater than four in number.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 in a preferred embodiment includes facets  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20  which are triangles cut @ 20°-2°. Facets  21 ,  22  and  23  are cut @ 35°-36°. Facet  24  is cut @ 30°-31°. Facets  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30  and  31  are cut @ 37°-38°.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a gemstone arrangement wherein the pear shaped stones abut one another to form a heart shape. Joinder occurs along a facet defined by edge A-B and D-E best viewed along point K. The joinder facet defines a plane of symmetry through the arrangement.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the heart shaped gemstone arrangement showing the lower surface. A continuously curving outer edge along point F further defines the pear shape.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral view of the pear shaped stone at point F. A girdle defined by edges G, H laterally separates the upper and lower facetted surfaces on each of the pear shaped stones.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a lateral view illustrating a surface L, M, N,  0 , and P defining a facet that connects the pear shaped stones together to form a heart. Mating of the abutting surfaces can be achieved by clamping within a pronged setting, or in any other manner well known in the jewelry industry. The arrangement may serve as a heart for rings, pins, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets and the like. Suitable stones include diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, cubic zirconia, but are not limited to any particular variety.  
         [0036]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can occur to the preferred embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the inventive concept thereof Further, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.