Patent Grant
11044971
Flat faceted gemstones have limited refraction and reflection with little further improvement of a gem's beauty. A trade-off between color, brightness, and style of cut in the flat faceted gem is a juggling act. Many “round brilliant” gemstones are disappointing, for example, in the lack and saturation of color from all its 58 flat facets. The gemstone industry has failed to provide beautiful alternatives to flat-faceted gemstones, such as the round brilliant gemstone.
As used in the disclosure that follows and as is well known in the art, the focal length of a ball lens (f) is defined by the index of refraction (n) times the diameter (D) of the ball lens divided by four times (n−1), which can be generally expressed algebraically as:
One embodiment provides a gemstone, including: a top portion having a spheroidal surface, the spheroidal surface acting as a refractive surface for light incident on the top portion of the gemstone and focal point lens originator; and a bottom portion shaped as a cone, the cone acting as a light axis to form a focal point on a reflective surface at a base of the gemstone.
Another embodiment provides a jewelry piece, including: a first gemstone and a second gemstone. The first gemstone comprises: a top portion having a spheroidal surface, the spheroidal surface of the first gemstone acting as a refractive surface for light incident on the top portion of the first gemstone and focal point lens originator; and a bottom portion shaped as a cone, the cone acting as a light axis of the first gemstone to form a focal point on a reflective surface at a base of the first gemstone; wherein at least some of the light that is reflected by the base of the first gemstone enters the second gemstone to illuminate the second gemstone.
Yet another embodiment provides a method for faceting a gemstone comprising: shaping a top portion of the gemstone to have a spheroidal surface, the spheroidal surface acting as a refractive surface for light incident on the top portion of the gemstone and focal point lens originator; and shaping a bottom portion of the gemstone as a cone, the cone acting as a light axis to form a focal point on a reflective surface at a base of the gemstone.
Light waves can be described as a wave phenomenon having a velocity, frequency and wavelength. Frequency (f), velocity (V) and wavelength (λ) can be related by the equation, f=V/λ. Frequency of light remains constant regardless of the material that the light travels through; hence, as velocity of light changes through a medium, wavelength changes to hold the relationship. Refraction occurs as a result of velocity changes of light traveling from one medium to another. Sunlight, often referred to as white light, includes different light wavelengths, so as a ray of sunlight hits a glass prism, the glass prism reduces the velocity of the ray of sunlight. Since sunlight is composed of multiple wavelengths, the speed of each wavelength is reduced differently resulting in separation of sunlight into separate colored rays of different wavelengths to comprise the natural visible spectrum that we see. Intensity of the brightness of the incident ray of sunlight is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the ray of sunlight.
The velocity of light depends on the nature of the material that the light travels through and the wavelength of the light. Light has a maximum possible speed of 3×108 m/sec in a vacuum and is slowed down in any other medium. The slowdown is a result of interaction between the electric vector of the light and the electronic environment around each atom in the medium, especially electrons of the atoms. In some implementations, closely packed carbon atoms in diamond cut light speed by 2.42 times.
Light bends when passing from one medium to another at an angle other than perpendicular to the boundary between the two media. The “index of refraction” or “refractive index” (n) is a measure of how effective a material is in slowing light, or bending light coming from a vacuum. The refractive index n=(Vv)/V, where Vv is the velocity of light in a vacuum and V is the velocity of light in the material. The refractive index of a vacuum is 1.0 and for all other materials greater than 1.0. In some implementations, velocity of light in air is almost the same as the velocity in a vacuum and can be approximated as 1.0. In general, light is refracted towards the normal to the boundary on entering a material with higher refractive index and is refracted away from the normal on entering a material with lower refractive index.
Over 450 years of gemstone enhancement has resulted in spectacular gemstones with numerous flat facets that take advantage of wave properties of visible light. A compromise between color, brightness, and shape of gemstone has given, as an example, the “round brilliant” gemstone, one of many styles of cuts of gemstones. Although variations in quality still occur with the final polished result, a sparkling gem usually ensues, giving brightness and many tones of color of the natural visible spectrum from the 58 flat, mathematically precise, sparkling facets of the round brilliant cut gemstone. Present state of the art of faceting does not allow sunlight to be focused in the gemstone. Colors reflect off the gemstone's multiple flat facets to the eye of the viewer.
As described in greater detail herein, spheroidal sculpturing or faceting affects the light properties, and therefore beauty, of a gemstone in several ways. Spheroidal faceting can affect the number and saturation of colors present, increasing brightness in the gemstone, brilliance, and sparkle or scintillation on rotation. In some embodiments, combining gems in pairs dazzles both gems.
Described in this disclosure are a gemstone and methods of faceting gemstones with spheroidal gem optics that focus light rays inside or near the bottom of the gemstone and reflect colors throughout the gemstone to an outside observer. Also described in this disclosure are enhanced surface structures (e.g., external shapes and other surface features) that cause refraction and reflection in gemstones. Also described in this disclosure are methods of enhancing refraction and reflection in gemstones. Also described in this disclosure are methods to capture and reflect focused colorful rays and brightness for an outside observer, such that the rays of light exhibit a lessor amount of leakage, following a shortest, most direct path while traveling into, through and exiting the gemstone to the outside observer.
According to various embodiments, using the laws of refraction and reflection applied to spheroidal shapes, gemstones and gem materials can be faceted to exhibit more saturated and numerous, longer-lasting spectral colors, intense illumination, greater brilliance, and enhanced scintillation. Additionally, using gem materials with relatively higher refractive indices can achieve even greater results. For example, diamond has a refractive index of 2.417 and a dispersion of 0.044. In some embodiments, faceted spheroidal diamonds have more numerous saturated colors than faceted diamonds of the present state of the art.
In
In comparision,
The spheroidal gemstone 200 of
The shape of the gemstone 200 can also vary based on the refractive index of the gem material. For example, the shape of the gem may be cut to be similar to that of an American football shape, for example, i.e., greater than spheroidal. The design of the gem can be configured such that the focal point 204 is within the gem to reflect from facets or basins at the bottom of the gem. According to various embodiments, the spheroidal faceted gemstone can be designed with numerous reflective facets at the bottom of the gem that show brilliant, saturated colors of the visible light spectrum, from red to violet, in any position of the gemstone. In some embodiments, the spheroidal surface 202 is rounded, e.g., polished rounded surface. The polished rounded surface may have a mirror-like finish, in some implementations. In other embodiments, the spheroidal surface is formed of small flat facets that can approximate a rounded shape, as shown in
The disclosed spheroidal gemstone is empowered by the much-increased intensity of light reflecting from the focal point 204 of its gemstone as it sweeps across the lower half (relative to the orientation shown in
In some embodiments, reflective basins 250, 260 can be included in the gemstone 200. The reflective basins 250, 260 can be along the side of the pavillion (as shown), or may be closer to the bottom 208 of the gemstone 200, in various implementations. The amount of reflected light back to the observer depends on the refractive index of the gemstone material and cut of the gem forming a focal point to self-illuminate the reflective facets and/or the reflective basins 250, 260 at the gemstone's base. According to various embodiments, the reflective basin can be convex (e.g., reflective basin 250), concave (e.g., reflective basin 260), or have any other shape, e.g., flat. In some embodiments, the reflective basins 250, 260 may be etches made into flat facets. For example, the flat facets can have any shape, including square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon, diamond, or any other shape. Curved facets can also have any shape, including concave or convex shapes, as shown in
Light interaction with the spheroidal faceted gemstones of
Described herein is a new method of gem creation (or gem cutting) to improve the beauty of gemstones and gem materials by increasing the saturation of colors, the duration over which colors are observed in a gemstone as it is rotated, greater brightness, more numerous colors observed at one time, and many colors of the visible spectrum occurring with one position of the gemstone, in some embodiments. For example, each facet's reflection may contain all colors of the natural visible spectrum. New spectral color patterns and gem designs may occur due to enhanced spheroidal optics employed, as described in greater detail herein.
The spheroidal shape of the top of the gem and adjoining connected curvilinear surfaces act as a convex lens to focus the rays and brightness at or near the base of the gem. Basins included at the bottom of the gem are illuminated by this focused light. Light that reflect from said basins forms saturated color patterns and ultra-brightness for illuminating the gemstone. In some embodiments, light rays that enter the gemstone are reflected only a single time in the gemstone before exiting the gemstone (as opposed to the typical two or more reflections that occur in a round brilliant cut diamond), and thus have a shorter path to travel than flat faceting. Also, conventional gem cuts with multiple reflections within the gemstone may cause loss of light intensity. By providing a single reflection point or surface and shorter path for the light rays to travel, embodiments of the disclosure create ultra-brightness and brilliant colors radiating from the spheroidal gemstone. In some cases, longer lasting, rich colors are observed on rotation of the spheroidal gem, unrestricted by the need for connecting prisms, which cause chopped-off natural visible spectra, as in flat faceting of conventional gems. According to embodiments of the disclosure, the new, saturated colors and 3-D (three-dimensional) brilliance of gemstones simulate a celestial experience and are a wonder to behold.
The spheroidal shape of the top/crown of the gemstone 200 acts as a convex lens to focus the refracted colored rays and sunlight to a focal point at or near the base, which in turn reflects, only a single time, to cause intense colors and light to the observer. With this and other added enhancements described below, gems with unusually rich color patterns and unique designs may be created. In some embodiments, the spheroidal-shaped gemstone can include flat faceting to approximate spheroidal (i.e., curved) faceting.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide saturated colors with greater lasting duration in a gem as it is rotated, in addition to more sparkle in the gem to attract the eye. The disclosed embodiments allow for all the colors of the natural visible spectrum to be present at the same time. In some embodiments, the base of the gemstone may be painted with color, e.g., pastel or vivid “electric-light” colors, that sweep across the gem's basin, which may remain radiant on rotation of the gem.
In one embodiment, top portion 206, 230 of a spheroidal gemstone in
Spheroidal gemstones, according to some embodiments of the disclosure, utilize a focal point for intense optical self-illumination giving more saturated tones of color, sparkle, and brightness from the base and/or reflective facets or small reflective basins. In some implementations, this creates a new internal source of light illumination in the gemstone (i.e., the focal point) and a new light intensity design dimension (LIDD) to consider for creation of beautifully different colored gem designs. LIDD is an intricate physical design of a gemstone and the facet arrangement and location on the gemstone that will govern the intensity of the refracted and reflected colors, brightness of the gemstone, and scintillation on rotation seen by the observer. LIDD also pertains to very small segments within the gemstone with special color or optical properties, highlighting in part, physical design or certain artistic features, and also mother-daughter pairs and adjacent gemstones.
In an embodiment, the distance from the center of a spheroidal gemstone to its focal point, that is, the focal length 270 of the gem, indicates where the reflective facets of a spheroidal gem should be located at the lower half of the gem, opposite to the incoming light. The location of facets at the focal point 204 results in self-illumination of the gemstone's facets, improved resolution of saturated colors, greater brilliancy of the gemstone packed into a small point or area. In some embodiments, two or more spheroidal gemstones can be arranged together (as described in greater detail herein), where a first gemstone imparts increased light illumination into a second gemstone, and the second gemstone reciprocates with additional color, body color, and sparkle (if a pair). Spheroidal gemstones may exhibit unusual spectral color patterns including: sparking rainbows, multicolored spectral basins, northern lights, rising and setting colored suns, pastel-colored gems, internal pin-point spectral rays, and colored bands. In some implementations, the disclosed design for a spheroidal gemstone that self-illuminates by forming a focal point within or near the base of the gemstone are also applicable to reflective signs, billboards, road markers, etc.
In some embodiments, small flat facets can be used to approximate a spheroidal shape. These small flat facets can be effectively spaced as small reflective basins.
The gemstone design and dimensions in
As previously discussed, a lens has a focal length. The inverse of the focal length is called the lens strength or lens power and is measured in diopters. That is, lens power in diopters (P) is provided by P=1/focal length (f) in meters. As an example, a 13.0 mm diameter diamond with a focal length of 5.544 mm (measured from the center of a spheroidal gem) is P=1/0.005544 meters. The lens power of this spheroidal gem is 180 diopters in strength but will vary with the refractive index of the gem material. An ordinary gemstone receives unfocused sunlight to illuminate the gemstone; by contrast, focusing of the light at a focal point such that it reflect back out the top of the gemstone (i.e., so-called “self-illumination”) occurs with spheroidal gemstones that are cut according to the present disclosure. Embodiments of the disclosure result in numerous intensely saturated spectral colors and, on rotation of the gemstone, shocking scintillation and enhanced brightness throughout the gemstone. In some embodiments, regions of color in the gemstone may be smaller in size, but have greater saturation of color, more numerous in occurrence, and much more intense in illumination compared to conventional gemstones. An example of a spheroidal gemstone, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, showing enhanced brightness and saturation of color is provided in
In some embodiments, gemstone material is faceted into other spheroidal shapes besides ball lens shapes. These spheroidal shapes may include pear, oval, marquise, heart, hexagonal, trilliant, briolette shapes, each having a focal point and self-illumination of basal facets.
In some embodiments, darker gem materials (for example, smoky quartz) may be faceted to become self-illuminated (i.e., by a focal point) so as to be more adaptive as gemstones. Also, in some embodiments, cabochons may sparkle with color and brighten intensely with the disclosed focal point brilliant design (i.e., with a more spheroidal crown and a deeper pavilion).
Embodiments of the disclosure can be used to facet spheroidal gemstones to provide: (1) an increasing number of colors occurring in the gemstone; (2) longer lasting colors on gem rotation; (3) all colors of the natural visible spectrum displayed at one time; (4) saturated tones of color compared to flat faceted gemstones; (5) finer colors occur but much more intense; and (6) colors caused by refraction on entering the gemstone's spheroidal upper surface, and reflection of refracted colors and light from the gemstone's lower surface to all or a subset of facets on the gemstone.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide spheroidal faceting that creates centers of enhanced refraction in the top half of a gemstone (i.e., above the girdle) and areas of reflection at the bottom half of the gemstone. The enhanced refraction to a focal point within or at the base of the gemstone provides for additional color formation in the gemstone, and together with enhanced reflective basins in the lower half of the gemstone, these colors are reflected back to an observer providing a further increase in number of colors, saturation, and brightness that the observer receives from the gemstone. The spheroidal faceting according to embodiments of the disclosure provides self-illumination of enhanced reflective basins by beams of colored rays and, when combined with un-refracted sunlight, causes even stronger colors and brightness throughout the spheroidal gemstone that, in turn, radiates to the observer on rotation of the gemstone. Also, if the base of the gemstone is darkened on its underlying surface, a transparent gemstone will show a better color contrast and even faint colors (e.g., yellows and pinks) can be better seen in strong sunlight.
In an embodiment, a major axis of light illumination of a spheroidal gemstone can be made longer or shorter to accommodate the focal length of the gemstone to be inside the gemstone so that the focal point can self-illuminate reflective facets or reflective basins at the base of the gem on rotation with intense focal point light. Bright, rich colors with intense gem brightness and dazzling scintillation on rotation provide for more radiant gemstones. Embodiments of the disclosure include spheroidal optic features for multiple styles of gem cuts designed into the external surface of the gemstone, which enhance refraction and reflection. This gives more numerous, brighter, saturated, and longer-lasting spectral colors in the gemstone with different designs than in conventional art.
In some embodiments, colors reflect from various shaped and sized facets on the lower half of a spheroidal gemstones. In some embodiments, numerous reflective facets show brilliant, saturated colors of both individual and rainbow designs of the visible spectrum in any position of the gemstone. In some embodiments, all colors in the visible spectrum may occur, ranging from violet to red.
In some embodiments, a gem with dual pair of refractive features on the top surface of the gem and approximately diagonally opposite reflective basin designs, sculptured around the bottom half of the gemstone, may exhibit spectacular continuous color on rotation. The spectral colors caused by refractive features faceted into the top half of the gemstone's surface, and the reflective basins and surfaces and optic-ornamental designs faceted into diagonally opposite positions into the lower half of the gemstone give increased spectral patterns of bright, saturated colors and new unique designs, which may be seen through the top half of the gemstone.
Optic-ornamental designs of gemstones according to embodiments of the disclosure may include, but are not limited to: a flower, a bird, an animal, a fish, a flag, a map, a picture, a letter, a number, a symbol, a word, a phrase, an emblem, one or more initials, a name, a country, a location, and/or a logo, etc. For surface features enhancing refraction, the gemstone may be faceted with an overall spheroid or rounded cone shape with additional convex lens-like features, which may include: hemispheres, mushroom shapes, domes, ridges, spheroidal pentagonal polished facets and concave-like dimples, and small caldera structures.
In some embodiments, the addition of horizontal and/or vertical rounded bands or grooves around the top half of the gemstone, the mid-section, and/or near the base of the gemstone also enhance refraction in the gemstone.
Prominent colors in gemstones sculptured or faceted according to embodiments of the disclosure are created by, but not limited to: (1) refraction and a convex focused lens effect of the overall enhanced spheroidal gem and many other spheroidal surface features, (2) reflection from flat facets, (3) pin-point internal focused colored rays similar to water waves focusing before a parabolic barrier, (4) prism effect due to varying thickness of gem material in the gemstone, and (5) light interference effects of spectra.
Some examples of surface features enhancing reflection to occur include, but are not limited to: headlight, tail light, flash light concave reflectors, including a parabolic pavilion, and curved or spheroidal facets, basins, bowls, cups, valleys, oval reflective curved surfaces (small cirques) around the bottom half, and perhaps a central dome(s) or optical ornamental display, to reflect colored light upward from the base throughout the gem. An observer, due to the overall spheroid or rounded hemisphere shape on the surface, acting as a lens at the top of the gem, may easily see these features with a 10× hand lens. Prisms of thinning gem material around gem edges can also cause bright refractive colors to appear in the gem. Additionally, in some cases, darkening the base of the gem or its underlying surface makes light colors, faint pinks and yellows, easier to be seen especially under strong sunlight.
With water waves approaching a two-dimensional parabolic barrier, the wave energy is reflected off the barrier to a point in front of the barrier before the wave energy dissipates around the focal point. As sunlight mainly exhibits wave motion, in a three-dimensional gemstone spheroid, light waves may exhibit an internal point of focus inside the walls of the gem similar to the parabolic barrier approached by water waves. This focal point may cause a beam of bright colored rays to originate from a single point inside the gem. As the gem is slowly rotated, a different color occurs adjacent to the color just observed and is the next color along a spectrum of visible light. The new bright color originates from the same area, but with a different wavelength due to a slightly different path through the gem. This is the next colored ray of a spectrum occurring at an internal focal point in the gem. Embodiments of the invention exhibit sparkling examples of colors suddenly appearing from a point within the gemstone and changing colors on rotation of the gem, give rising and setting suns of varying spectral colors.
Prominent colors in gemstones may be created by, but not limited to: refraction and a convex focused lens effect of the overall enhanced spheroidal gem and many other spheroidal surface features on it, reflected colors from enhanced basins, pin-point internal focused colored rays similar to water waves focusing before a parabolic barrier, prism effect due to varying thickness of gem material in the gemstone, and light interference effects of spectra. Other features which may create color include but are not limited to: an undulating basin surface or pin point array at the base of the basin, a ringed or dimpled basin, reflective gem walls, internal partition of borders or gem faces, one or more central domes or optical ornamental features, very small caldera-like structures, rounded horizontal and vertical bands, grooves and small parallel growth striations which imitate a colorful diffusion grid.
With the embodiments of the disclosure, sunlight is refracted on entering the gemstone's surface, strongly focused by the spheroidal crown to the focal point near its base (i.e., so-called “focal point brilliant” cut), and reflected only once inside the gem (as compared to twice for flat faceted gems, such as the round brilliant), and refracted once again on leaving the gemstone. Inexpensive non-gem materials such as glass, marbles, plastic, acrylic, plexiglass, etc., can also be faceted in spheroidal fashion as described above. In various embodiments, any non-opaque natural or man-made gem material or solid non-gem material may be used.
Possible shapes for spheroidal gemstones in addition to hemispheric/cone include transparent peeled mandarin orange or a transparent jelly donut. These two possible shapes can exhibit a bulbous top and/or bottom surface. The feature of sphericity in the gemstones of these shapes may allow formation of a focal point and self-illumination that causes enhanced reflection to occur, resulting in increased rich colors and brightness originating in the gem.
In some embodiments, spheroidal gemstones may be about as deep as they are wide. In some embodiments, small lens-like spheroids may be sculptured or faceted on the larger gem spheroid for enhanced refractive features and magnification at the top of the gem to see small gem features at the base and enhanced curved reflective basins around the base of the gemstone for brilliance and color radiance throughout the gemstone. In some embodiments, gem surfaces may exhibit a mirror-like finish which enhances refraction and reflection and adds quality of gem workmanship.
Spheroidal gemstones according to embodiments of the disclosure may reduce wastage, which can occur up to 60% during the gem cutting process. Thus, while faceting to obtain spheroidal shapes according to some embodiments of the disclosure, less gem material may be wasted than the present “V” shape of the round brilliant cut stones. In some embodiments, the weight of the spheroidal gemstones is heavier than their flat cut counterparts.
Example embodiments of spheroidal gemstones are provided in the accompanying figures.
Some examples of refractive surfaces according to embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to:
Some examples of reflective surfaces, for light and color, according to embodiments of the disclosure include, but are not limited to:
Spheroidal gemstones may display the following characteristics: 1. An increasing number of colors occurring in the gemstone. 2. Longer lasting colors on gem rotation. 3. All colors of the natural visible spectrum displayed at one time, 4. A greater saturation of color, particularly with violets, blues, and greens, and 5. Brighter gems with increased scintillation on rotation.
With some embodiments of the disclosure, all colors of the natural visible spectrum may be observed with the gemstone in a fixed position, due to full spectrum refraction and reflection in the gemstone. Areas of color may be smaller in size, but more saturated in color and more numerous in occurrence in a spheroidal enhanced gemstone, than in a flat faceted gem. As the overall gem is spheroidal or augmented by lens-like structures, or may be slightly cone shaped, small features near the base in the gem are magnified and are visible with the naked eye or with a 10× hand lens. The travel path of light rays may be shorter from being reflected only once in the spheroidal gemstone, thus there is less chance of loss of light in the gemstone than presently occurs with flat faceted gemstones, adding to brighter gems, greater colors saturation and greater brilliance throughout the gemstone. All colors of the natural visible spectrum may be displayed continuously and simultaneously with shocking scintillation as the gemstone is rotated 360°.
Unusual spectral color patterns and gem designs may occur due to spheroidal optic faceting of gems according to embodiments of the disclosure, resulting in, but not restricted to: vivid ‘electric-light’ colors, sparkling rainbows, multicolored spectral basins, northern lights, rising and setting colored suns, pastel-colored gems, internal pin-point spectral rays, colored bands, brighter gemstone, enhanced scintillation and optic-ornamental features as the focal point sweeps across the gem's reflective facets or basins on rotation of the gem. Unique physical gem shapes occur beyond those presently cut with the above-mentioned more saturated colors and brightness radiating throughout the gemstone to the observer with a 3-dimensional effect occurring in the gemstone.
Exemplary materials for sculpturing according to the present disclosure are inexpensive, transparent or semitransparent, and light to medium colored gemstones. Other darker stones, natural or manmade, gem or non-gem materials may be illuminated by intense focal point light in the gemstone with sparkling saturated colors and brightness to give more adaptive darker potential gemstones in the future.
Spheroid and spheroidal as used in the present disclosure refer to shapes that resemble but are not necessarily spheres, including but not limited to: perfect spheres, ellipsoids, spheres with additional features external or internal to the sphere surface, ellipsoids with additional features external or internal to the ellipsoid surface, and a series of flat facets that approximate a smooth spheroidal surface.
In general, in the gemstones in
Table 1 below summarizes features of the designs shown in
The gemstone 3200 also includes a faceted band 3206 below the girdle 3204 and above the pavilion 3208. The faceted band 3206 is not found in present-day round brilliant cuts. The faceted band may comprise (from top to bottom) a first row of right-angle triangle facets, a second row of four-sided facets, and a third row of triangle facets, in the embodiment shown. Other embodiments having fewer or more rows for facets in the faceted band 3206 are within the scope of the disclosure. In some embodiments, any shape facets can be used in the faceted band 3206. In some implementations, the faceted band 3206 provides additional sparkle and saturated colors to edges of the gemstone 3200, while the base 3212 that corresponds to the focal point 3210 gives brilliant sparkle and saturated colors elsewhere throughout the gemstone 3200.
The method includes shaping a top portion of the gemstone as a hemisphere (or other spheroidal shape). The top portion acts as a refractive surface for light incident on the top portion and focal point lens originator (step 3402). The method further includes shaping a bottom portion of the gemstone as a cone, the cone acting as an axis of light and a reflective surface for focal point light incident on a surface in the cone (step 3404).
As such, incident light that interacts with the spheroidal top portion is focused to a focal point in the bottom portion. The light reflects once from the bottom portion and exits the gemstone out through the top portion of the gemstone.
As described herein, the dimensions of the gemstone may be calibrated based on the refractive index of the gem material.
In some embodiments, facets coinciding with the top portion (e.g., hemisphere) are cut into and aligned with the curved hemispheroidal top portion. Facets of the pavilion are cut on its cone-like curved surface and terminate at the culet. The focal point (i.e., point of maximum illumination crossing the axis of light in the pavilion) is where additional reflective facets can be located in the gemstone for additional resolution of reflective color and light upward through the surface facets of the top portion. The focal point crates a source of intense illumination to power the gemstone, which brightens the gemstone and gives brilliant, saturated colors in the gemstone.
Multiple-Gemstone Arrangements
In some embodiments, two or more gemstones that are faceted such as to create a focal point at or near the base of the gemstone (as described herein) can be arranged relative to one another in one jewelry piece. In some implementations, a largest gemstones of the arrangement may be referred to as the “mother” gemstone(s), where the other gemstones of the arrangement may be referred to as the “daughter” gemstone(s).
In one embodiment, when incident light enters the arrangement along direction 3508, the light interacts with the spheroidal crown of the first gemstone 3502 to create a focal point. In some configurations, the arrangement of the two gemstones can be such that the focal point of light interacting with the first gemstone 3502 is at the top (table) of the second gemstone 3404. In other embodiments, the focal point diameter corresponds to the culet of the first gemstone 3502. In some implementations, the diameter of the culet of the first gemstone 3502 is about equal or smaller in diameter to a diameter of a table of the second gemstone 3504. For example, the diameter of the culet of the first gemstone 3502 may be about 1-3 mm. In a single gemstone arrangement, a sharp point with narrow facets at the base of the gemstones may give good color and uniform brilliance across the crown. In a mother-daughter pair, a sharp point on the mother gemstone may interfere with acquiring colors and sparkle from the daughter; hence, a slightly rounded base with small flat facets for the mother gemstone may provide better color and sparkle acquisition from the daughter gemstone.
Some of the light that enters the first gemstone 3502 will be refracted such that it enters the second gemstone 3504. Other light may enter the second gemstone 3504 directly without first entering the first gemstone 3502. Light that enters the second gemstone 3504 is refracted to a focal point at the base of the second gemstone 3504, and then reflected back out the top of the second gemstone 3504. The light exiting the second gemstone 3504 then enters the first gemstone 3502, and then exits the first gemstone 3502. In some implementations, the colors radiating from the first (mother) gemstone 3502 in the two-gemstone arrangement are more numerous than from a single gemstone itself, more saturated in color, more intense in illumination, may be more evenly spaced across the crown of the first (mother) gemstone 3502, and the body color of the second gemstone 3504 is acquired by the first gemstone 3502, unless the second gemstone 3504 is colorless. In the disclosed arrangement, both gemstones 3502, 3504 may exhibit excellent beauty in colors and brilliance.
In some embodiments, both the first (“mother”) and the second (“daughter”) gemstones shown in
In various embodiments, in mother-daughter pairs with coaxial alignment, one arrangement for the bottom of the pavilion of the mother is to have a slightly rounded base made up of flat facets and the daughter has a sharp point base. Such an arrangement allows a free exchange of illumination from the mother to the daughter gemstone, yet good reflection from the daughter gemstone.
In some embodiments, two or more “daughter” gemstones can be provided in an arrangement with a single “mother” gemstone, as shown in
In one embodiment, the first gemstone 3902 and the second gemstones 3904A, 3904B are made from the same gem material. In other embodiments, the first gemstone 3902 and the second gemstones 3904A, 3904B can be made from different gem materials.
When incident light enters the arrangement along direction of light axis 3906, incident light interacts with the first gemstone 3902, then the light interacts with the second gemstone 3904A and reflects from a focal point within the second gemstone 3904A. The reflected light from the focal point within the second gemstone 3904A then augments illumination in the first gemstone 3902.
When incident light enters the arrangement along direction of light axis 3908B, incident light interacts with the first gemstone 3902, then the light interacts with the second gemstone 3904B and reflects from a focal point within the second gemstone 3904B. The reflected light from the focal point within the second gemstone 3904B then augments illumination in the first gemstone 3902.
In various embodiments, potential daughter gem materials include minerals (e.g., precious fire or jelly, black opal). Also, in some embodiments, the daughter gemstones may include ornamental features, such as letters, numbers, symbols, animals, birds etc., which may be etched into the gem materials. Upon illumination of the daughter gemstone, the ornamental features can be transferred into and optically replicated one or more times in the larger mother gemstone.
One example arrangement provides body color suffusion and other optic illumination and gem feature transformation along coaxial light axe. A 5 mm diameter round brilliant faceted daughter cubic zirconia gemstone with canary yellow body color can be coaxially arranged below a 15 mm diameter mother transparent focal point brilliant (e.g., focal point-creating) glass gemstone. Upon illumination, the daughter cubic zirconia transfers its gem brightness, color, brilliance, and sparkle into and completely engulfs the mother gemstone, causing the effect of a 9-fold size increase of the canary yellow cubic zirconia gemstone.
Two or more gemstones can be arranged in a jewelry piece in a variety of ways, including in pendants, broaches, bracelets, and rings, for example.
According to various embodiments, the mother-daughter gemstones may rest on or against each other, or may be separated by a small distance (e.g., to avoid chipping). In some embodiments, metal prongs may secure the gemstones to the jewelry piece. The metal prongs of each gemstone's restraint may be secured to the ring, pendant, brooch, or gem cluster structure such that there is a free path of illumination, if possible, between mother(s) and daughter(s) for optical transfer of light, color, and other gem features between the gemstones. Various methods for affixing the gemstones in the jewelry piece are within the scope of the disclosure and can be determined on a case-by-case basis.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better understand the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/694,307, filed on Jul. 5, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1005564 | Lightbody | Oct 1911 | A |
| 1319251 | Schless | Oct 1919 | A |
| 2081483 | Haltom | May 1937 | A |
| 2270210 | Barbieri | Jan 1942 | A |
| 2511510 | Mukai | Jun 1950 | A |
| 2982058 | Maitenaz | May 1961 | A |
| 3420005 | Moppett | Jan 1969 | A |
| 3742731 | Phillips et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3835665 | Kitchel | Sep 1974 | A |
| 3898869 | Reneer | Aug 1975 | A |
| 4201018 | Pool | May 1980 | A |
| 4686795 | Colliva | Aug 1987 | A |
| 5003791 | Colliva | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5044123 | Hoffman | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5090216 | Waugh | Feb 1992 | A |
| 5722261 | Lehrer | Mar 1998 | A |
| 6006548 | Freilich | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6761044 | Samuels | Jul 2004 | B2 |
| D619037 | Wilheim | Jul 2010 | S |
| 8033136 | Maltezos | Oct 2011 | B2 |
| D764963 | Loinger | Aug 2016 | S |
| D890623 | Paikin | Jul 2020 | S |
| 20030145623 | Yaskil et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
| 20030192346 | Samuels | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20040083757 | Ruth | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20050000246 | Brookshire | Jan 2005 | A1 |
| 20050000405 | Brookshire | Jan 2005 | A1 |
| 20160232432 | Regev | Aug 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2744536 | Dec 2005 | CN |
| 2552996 | Jun 1977 | DE |
| 19706573 | Sep 1998 | DE |
| 960494 | Apr 1950 | FR |
| 634227 | Mar 1950 | GB |
| H04131300 | May 1992 | JP |
| 2015043954 | Mar 2015 | JP |
| 1466691 | Mar 1989 | SU |
| 1570704 | Jun 1990 | SU |
| Entry |
|---|
| ConcaveGems.com “What is Concave Faceting?” (2003) (available at: http://www.concavegems.com/concave.html). |
| JewelryPoint.com “Cuts & Shapes of Diamonds and Gemstones” (Nov. 8, 2013) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20131108025549/https://www.jewelrypoint.com/cuts-shapes-of-diamonds-and-gemstones/). |
| GemSelect.com “Why are Some Gems Cut as Cabochons?” (Mar. 23, 2015) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20150323013100/https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/why-cabochons.php). |
| Dyer, John, “A Superior Cut,” Jewellery Business, Canada's Jewellery Magazine (Jun. 2009) (available at: https://www.johndyergems.com/jewellerybusiness.html). |
| SPIE, “Ball Lens,” Optipedia, SPIE Press (Mar. 6, 2017) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20170306213316/https://spie.org/publications/tt48_54_ball_lens). |
| HyperPhysics, “Principal Focal Length” (May 6, 2016) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20160506185942/http://hyperphysicis.phy-astr.gsu.edu:80/hbase/geoopt/foclen.html). |
| Arem, Joel E. “Gems and Jewelry,” Geosciences Press Inc., 2nd Edition, pp. 11, 13-14, 27 (1992). |
| Wikipedia. “Diamond Cutting” (Jun. 24, 2016) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20160624041718/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_cutting). |
| RefractiveIndex.info. “Refractive index database,” Liquids—Water (H20) May 28, 2016) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20160528194829/https://refractiveindex.info/?shelf=3d&book=liquids&page=water). |
| Cipriani, et al. “Gems and Precious Stones,” Simon and Schuster, Inc., New York, pp. 61-63 (1986). |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Capillarity and Gravity,” Non-Newtonian Fluid Dynamics Research Group (Jul. 3, 2006) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20060703175416/http://web.mit.edu/nnf/education/wettability/gravity.html). |
| The Physics Classroom. “Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction,” Physics Tutorial, Waves—Lesson 3—Behavior of Waves (Jan. 31, 2014) (available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140131164923/http://www.physicsclassroom.com:80/class/waves/Lesson-3/Reflection,-Refraction,-and-Diffraction). |
| The New Encyclopedia Britanica, Inc. “Optics,” Fifteenth Edition, vol. 25, pp. 212-213 (1993). |
| Nesse, William D. “Introduction to Optical Mineralogy,” Oxford University Press, Second Edition, pp. 4, 5, 7-9 (1991). |
| International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/US2019/038674, dated Sep. 26, 2019 (9 pages). |
| Edmund Optics, “Understanding Ball Lenses,” (available at: https://www.edmundoptics.com/knowledge-center/application-notes/optics/understanding-ball-lenses/) (May 14, 2013). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200008544 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62694307 | Jul 2018 | US |
