Patent ID: 6907753

Claim:
A system for the retention of a jewel, whereby a plurality of jewels may interchangeably set in an article of jewelry, the system comprising: a) a fixed portion housed within an article of jewelry, the fixed portion comprising a receiving chamber and a biasing member, b) a removable portion comprising a seat portion for retaining a jewel and comprising an insertion member adapted for insertion into the receiving chamber, c) the fixed portion further comprising an outer end exposed during the wearing of the article of jewelry, an inner end hidden during the wearing of the article of jewelry, and an inner wall having securing means and being disposed between the inner end and the outer end; d) the fixed portion adapted for passage of the insertion member through the inner end and into the receiving chamber for seating of the removable portion within the fixed portion and for displaying of the jewel seated within the seat portion adjacent the outer end, the fixed and removable portions extending along a longitudinal axis upon insertion of the insertion into the fixed portion, the removable portion being seated relative to the fixed portion through a rotatable engagement of the insertion member with the securing means on the inner wall of the fixed portion; e) wherein the insertion member engages the biasing member upon rotation of the removable portion within the fixed portion, and the biasing member generates an axially longitudinally directed force for urging the fixed and the removable portions to remain seated so that the fixed and removable portions are prevented from axial displacement relative to one another while seated; and f) wherein the insertion member has a predefined shape and the inner end has a plurality of passages that form a pattern of passages, each passage of the plurality of passages corresponding in shape to the shape of the insertion member.