Jewelry with Plural Gemstones Exhibiting Sequentially Variegated Light Reflectance

Abstract

A jewelry arrangement with plural gemstones exhibiting variegated light reflectance with a body portion, a plurality of through-holes in the body portion, and a plurality of gemstones retained relative to first and second openings of each through-hole. A light chamber is defined by each through-hole and the gemstones whereby light can reach the portions of the gemstones retained adjacent to the first openings only after passing through the gemstone retained relative to the second opening of that through-hole and vice versa. The gemstones retained relative to the first openings can be substantially clear, and the gemstones retained relative to the second openings can be colored. The jewelry arrangement can comprise a ring, an earring, or any other structure. Where the jewelry arrangement is a ring, clear stones, such as diamonds, can be retained along an outer surface of the shank and colored stones, such as rubies, can be disposed along an inner surface of the shank.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to jewelry. More particularly, disclosed and protected herein is a jewelry arrangement with stones of at least first and second colors capable of exhibiting sequentially variegated light reflectance to an observer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art has disclosed innumerable jewelry constructions, including rings, earrings, and pendants, where one or more gemstones are retained for providing an aesthetically appealing display. The retained gemstones can be precious, semi-precious, real, or simulated.

Gemstones are translucent such that they act as optical systems for reflecting light. In a typical jewelry arrangement, stones are cut with the goal of returning all possible light to the observer. Consequently, light applied to the top surface of a gemstone will be refracted, internally reflected, and returned so that the stone appears bright. Where the gemstone is colored, as with a ruby, sapphire, or emerald, the retracted and reflected light typically emerges changed in color corresponding to the color of the stone. Reflected light, therefore, will be colored substantially only by the color of the stone itself.

A typical brilliant-cut gemstone according to the prior art is indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 7. There are three basic sections to a brilliant-cut gemstone 100: the crown 110, the girdle 120, and the pavilion 130. The girdle 120 is the narrow rim of the gemstone 100 that separates the crown 110 from the pavilion 130. It is the section with the largest diameter of any part of the stone 100. The crown 110 and pavilion 130 can be understood as the “top” and “bottom”, respectively, of the brilliant-cut gemstone 100. The tiny facet on the pointed bottom of pavilion 130 is the culet 135. The large, flat top facet of crown 110 is the table 115.

When the gemstone 100 is properly cut and proportioned, a substantial portion of light entering along path 102 through the crown 110 will be reflected from pavilion facet 137 to pavilion facet 137 and then back through the crown 110, such as along path 104, thereby giving the gemstone 100 its desired brilliance This is particularly true of diamond gemstones since they have a high refractive index of 2.42 whereby increased light is reflected back from the pavilion 130 to the crown 110.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to place first and second disparate stones in proximity to one another seeking to cause the first stone to adopt color characteristics of the second stone. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,440, Roemer discloses an Enhanced Diamond Ring where a colored stone is retained below a diamond in a single setting with the intent of having light passing through the inner, colored stone visible through the body of the diamond. The diamond and the colored stone are oriented end to end with their tables facing outwardly and perpendicular to a radius of the ring's shank. The stones are retained in a single setting formed by a plurality of narrow retaining arms, and the setting is soldered to a solid ring shank.

Therefore, under the structure taught by Roemer, light can enter the stones from their upper and side surfaces, but light is prevented by the solid shank from entering through the bottom or obverse sides of the stones. Also, with its teaching of just a single pair of stones, there is no ability under Roemer to enable an observer to perceive a sequential variegation in reflected color in a series of stones.

in the Gemstone Arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,916 to Ruth, color is provided to a primary gem by one or more complementary gems. The complementary gem or gems have their tables juxtaposed and aligned with a pavilion wall of the primary gem. This relative disposition is said to permit the maximum passage of ambient light from the complementary gems into the primary gem. With that, the appearance of the primary gem can be enhanced through color imparted from the complementary gems. Ruth teaches that the primary and complementary gems should be of the same type, such as by all comprising diamonds.

Consequently, following the teachings of Ruth, the color of a primary diamond or other gem can be deepened through color provided by the complementary diamonds or other gems. As with Roemer, only a single stone arrangement is contemplated. There is no ability under the teachings of Ruth to enable an exhibiting of sequentially varied color by plural stones.

With an awareness of these and many other types of jewelry arrangements disclosed by the prior art, it has been appreciated by the present inventor that it would be visually interesting and aesthetically attractive to provide a jewelry construction wherein stones of at least first and second colors enable, among other things, the exhibition of sequentially variegated light reflectance to an observer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor set forth with the basic object of providing a jewelry arrangement that is unique in structure and attractive in appearance.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a jewelry arrangement wherein plural, sequentially disposed gemstones can exhibit light reflectance of sequentially varied color to an observer.

A still more particular object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a jewelry arrangement wherein a plurality of sequentially disposed gemstones of a first color exhibit progressively varied color imparted by at least one gemstone of a second color.

Yet another object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a jewelry arrangement wherein light can be imparted to retained gemstones from the obverse side thereof to achieve improved light output from the stone or stones of the second color to the stones of the first color.

An even further object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a jewelry arrangement wherein the gemstones are at least partially shielded from undesired incident light.

These and in all likelihood further objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious not only to one who reviews the present specification and drawings but also to those who have an opportunity to observe an embodiment of the jewelry arrangement disclosed herein. However, it will be appreciated that, although the accomplishment of each of the foregoing objects in a single embodiment of the invention may be possible and indeed preferred, not all embodiments will seek or need to accomplish each and every potential advantage and function. Nonetheless, all such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the present invention.

In carrying forth these objects, a basic embodiment of the present invention for a jewelry arrangement with plural gemstones exhibiting variegated light reflectance is founded on a body portion with a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of through-holes are disposed in the body portion. Each through-hole has a first opening to the first surface and a second opening to the second surface. A gemstone is retained with a portion thereof received relative to the first opening of each through-hole, and a gemstone is retained with a portion thereof received relative to the second opening of each through-hole. The gemstones can be real, simulated, precious, semi-precious, or any other type. Under certain practices of the invention, at least some of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes can be substantially clear, and at least some of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes can be colored.

Under such a construction, a light chamber is established that is defined by each through-hole and the gemstones. With this, light can reach the portions of the gemstones retained adjacent to the first openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding gemstone retained relative to the second opening of that through-hole. Light can reach the portions of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding gemstone retained relative to the first opening of that through hole.

The jewelry arrangement can, for example, comprise a ring, an earring, or any other jewelry structure. Where the jewelry arrangement is a ring, the body portion can comprise an annular shank. Through-holes can be spaced entirely around the annular shank in an evenly distributed arrangement to establish a substantially continuous series of gemstones. The through-holes can communicate radially through the annular shank with the first openings of the through-holes disposed to a distal side of the shank and the second openings of the through-holes disposed to a proximal side of the shank. A distance between a proximal end of each of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes and a distal end of each of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes can be approximately equal to the thickness of the shank whereby the gemstones are protected and whereby the ring presents an elegant and optically unique construction. In such a case, the gemstones can be retained with their table portions facing outwardly from a center of the shank.

Where the shank comprises a unitary annular structure, a channel can be disposed in the outer surface thereof, and at least the crown portions of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes can be disposed in the channel. In other embodiments, the gemstones can be retained by sleeves with a first gemstone and a second gemstone retained relative to each sleeve. The sleeves can be laterally coupled to form the annular shank. In still other embodiments, the first openings of the through-holes can be disposed to a distal side of the shank while the second openings of the through-holes can be disposed to a first lateral side of the shank. In such structures, there can additionally be a third opening to a third surface of the body-portion to a second lateral side of the shank opposite the first lateral side of the shank.

In embodiments of the invention comprising earrings, the body portion can, for example, comprise a curved member with a first surface and a second surface. Through-holes can be disposed along the body portion with the first openings along the first surface of the body portion and the second openings along the second surface of the body portion. The body portion can be helical, spoon shaped, or any other preferably curved shape. The through-holes can be disposed in series to establish a single line of gemstones, or the through-holes can be spaced laterally and longitudinally along the body portion to establish a group of through-holes that is multiple through-holes wide and multiple through-holes high.

In other embodiments of the jewelry arrangement comprising earrings, the body portion can be torroidal with first and second ends and an annular wall. A first opening can be in the first end of the body portion and a plurality of lateral openings can be in the annular wall of the body portion. A gemstone, which can be substantially clear, can be retained relative to the first opening, and gemstones, which can be colored can be retained relative to each of the lateral openings. The first opening and the lateral openings can be connected by a light chamber in the body portion whereby light can reach the portion of the gemstone retained relative to the first opening only after passing through one or more of the gemstones retained relative to the lateral openings.

One will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important goals and features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jewelry ring pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-section of the ring of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section of the ring of FIG. 3 taken along the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view depicting the variegation perceived by an observer of the ring of FIGS. 1 through 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of a brilliant-cut gemstone according to the prior art;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation of an alternative jewelry ring according to the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the ring of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned view in side elevation of a portion of the ring of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view in side elevation of another jewelry ring according to the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the ring of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partially sectioned view in side elevation of a portion of the ring of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a view in side elevation of a further jewelry ring according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the ring of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a lateral cross-section of the ring of FIG. 15 taken along the line 16-16;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-section of the ring of FIG. 15 taken along the line 17-17;

FIG. 18 is a view in side elevation of a jewelry earring embodying the invention;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the earring of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a lateral cross-section of the earring talc en along the line 20-20 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal cross-section of the earring taken along the line 21-21 in FIG, 18;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative earring embodying the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 23 is a lateral cross-section of the earring of FIG. 22;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are views in front, and side elevation of still another earring according to the invention; and

FIG. 26 is a longitudinal cross-section of the earring of FIGS. 24 and 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As is the case with many inventions, the present invention for jewelry exhibiting sequentially variegated light reflectance is subject to a wide variety of embodiments. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures. Before any particular embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

Turning more particularly to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment, of the invention in the form of a jewelry ring is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. There, the ring 10 is founded on a body portion comprising an annular shank 12 with an inner surface and an outer surface. A channel 14 defined by a first rim 22 and a second rim 24 is disposed in the outer surface of the shank 12 encircling the ring 10. With combined reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, one can perceive that through-holes 16 are evenly spaced along the entire circumference of the shank 12. Each through-hole 16 has a proximal end open to the inner surface of the shank 12, a body portion that communicates along a radius of the shank 12, and a distal end open to the channel 14 in the shank 12.

Gemstones 18 of a first color are retained to seal off the distal ends of the through-holes 16. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gemstones 18 can be retained with their pavilions at least partially received into the distal ends of the through-holes 16. Their girdles can be retained within the channel 14 by opposed notches formed in the inboard surfaces of the first and second rims 22 and 24, and their tables can be disposed just proximal to the outer surface of the shank 12. With that, the tables of the several gemstones 18 spaced around the ring 10 face outwardly and are generally perpendicular to the corresponding radii of the ring 10.

In this example, the gemstones 18 are clear. The gemstones 18 could comprise, by way of example and not limitation, real diamonds, simulated diamonds, cut glass, or any other type of clear or substantially clear material.

Gemstones 20 of a second color are retained to seal off the proximal ends of the through-holes 16. Again with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the gemstones 20 can be retained in opposition to the gemstones 18 Their pavilions can be received into the proximal ends of the through-holes 16, which can be formed as a setting with opposed retaining teeth 30 engaging the girdles of the gemstones 18. The tables of the gemstones 20 are just distal to the inner surface of the shank 12. The tables of the several gemstones 20 spaced around the ring 10 thus face inwardly and are generally perpendicular to the corresponding radii of the ring 10.

In this example, the gemstones 20 are colored. As one knowledgeable in the art will appreciate, colored gemstones are numerous in type and include, for example, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and many other precious, semi-precious, real, and simulated gemstones.

The clear gemstones 18 and the colored gemstones 20 have a distance from table to table of just slightly less than the thickness of the shank 12 of the ring 10 and are entirely shielded thereby. With the clear gemstones 18 and the colored gemstones 20 so arranged in relation to the through-holes 16, the through-holes 16 are essentially sealed at their first and second ends with an inner volume disposed between the pavilions of each clear and colored gemstone 18 and 20 pair. That sealed inner volume establishes a light chamber 26 between the clear gemstone 18 and the colored gemstone 20 so that only light having passed through and colored by the colored gemstone 20 can be imparted on the clear gemstone 18 from its bottom, pavilion surfaces. Of course, the opposite is also true in that only light having passed though the clear gemstone 18 can be imparted on the colored gemstone 20 from its bottom, pavilion surfaces.

Under appropriate circumstances, one observing the ring 10, particularly when it is removed from a wearer's finger, will tend to see plural clear gemstones 18 bathed in color from the corresponding colored gemstones 20. The plural colored gemstones 20 will tend to be bathed in light passed through the corresponding clear gemstones 18.

Jewelry configurations according to the present invention have been found to exhibit unique and aesthetically interesting and attractive color characteristics deriving from the interaction of the clear gemstones 18 and the colored gemstones 20. FIG. 6 seeks to elucidate one interesting color characteristic exhibited by rings 10 according to the instant embodiment. There, a ring 10 is shown with exposed first, second, third, and fourth clear gemstones 18A, 18B, 18C and 18D and exposed corresponding colored gemstones 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D. The intermediate and remaining gemstones 18 and 20 are not shown, for clarity. The first through fourth clear and colored gemstones 18A-18D and 20A-20D are spaced over approximately a quarter of the ring 10 such that the first clear gemstone 18A generally faces a first viewpoint 200 and the fourth clear gemstone 18D is generally orthogonal to the first viewpoint 200. Light can be imagined to be imparted from light source 206.

It has been found that the color of light transmitted through the clear gemstones 18A through 18D will vary depending on, among other things, the orientation of the gemstones 18A through 18D relative to the viewer and relative to the light source 206. More particularly, the line of sight 204A from the first viewpoint 200 to the first clear gemstone 18A, which generally faces the viewer, is for the most part devoid of color received from the corresponding colored gemstone 20A. This derives from the above-described geometry of the gemstones 18A and 20A and the resulting optical properties of the arrangement. It is believed that, where the gemstone 18A faces or nearly faces the observer, the viewed light is light that has entered the gemstone 20A and that has been reflected back to the observer.

However, as the gemstones 18B, 18C, and 18D progressively turn away from the observer, more colored light from the corresponding colored gemstones 18B, 18C, and 18D is reflected to the observer. With that, the lines of sight 204B, 204C, and 204D are increasingly colored as greater color from the colored gemstones 20B, 20C, and 20D is progressively reflected to the sides of the clear gemstones 18B, 18C, and 18D. With that, the observer perceives a variegated light display from the ring 10 in the form of a progressive increase in color in the clear gemstones 18A through 18D.

The color perception from the second, orthogonal viewpoint 202 is essentially opposite. The fourth gemstone 18D is perceived as essentially colorless while the gemstones 18C, 18B, and 18A display increasingly dense color as they angle increasingly away from the viewpoint 202. However, the Increase in color may not be as pronounced where the gemstones 18C, 18B, and 18A progressively lose direct light from the light source 206.

While the embodiment of the ring 10 of FIGS. 1 through 7 is elegant in structure and chromatically unique, the invention can readily pursue numerous other embodiments. One such alternative embodiment of a ring is again indicated at 10 in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. There, the ring 10 again has an annular shank 12. Plural clear gemstones 18 are retained spanning the circumference of the ring 10 with their tables generally perpendicular to corresponding radii of the shank 12. A corresponding plurality of colored gemstones 20 are retained spanning the inner surface of the shank 12 also with their tables generally perpendicular to the corresponding radii of the shank 12.

The pavilions of each pair of clear and colored gemstones 18 and 20 are partially received into a sleeve 34, which can be conical, thereby establishing a light chamber 26. With this, only light having passed through the colored gemstone 20 will enter from the bottom of the clear gemstone 18 and vice versa. The sleeves 34 are joined edgewise by coupling slabs 32 that are longitudinally aligned with radii of the ring 10. The sleeves 34 and the coupling slabs 32 can be joined in any effective way, including by molding, soldering, or any other appropriate method.

The clear gemstones 18 are retained in place by distal notches 36 in the coupling slabs 32, and the colored gemstones 20 are retained in place by proximal notches 38 in the coupling slabs 32. The coupling slabs 32, which effectively establish the thickness of the shank 12, have a length just slightly greater than the distance between the tables of the clear and colored gemstones 18 and 20 whereby the gemstones 18 and 20 are protected.

A further embodiment of a ring 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. There, the shank 12 of the ring is effectively formed by the edgewise coupling of a plurality of conical sleeves 34, which again can be accomplished by any appropriate method, including soldering, molding, or any other effective means. A clear gemstone 18 is retained relative to the distal portion of each sleeve 34 by having its girdle engage opposed notches 36 adjacent to the distal end of the sleeve 34, and a colored gemstone 20 is retained relative to the proximal portion of each sleeve 34 by having its girdle engage opposed notches 38 adjacent to the proximal end of the sleeve 34.

The clear and colored gemstones 18 and 20 are again oppositely oriented such that their tables face outwardly and inwardly, respectively. The distance between the tables of the gemstones 18 and 20 is approximately equal to the thickness of the shank 12 as established by the height of the sleeves 34.

Together with the pavilions of the gemstones 18 and 20, the sleeve 34 defines an enclosed light chamber 26. Thus, light imparted on the pavilion of the clear gemstone 18 must first pass through the colored gemstone 20. The opposite is also true The sequential gradation of color perceived through the clear gemstones 18 can thus again be achieved.

FIGS. 14 through 17 show an even further embodiment of the invention, again in the form of a ring 10. The ring 10 in the present embodiment is founded on a shank 12 with an annular channel 14 in the outer surface thereof defined laterally on first and second sides by first and second rims 22 and 24. The shank 12 has a plurality of upside-down T-shaped light chambers 26 formed therein with opposed lateral apertures 25 and 27 in communication with the first and second sides of the shank 12 and a dorsal opening 29 in communication with the channel 14.

A clear gemstone 18 is retained relative to each light chamber 26 with its pavilion partially received through the dorsal opening 29, and first and second colored gemstones 20A and 20B are retained relative to each light chamber 26 with their pavilions at least partially received through the lateral apertures 25 and 27. The clear gemstone 18 is retained by opposed notches in the first and second rims 22 and 24, and the colored gemstones 20A and 20B are retained by opposed notches 33 in the shank 12 adjacent to the lateral apertures 25 and 27.

Under this arrangement, a variegated display of light can be perceived by viewing sequences of clear gemstones 18. All light received through the pavilion of the clear gemstone 18 will have necessarily been passed through either or both of the colored gemstones 20A and 20B. Furthermore, the colored gemstones 20A and 20B can receive and be illuminated by light passed through one another and light passed through the clear gemstone 18.

It should be clear that exploitation of the invention is not limited to rings 10. Among the other potential jewelry arrangements where the invention could be applied are earrings, such as is shown in FIGS. 18 through 21 where an earring is indicated generally at 40. The earring 40 has an annular body portion 45 with an open light chamber 52 disposed therein. An end through-hole 48 provides an endwise opening in communication with the light chamber 52.

A clear gemstone 42 has its pavilion received through the end through-hole 48 thereby to seal the same. An annular channel 46 laterally defined by first and second rims 56 and 58 traverses the periphery of the body portion 45, and a plurality of lateral through-holes 50 in the peripheral wall 60 of the body portion 45 provide lateral openings in communication with the light chamber 52. A colored gemstone 44 is retained relative to each of the lateral through holes 50 by having at least a portion of the pavilion of the gemstone 44 received therein. A post 54 enables the earring 40 to be retained relative to a person's ear (not shown). Under this arrangement, light can reach the pavilion portion of the clear gemstone 42 only after passing through one or more of the colored gemstones 44.

An alternative earring is indicated generally at 62 in FIGS. 22 and 23. There, the earring 62 has a helically shaped body portion 65 with a post 78 for enabling the earring 62 to be retained relative to a wearer. A channel 68 communicates along the body portion 65, and a plurality of through-holes 70 traverse from a first end at the base of the channel 68 through to a second end at the opposite side of the body portion 65. A clear gemstone 64 has the pavilion portion thereof received into the first end of each through-hole 70, and a colored gemstone 66 has the pavilion portion thereof received into the second end of each through-hole 70. The clear gemstones 64 are retained by notches 74, and the colored gemstones 66 are retained by notches 76. With that, a sealed light chamber 72 is established.

Light can reach the pavilion of each gemstone 64 or 66 only after passing through the other gemstone 66 or 64. Furthermore, with the substantially continuous curvature established by the helical shape of the body portion 65, the angular dispositions of the tables of the gemstones 64 and 66 will progressively vary in relation to an observer. Consequently, the incident light and the perceived color will vary progressively.

Finally, FIGS. 24 through 26 illustrate a further earring SO carrying forth the present Invention. The earring 80 in FIGS. 24 through 26 has a spoon-shaped body portion 82. A plurality of through-holes 94 have first ends in communication with a first side of the body portion 82 and second ends in communication with a second side of the body portion 82. A clear gemstone 84 is retained adjacent to the first end of each through-hole 94 by opposed notches 90 that engage the girdles of the gemstones 84, and a colored gemstone 86 is retained adjacent to the second end of each through-hole 94 by opposed notches 92 that engage the girdles of the gemstones 86. With that, light chambers 88 are established by the through-holes 94 and the gemstones 84 and 86. Only light having passed through the colored gemstones 86 will reach the pavilion facets of the clear gemstones 84, and only light that has passed through the clear gemstones 84 will reach the pavilion facets of the colored gemstones 86.

With certain details of the present invention for a jewelry arrangement with sequentially variegated light reflectance disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with certain major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.

Therefore, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventor. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, these claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof that might be now known or hereafter discovered.

Claims

1. A jewelry arrangement with plural gemstones exhibiting variegated light reflectance, the jewelry arrangement comprising: a body portion with a first surface and a second surface;a plurality of through-holes in the body portion, each through-hole with a first opening to the first surface and a second opening to the second surface;a plurality of gemstones wherein a gemstone is retained with a portion thereof received relative to the first opening of each through-hole and wherein a gemstone is retained with a portion thereof received relative to the second opening of each through-hole;thereby establishing a light chamber defined by each through-hole and the gemstones whereby light can reach the portions of the gemstones retained adjacent to the first openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding gemstone retained relative to the second opening of that through-hole and whereby light can reach the portions of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding gemstone retained relative to the first opening of that through-hole.

2. The jewelry arrangement of claim 1 wherein at least some of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes are substantially clear and wherein at least some of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes are colored.

3. The jewelry arrangement of claim 2 wherein each of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes is substantially clear and wherein each of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes is colored.

4. The jewelry arrangement of claim 1 wherein the jewelry arrangement comprises a ring and wherein the body portion comprises an annular shank.

5. The jewelry arrangement of claim 4 wherein through-holes are spaced entirely around the annular shank.

6. The jewelry arrangement of claim 5 wherein the through-holes communicate radially through the annular shank, wherein the first openings of the through-holes are disposed to a distal side of the shank, and wherein the second openings of the through-holes are disposed to a proximal side of the shank.

7. The jewelry arrangement of claim 6 wherein each of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes is substantially clear and wherein each of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes is colored.

8. The jewelry arrangement of claim 7 wherein the annular shank has a thickness and wherein a distance between a proximal end of each of the gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes and a distal end of each of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes is approximately equal to the thickness of the shank.

9. The jewelry arrangement of claim 8 wherein each of the gemstones has a crown portion with a table and a pavilion opposite the table and wherein each of the gemstones is retained with the table portion thereof facing outwardly from a center of the shank.

10. The jewelry arrangement of claim 6 wherein the through-holes and the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes are spaced over the annular shank provide a substantially continuous series of gemstones.

11. The jewelry arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a channel in the shank wherein the at least the crown portions of the gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes are disposed in the channel.

12. The jewelry arrangement of claim 6 wherein the gemstones are retained by sleeves with a first gemstone and a second gemstone retained relative to each sleeve and with the sleeves laterally coupled to form the annular shank.

13. The jewelry arrangement of claim 4 wherein the first openings of the through-holes are disposed to a distal side of the shank and wherein the second openings of the through-holes are disposed to a first lateral side of the shank.

14. The jewelry arrangement of claim 13 wherein each through-hole further comprises a third opening to a third surface of the body portion wherein the third openings of the through-holes are disposed to a second lateral side of the shank opposite the first lateral side of the shank.

15. The jewelry arrangement of claim 1 wherein the body portion comprises a curved member with a first surface and a second surface and wherein through-holes are disposed along the body portion with the first openings along the first surface of the body portion and the second openings along the second surface of the body portion.

16. The jewelry arrangement of claim 15 wherein the body portion is helical and wherein the through-holes are disposed in series along the body portion.

17. The jewelry arrangement of claim 15 wherein through-holes are spaced laterally and longitudinally along the body portion to establish a group of through-holes that is multiple through-holes wide and multiple through-holes high.

18. A jewelry arrangement comprising: a torroidal body portion with first and second ends and an annular wall;a first opening in the first end of the body portion;a plurality of lateral openings in the annular wall of the body portion;a gemstone retained with a portion thereof retained relative to the first opening; anda gemstone with a portion thereof retained relative to each of the lateral openings;wherein the first opening and the lateral openings are connected by a light chamber in the body portion whereby light can reach the portion of the gemstone retained relative to the first opening only after passing through one or more of the gemstones retained relative to the lateral openings.

19. The jewelry arrangement of claim 18 wherein the gemstone retained relative to the first opening is substantially clear and wherein the gemstones retained relative to the lateral openings are colored.

20. A jewelry ring with plural gemstones exhibiting variegated light reflectance, the ring comprising: a body portion comprising an annular shank with an inner surface and an outer surface;a plurality of through-holes spaced along the body portion, each through-hole with a first opening to the outer surface of the shank and a second opening to the inner surface of the shank;a substantially clear gemstone with a portion thereof retained relative to the first opening of each through-hole; anda colored gemstone with a portion thereof retained relative to the second opening of each through-hole;thereby establishing a light chamber defined by each through-hole and the portions of the clear and colored gemstones whereby light can reach the portions of the clear gemstones retained relative to the first openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding colored gemstone and whereby light can reach the portions of the colored gemstones retained relative to the second openings of the through-holes only after passing through the corresponding clear gemstone.