WO2024236838A1 - Jewel support and ornament - Google Patents

Abstract

A jewel support 10 for supporting a jewel 100 comprises: an annular ceramic ring 11 having an opening 11h in a portion thereof; and a recess 12 provided in each of two end faces 11a facing each other in the opening 11h of the ring 11. The bottom portion 12b of the recess 12 is provided deeper than a position reached by the outermost peripheral end 111 of the jewel 100 when said jewel 100 is fitted into the opening 11h of the ring 11.

Description

Jewelry supports and ornaments

The present invention relates to a gemstone support that supports gemstones such as diamonds, and to an ornament in which the gemstone is placed on the gemstone support.

Patent Document 1 discloses a ring that can hold a gemstone without a claw or other attachment, is thin, and has a high degree of exposure to the gemstone, and a method for manufacturing the ring. This ring has a ring, an opening cut outward from a fulcrum defined within the ring, and two grooves engraved on each wall facing the opening, with the girdle end of the gemstone engaging with each groove, and the gemstone is supported by engagement with only two grooves, and is characterized in that when an inward force is applied to both the left and right sides of the ring located on the opposite side of the opening across the fulcrum, the opening is expanded around the fulcrum and the girdle end of the gemstone is engaged with the groove, and when the inward force is released, the restoring force acts as a pressing force on the engagement point via the fulcrum, fixing the gemstone to the ring.

Patent No. 5180586

In jewelry that uses the elasticity of a ring to hold a gemstone in place, elastically deformable metal materials such as gold, silver, platinum, titanium, and stainless steel are used as the ring material. However, since metal rings can cause metal allergies, it is possible to use ceramics as the ring material. However, it is difficult to use ceramics, which have a higher elastic modulus than metal, as the ring material.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a jewelry support and ornament that uses ceramics as the ring material.

The first aspect of the present invention is a gem support for supporting a gemstone, comprising a circular ceramic ring with an opening in one portion, and a recess provided in each of the two opposing end faces of the opening of the ring, the bottom of the recess being located deeper than the position reached by the outermost edge of the gemstone when it is fitted into the opening of the ring.

With this configuration, when a gemstone is fitted into the opening of the ceramic ring, the outer periphery of the gemstone fits into the recess provided on the end face of the opening and is positioned therein. At this time, the outermost edge of the gemstone does not abut against the bottom of the recess, so fitting the gemstone into the opening avoids stress concentration from the gemstone on the end face of the opening of the ceramic ring.

Preferably, the opening shape of the recess as viewed from the front of the end face is a line-symmetric polygon in which at least one diagonal and a line perpendicular to the diagonal can be an axis of line symmetry, and each of the interior angles is less than 180 degrees, the gemstone is round brilliant cut, and the girdle portion of the gemstone is fitted into the recess so as to be aligned with the axis of line symmetry that is the diagonal of the polygon, and the edge of the recess and the gemstone come into point contact at multiple points. As a result, when the outer periphery of the gemstone fits into the recess, the polygonal sides of the opening shape of the recess come into point contact with the outer periphery of the gemstone at multiple points, reducing stress concentration.

Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the recess in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring is polygonal. This prevents the edge of the recess's opening from coming into contact with the outer periphery of the jewel when the outer periphery of the jewel is fitted into the recess, preventing the outermost edge of the jewel from abutting against the bottom of the recess.

Preferably, the angle of the cross-sectional shape of the recess opening toward the end face is between 65 degrees and 70 degrees. This prevents the outermost edge of the jewel from coming into contact with the bottom of the recess when a jewel with an angle of the outer periphery exceeding 70 degrees is inserted.

The second aspect of the present invention is an ornament comprising a gemstone support and a gemstone supported by the gemstone support, the gemstone support comprising a circular ceramic ring with an opening in one portion and a recess provided on each of the two opposing end faces of the opening of the ring, the bottom portion of the recess being located deeper than the position reached by the outermost edge of the gemstone when it is fitted into the opening of the ring.

With this configuration, when a gemstone is fitted into the opening of the ceramic ring, the outer periphery of the gemstone fits into the recess provided on the end face of the opening and is positioned therein. At this time, the outermost edge of the gemstone does not abut against the bottom of the recess, so fitting the gemstone into the opening avoids stress concentration from the gemstone on the end face of the opening of the ceramic ring.

Preferably, the opening shape of the recess as viewed from the front of the end face is a line-symmetric polygon in which at least one diagonal and a line perpendicular to the diagonal can be an axis of line symmetry, and each of the interior angles is less than 180 degrees, the gemstone is round brilliant cut, the girdle portion of the gemstone is fitted into the recess so as to follow the axis of line symmetry that is the diagonal of the polygon, and the edge of the recess and the gemstone come into contact at multiple points. As a result, when the outer periphery of the gemstone fits into the recess, the sides of the polygonal shape of the opening shape of the recess come into contact with the outer periphery of the gemstone at multiple points, relieving stress concentration.

Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the recess in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring is polygonal. This prevents the edge of the recess's opening from coming into contact with the outer periphery of the jewel when the outer periphery of the jewel is fitted into the recess, preventing the outermost edge of the jewel from abutting against the bottom of the recess.

Preferably, the angle of the cross-sectional shape of the recess opening toward the end face is between 65 degrees and 70 degrees. This prevents the outermost edge of the jewel from coming into contact with the bottom of the recess when a jewel with an angle of the outer periphery exceeding 70 degrees is inserted.

The present invention provides a jewelry support and ornament that uses ceramics as the ring material.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of an ornament and a jewel support according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the jewelry and jewelry support according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the contact relationship between the jewel and the recess. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an end face of the ring as viewed from the front. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the opening of the ring. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the method for manufacturing a decorative item according to this embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components will be given the same reference numerals, and the description of components that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

(Jewelry and Jewelry Supports)
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of an ornament and a jewel support according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the jewelry and jewelry support according to the present embodiment.
1 and 2, the decorative device 1 according to the present embodiment comprises a gem support 10 according to the present embodiment, and a gem 100 supported by the gem support 10. Examples of the gem 100 include gems such as diamonds, gems made of materials other than minerals that are similar to gems, and gems decorated with glass, metal, etc.

The jewel 100 is supported by a jewel support 10 having a ceramic ring 11. The ring 11 has a circular ring shape with an opening 11h in one part. The ring 11 is, for example, a part that becomes a ring worn on a finger. The ceramic material for the ring 11 may be, for example, zirconia or alumina. The ceramic material used for the ring 11 preferably has a hardness of 8 or more and less than 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, and the Young's modulus is preferably 120 GPa or more and 400 GPa or less.

A portion of the ring 11 is provided with an opening 11h, where the ring is interrupted. A jewel 100 is sandwiched in the opening 11h of the ring 11. The opening 11h in the portion of the ceramic ring 11 can be expanded within the range of slight elastic deformation that ceramics have. When the opening 11h of the ring 11 is expanded, the elastic force of the ring 11 acts to return the expanded width of the opening 11h to its original size, narrowing the gap between the two end faces 11a that make up the opening 11h. The jewel 100 is held in the ring 11 by being sandwiched between the two end faces 11a through which the elastic force acts.

As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 12 is provided on each of the two opposing end faces 11a of the opening 11h of the ring 11. By using such a ring 11, when a piece of jewelry 100 is fitted into the opening 11h of the ceramic ring 11, the outer periphery 110 of the jewelry 100 fits into the recess 12 provided on the end face 11a of the opening 11h and is positioned accordingly. This prevents the jewelry 100 from shifting out of position when it is sandwiched in the opening 11h of the ring 11.

The bottom portion 12b of the recess 12 is located deeper than the position where the outermost edge 111 of the jewel 100 reaches when the jewel 100 is fitted into the opening 11h of the ring 11. That is, the recess 12 has a depth such that the outermost edge 111 of the jewel 100 does not abut the bottom portion 12b. A location shallower than the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12 (for example, the edge of the recess 12) abuts the jewel 100. Since the outermost edge 111 of the jewel 100 does not abut the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12, stress concentration from the jewel 100 to the end face 11a of the opening 11h of the ceramic ring 11 is avoided by fitting the jewel 100. That is, when the outermost edge 111 of the jewel 100 abuts the end face 11a of the ring 11, stress concentration is likely to occur at the abutting portion. In this embodiment, the ring 11 is made of ceramics, which is harder than metals but has low toughness, so that the end surface 11a is more affected by stress concentration than metals. Therefore, when the jewelry 100 is sandwiched in the opening 11h of the ring 11, the outermost edge 111 of the jewelry 100 is prevented from abutting against the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12, thereby suppressing stress concentration and reducing the impact on the end surface 11a of the ring 11, which is made of ceramics. In addition, since the outermost edge 111 of the jewelry 100 does not abut against the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12, multiple places shallower than the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12 are abutted and pressed against the jewelry 100, so that the jewelry 100 is less likely to wobble than when the outermost edge 111 of the jewelry 100 is abutted against the bottom portion 12b, and the jewelry 100 can be held stably.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the contact relationship between the jewel and the recess.
3 shows the cross-sectional shape of the end face 11a of the ring 11 taken along a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring 11. The cross-sectional shape of the recess 12 is, for example, polygonal. As an example, the cross-sectional shape of the recess 12 has a base a constituting a bottom portion 12b provided in a location recessed from the end face 11a, and oblique sides b and c opening from the base a toward the end face 11a. The opening angle θ1 of the oblique sides b and c is narrower than the angle θ2 of the outer periphery 110 of the jewel 100.

If the gemstone 100 is, for example, a gemstone with a standard round brilliant cut, the angle θ2 of the girdle portion corresponding to the outer periphery 110 is approximately 74 degrees, so the angle θ1 of the opening of the oblique sides b and c is preferably less than 74 degrees, for example, 65 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less. This prevents the outermost edge 111 of the gemstone 100 from abutting the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12 when fitting a gemstone 100 with an angle θ2 of the outer periphery 110 exceeding 70 degrees, such as a round brilliant cut. In other words, the girdle portion of the gemstone with a round brilliant cut will not abut the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12, and the concentration of stress applied to the end face 11a by diamond, which is harder than ceramics, can be avoided.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an end face of the ring as viewed from the front.
In FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience, the end face 11a of the ring 11 is shown hatched.
When viewed from the front of the end face 11a, the opening shape of the recess 12 provided on the end face 11a is preferably polygonal. As an example, the opening shape of the recess 12 is approximately rhombus. When the outer periphery 110 of the jewel 100 is fitted into the recess 12, the polygonal sides of the opening shape of the recess 12 and the outer periphery 110 of the jewel come into contact at multiple points, which prevents the concentration of stress applied from the jewel 100 to the end face 11a. When the jewel 100 is, for example, a jewel with a round brilliant cut, the girdle part corresponding to the outer periphery 110 is fitted into the recess 12 so that it is located at the center of the approximately rhombus. As a result, the girdle part and the sides of the opening shape of the recess 12 come into contact at multiple points (in this case, four points indicated by black dots in the figure). Therefore, it is possible to disperse stress due to contact at multiple points.

In the example of FIG. 4, the opening shape of the recess 12 as viewed from the front of the end face 11a is preferably a line-symmetric polygon in which at least one diagonal and a line perpendicular to the diagonal can be the axis of symmetry, and each of the interior angles is less than 180 degrees (approximately a diamond in the example of FIG. 4). In this case, the girdle portion of the gemstone 100 with the round brilliant cut is fitted into the recess 12 so as to be aligned along the axis of symmetry, which is the diagonal of the polygon. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the four contact points (four points indicated by black dots in FIG. 4) where the edge of the recess 12 (the boundary edge between the recess 12 and the end face 11a) and the gemstone 100 come into contact have a positional relationship that is approximately line-symmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry of the opening shape (polygon) of the recess 12. Therefore, the gemstone 100 can be stably held at the edge of the recess 12.

5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the opening of the ring taken along line AA in FIG.
In the example of Fig. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the recess 12 as viewed from the direction along the end face 11a of the ring 11 (the direction perpendicular to the depth direction of the recess 12) is an arc. The diameter of the circle including the arc of the cross-sectional shape of the recess 12 is smaller than the diameter of the circle connecting the outer periphery of the jewel 100. As a result, the edges of the recess 12 on the two end faces 11a (the boundary edges between the recess 12 and the end faces 11a) come into contact with the outer periphery 112 of the jewel 100 at multiple points (see the black dots in Fig. 4). Therefore, the stress applied from the jewel 100 to the end face 11a can be dispersed by the contact at multiple points.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the method for manufacturing a decorative item according to this embodiment.
The jewel support 10 according to this embodiment has a ceramic ring 11. The ceramic ring 11 is less susceptible to elastic deformation than the metal ring 11. However, since even ceramics can be elastically deformed, this property can be utilized to manufacture the ornament 1.

That is, first, a gemstone support 10 having a ceramic ring 11 is prepared. An opening 11h is provided in the middle of the annular shape of the ring 11. The distance d1 between the opposing end faces 11a at the opening 11h is narrower than the outer diameter d2 of the gemstone 100. The difference between the distance d1 and the outer diameter d2 is, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less. A recess 12 is provided in the end face 11a. The recess 12 is formed, for example, by cutting using a disk-shaped diamond cutter.

Next, a force is applied from the center outward to the ceramic ring 11 to expand the opening 11h. A force is applied to the ring 11 within the range of elastic deformation. The spacing d3 of the expanded opening 11h is wider than the outer diameter d2 of the jewelry 100. The difference between the spacing d3 and the outer diameter d2 is, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less. In other words, by applying a force outward to the ceramic ring 11 to elastically deform it, the spacing of the opening 11h is expanded, for example, in the range of 0.2 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less.

Next, with the opening 11h widened, the jewel 100 is inserted between the two end faces 11a of the opening 11h. Then, the external force applied to the ring 11 is released. When the external force is released, the gap d3 of the opening 11h of the ring 11, which had been widened by elastic deformation, returns to gap d1, and the jewel 100 is sandwiched between the two end faces 11a. At this time, the outer periphery 110 of the jewel 100 is fitted into the recess 12 provided in the end face 11a and positioned. The jewel 100 is sandwiched between the two end faces 11a of the opening 11h by the elastic restoring force of the ceramic ring 11. If necessary, adhesive may be applied inside the recess 12, and the outer periphery 110 of the jewel 100 fitted into the recess 12 may be additionally fixed inside the recess 12 by the adhesive. This completes the ornament 1.

Even if the jewel support 10 is a ceramic ring 11 as in this embodiment, it is possible to sandwich the jewel 100 in the opening 11h of the ring 11 by utilizing the elasticity of the ceramic, thereby forming a ring-shaped accessory 1. In this case, since the outermost edge 111 of the jewel 100 does not abut the bottom portion 12b of the recess 12, it is possible to avoid stress concentration from the diamond to the ceramic and suppress the impact on the ring 11, even if the jewel 100 is made of diamond, which is harder than the ceramic of the ring 11, for example.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to construct a jewelry support 10 and an ornament 1 using a ring 11 made of ceramics that can prevent the occurrence of metal allergies.

Although the present embodiment and its application examples have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, the material of the ring 11 does not have to be entirely ceramic, and the periphery of a non-ceramic core material may be coated with ceramic. The cross-sectional shape and opening shape of the recess 12 may be other than those shown above. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention also includes those in which a person skilled in the art has appropriately added, deleted, or modified components of the above-mentioned embodiment or its application examples, or those in which the features of each embodiment are appropriately combined, as long as they include the gist of the present invention.

1...ornament, 10...jewelry support, 11...ring, 11a...end surface, 11h...opening, 12...recess, 12b...bottom portion, 100...jewel, 110...periphery, 111...outermost edge, 112...periphery, a...base, b...hypothetic side, c...hypothetic side, d1...spacing, d2...outer diameter, d3...spacing, θ1...angle, θ2...angle

Claims (6)

A jewelry support for supporting a jewelry piece, comprising:
a circular ceramic ring having an opening in a portion thereof;
a recess provided on each of two opposing end surfaces of the opening of the ring;
Equipped with
the opening shape of the recess as viewed from the front of the end face is a line-symmetric polygon in which at least one diagonal and a line perpendicular to the diagonal can be an axis of line symmetry, and each of the interior angles is smaller than 180 degrees;
The said jewellery is round brilliant cut;
The girdle portion of the jewelry is fitted into the recess along the axis of symmetry, which is the diagonal of the polygon;
The edge of the recess and the jewel are in contact at multiple points,
The bottom portion of the recess is located at a position deeper than the position where the outermost edge of the jewel reaches when the jewel is set in the opening of the ring.
Gemstone support. The cross-sectional shape of the recess in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring is polygonal.
2. The gem support of claim 1. The cross-sectional shape of the recess has an angle of 65 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less that opens toward the end surface.
3. The gem support of claim 2. An ornament comprising a jewel support and a jewel supported by the jewel support,
The gem support is
a circular ceramic ring having an opening in a portion thereof;
a recess provided on each of two opposing end surfaces of the opening of the ring;
Equipped with
the opening shape of the recess as viewed from the front of the end face is a line-symmetric polygon in which at least one diagonal and a line perpendicular to the diagonal can be an axis of line symmetry, and each of the interior angles is smaller than 180 degrees;
The said jewellery is round brilliant cut;
The girdle portion of the jewelry is fitted into the recess along the axis of symmetry, which is the diagonal of the polygon;
The edge of the recess and the jewel are in contact at multiple points,
The bottom portion of the recess is located deeper than the position where the outermost edge of the jewel reaches when the jewel is set in the opening of the ring.
Decorative tools. The cross-sectional shape of the recess in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the ring is polygonal.
The decorative item according to claim 4. The cross-sectional shape of the recess has an angle of 65 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less that opens toward the end surface.
The decorative item according to claim 5.

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