Patent Publication Number: US-2013227989-A1

Title: Gemstone setting

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a gemstone setting including a larger primary stone and a smaller secondary stone positioned underneath the primary stone to enhance the optical characteristics of the primary stone. 
     In a conventional diamond, light is captured from the table of the diamond and is reflected internally in the facets of the diamond and a combination of fire, brilliance and scintillation (i.e. LIFE) is returned back through the table to the viewer&#39;s eyes. Larger stones have larger tables, and if of good quality, generally provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the viewer. Large stones, however, typically are relatively heavy and are generally thus more expensive than smaller stones. 
     Large diamonds with large table areas typically include a relatively deep pavilion and a culet, or bottom facet, opposite the table. As a result, these stones tend to have a relatively high weight, and thus, tend to be quite costly. 
     Accordingly it would be beneficial to provide a gemstone setting that provides for good fire, brilliance and scintillation but with a reduced cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a gemstone setting in which a primary gemstone with a large crown area and a slightly reduced pavilion and broad flat culet is mounted over a smaller secondary stone such that the smaller secondary stone enhances the visual appearance of the primary stone to replicate the appearance of a stone without a reduced pavilion. 
     A gemstone setting in accordance with and embodiment of the present application includes a base, a primary support extending upward from the base, a primary diamond mounted in the primary support and including a reduced pavilion and a broad flat culet on a bottom thereof, a secondary support extending upward from the base and a secondary diamond mounted in the secondary support such that a top of the secondary diamond is close to the broad flat culet of the primary diamond, such that light leaking from the broad flat culet of the primary diamond enters the secondary diamond and is reflected back into the primary diamond to enhance optical appearance of the primary diamond. 
     Additionally, light entering the secondary diamond is also reflected from its table and into the primary diamond. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the setting of  FIG. 1  illustrating the primary diamond and the secondary diamond; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the setting of  FIG. 1  with the primary diamond removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the setting of  FIG. 1  with the primary and secondary diamonds removed. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the setting of  FIG. 5  illustrating the primary diamond and the secondary diamond; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the setting of  FIG. 5 , with the primary diamond removed; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the setting of  FIG. 8  with the primary and secondary diamonds removed; 
         FIG. 9 . is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a gemstone setting  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the setting  10  includes a primary diamond  12  mounted above a secondary diamond  14 . In  FIG. 1 , the secondary diamond  14  is indicated in dotted lines on the primary diamond  12  since it is positioned under the primary diamond. In addition, a plurality of surrounding diamonds  16  may be provided surrounding the primary diamond  12 . 
     The primary diamond  12  is supported by primary mounting element  20 . The primary mounting element  20  extends upward from a base  19  and supports the primary diamond  12  above the secondary diamond  14 . The secondary diamond  14  is supported by a secondary mounting element  22  that also extends upward from the base  19  below the primary diamond  12 . The secondary support element supports the secondary diamond  14  such that a top surface thereof is positioned close to a bottom of the primary diamond  12 . A surrounding support element  24  is provided surrounding the primary diamond  12  and configured to accommodate and support the plurality of surrounding diamonds  16 . The surrounding support element  24  and the primary support  20  may be integrated, as is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for example. 
     The primary diamond  12  is preferably a cut culet diamond. That is, the pavilion of the diamond  12  is reduced in depth and has a relatively broad and flat culet facet C at the bottom of the diamond  12 . The diamond  12  provides a large table facet T, and thus, gives the general appearance of a large stone. The diamond  12 , however, has a reduced weight, since it has a reduced pavilion, compared to a diamond with a full pavilion and the same sized table and crown area. As a result, the cost of the primary diamond  12  is reduced, while still providing the appearance of a large diamond. 
     In the cut culet primary diamond  12 , however, light return is compromised as the “cut culet” C at the bottom of the diamond allows some amount of brilliance/light to leak through the bottom and go into the environment. That is, the broad, flat culet C of the diamond  12  allows light to escape from the diamond rather than being internally reflected and directed back out through the table T. As a result, the appearance of the diamond  12  is not as good as it would be if it had a full pavilion and pointed culet. When the primary diamond  12  is viewed from the upper table surface T, the cut culet C at the bottom looks like a glassy dark hole formed because light is leaking out of the culet C which compromises the beauty of the primary diamond  12 . 
     The secondary diamond  14  is smaller in size than the primary diamond  12 , but has a full pavilion and the more traditional pointed culet facet. Thus, the diamond  14  generally does a better job of capturing light internally and reflecting it back up and out its table. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary diamond  14  is a round brilliant cut diamond. 
     The secondary diamond  14  is positioned under the cut culet facet C of the diamond  12  and preferably very close to the culet. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between a top of the diamond  14  and the culet C of diamond  12  is less than 2.5 mm. A distance of 1 mm or less has been found to provide the best results. Indeed, the closer the two diamonds  12 ,  14  are mounted to each other, the better the appearance of the setting as a whole. The secondary support  22  therefore extends upward from the base  19  and supports the diamond  14  such that a top of diamond  14  is 2.5 mm or less, and preferably 1 mm or less, below the culet C of the diamond  12 . At distances greater than 2.5 mm, too much light leaks out of the culet C and into the environment, such that a black spot appears in the center of the diamond  12  when viewed from above by a user. That is, a distance of more than 2.5 mm allows too much space between the diamonds  12  and  14  for light to escape prior to entering the secondary diamond  14  and being reflected back to the primary diamond  12 . 
     Positioning the diamond  14  very close to the culet C of the diamond  12  helps to contain light leaking from the bottom of the primary diamond  12  and prevents it from escaping into the environment. The light from the culet C enters the secondary diamond  14  and is returned back through the table thereof into the primary diamond  12 . This returning brilliant light from the secondary diamond  14  reflects internally in the primary diamond  12  and enhances the life of the primary diamond. Indeed, the secondary diamond  14  enhances the life of the diamond  12  such that it approximates the life that it would have had if the pavilion thereof were full. 
     By juxtaposing the secondary diamond  14  in close proximity to the diamond  12  the opening for light leakage present in the cut culet C of the primary diamond  12  is closed, or at least reduced, such that the primary diamond  12  looks completely brilliant. 
     As noted above, the preferred distance between the diamonds  12  and  14  is 2.5 mm and more preferably less than 1 mm. Placing the diamonds  12 ,  14  at a distance of 1 mm or less to each other provides the best effectiveness for the light rebound and concealing effect. At 2 mm or less the effectiveness is acceptable. That is, the reduced performance of the cut culet primary diamond  12  is not obvious but is noticeable to the human eye. At 2.5 mm, the effect is acceptable. Beyond 2.5 mm, the effectiveness of the concealing effect is significantly compromised. If the viewer views the primary diamond  12  from the zenith (12 o&#39;clock position) the effect is acceptable, however, if the viewer shifts their view to the 10 o&#39;clock or 2 o&#39;clock position, the black glassy hole effect is visible. 
     Including the plurality of small surrounding diamonds  16  around the primary diamond  12  creates a look of a large brilliant cut diamond. The primary diamond  12  looks bright and complete by the concealing effect of the secondary diamond  14  set on secondary support  22 , but also the surrounding diamonds  16  further enhance the spread of the setting  10  as a whole by optically creating a look of a large gemstone. The surrounding diamonds  16  may be of any desired cut. 
     The minimum distance between the primary diamond  12  and the secondary diamond  14  is theoretically zero. That is, as is noted above, the closer the two diamonds  12 ,  14  are to each other, generally the better the optical results. Just a hairline gap of 10 microns or so would be suitable. Practically, however, such a small gap would be difficult to make. Thus, a minimum distance of approximately 0.1 mm would be acceptable. 
     While the surrounding diamonds  16  enhance the overall brilliance of the setting  10 , they need not be included, for example as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , the surrounding diamonds  16  may be eliminated from the setting  10 , if desired. 
     Otherwise the structure of the setting in  FIGS. 5-8  is substantially similar to that shown and described in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The secondary support  22  may include a cover that substantially hides a side view of the secondary diamond  14  to further enhance the appearance of the primary diamond  12  as a single large diamond. The surrounding support  24  in  FIGS. 1-4  also aids to disguise the secondary diamond  14  as well. 
     While  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate a heart shaped primary diamond  12 , the primary diamond may be of any desired shape including but not limited to, an oval shape (See  FIGS. 9-10 , for example) or a pear shape (See  FIGS. 11-12 ). The secondary diamond  14  is preferably a round brilliant cut diamond regardless of the shape of the primary diamond  12 . 
     The setting  10  of the present disclosure provides for a primary diamond  12  that gives the physical and optical appearance of a large diamond while saving weight and reducing cost by reducing pavilion size and providing a flat cut culet. The secondary diamond  14  mounted directly under the primary diamond  12  enhances the optical performance of the primary diamond such that the shortcomings normally associated with cut culet diamonds are not noticeable. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.