GB2358574A

GB2358574A - Insertable gemstone setting

Info

Publication number: GB2358574A
Application number: GB0001837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu Chung Li
Original assignee: LUEN TAT WATCH BAND Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: LUEN TAT WATCH BAND Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 2000-01-26
Filing date: 2000-01-26
Publication date: 2001-08-01
Also published as: GB0001837D0

Abstract

Metallic gemstone settings 10 are integrally formed in a serial array to form inserts which fit and can be soldered into prepared cavities in an article such as a bracelet or watch case. The array can be cut to length to provide a required number of stones per setting. The elongate setting may be sufficiently flexible to fit into an arcuate cavity. The setting and article may be of stainless steel.

Description

-1- 2358574.

GEM STONE SETTINGS The invention relates to gem stone (or semi-precious stone) settings principally, although not exclusively, for articles of adornment such as bracelets, watch cases and the like.

It is common practice to form such articles or parts of the articles of steel, especially stainless steel, for receiving and fixing the gem stones. As such materials are not mouldable, the stone settings must be machined out of the solid to form suitable settings to receive and hold the stones securely in position. The settings are formed with accurate miniature fingers that grip over upper edges is of the stones and failure of even one finger of one stone during machining means that the watch case or bracelet part must be scrapped. This alone makes the present manufacturing process difficult and costly.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least reduce this problem.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a gem stone setting formed in a regularly shaped metallic insert for fixing in a surface of a metallic article prepared to receive the insert.

The inserts are preferably formed in an integrally formed series array that can be cut in lengths comprising one or more stone settings for fixing in one operation to the article.

Each setting may have an upper rigid platform in which the setting is formed and a solid base shaped to fit snugly into a cavity in the article.

Each solid base is preferably separated from an adjacent base to allow the array to flex to some extent to allow an array of gem stone settings to be mounted in an arcuate cavity in an article.

According to another aspect of the invention there is is provided a metallic article adorned with gem stones that is formed with a cavity in a normally exposed surface thereof, and a separately formed metallic gem stone setting insert fixed in the cavity.

The gem stone setting preferably comprises integrally formed two or more settings, each for respectively holding a gem stone.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for adorning a stainless steel article with diamonds (or other stones) which comprises preparing the article with a trench of predetermined dimensions, fixing a pre-cast stainless steel insert formed with diamond (or other stone) settings in the trench by soldering, and assembling diamonds in the setting using an automatic assembling machine.

Gem stone settings and a bracelet part fitted with a gem stone setting according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an isometric view of gem stone settings; Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a bracelet part; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of the bracelet part with a gem stone setting insert.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 a gem settinginsert comprises a number of gem stone settings 10 integrally formed in a serial array. Each setting has a rigid platform 11 and a regularly shaped solid base 12 that fits in use in a cavity formed in a normally exposed surface of an article. Each gem setting has four fingers 13 that embrace upper outer edges of a gem stone (not shown). The configuration of each set of fingers 13, with suitable separation dimensions, is provided according to laid down standards, well-known in the art to accept and hold respective different sizes of stones as required.

The bases 12 are separated from one another along the length of the gem stone setting array to allow flexing, to some extent, of the platform 11 between the settings. This enables a number of joined together settings to be fitted and fixed to a cavity in the article that is slightly curved or arcuate, if required.

In use, the arrays shown in Figures 1 and 2 are pre-formed and then cut to length for use. Typically three to five settings are used for each cavity of an article.

In Figure 3, a stainless steel bracelet part or link 14 is machined with a regular shaped rectangular cavity or trench 15. The inner base surface of the cavity and upper surface of the link are slightly curved. An insert formed of four gem stone settings is taken from a suitable length of the array shown in Figures 1 and 2. The insert is commented or otherwise permanently fixed into the cavity 15 as required, as shown in Figure 4.

Articles forming embodiments of the invention can comprise bracelets, watch cases, clock faces and the like to which gem stones are mounted for suitable adornment. The articles are formed wholly or in part of steel (or other usually non-mouldable metals) that are machining to form a suitable cavity 15 to receive the inserts as described.

The machining to form the cavities is relatively simple because the cavities are regularly shaped. In particular, no miniaturised machined components are required in association with the cavity, as in the prior art, to accept and hold a gem stone directly to the article. The gem stone settings are provided separately, where miniaturised machining is required.

Embodiments of the invention therefore make the adorning of articles with gem stones, including semi-precious stones, significantly more reliable or, in any event, less prone to inherently expensive manufacturing costs.

In a method of carrying out the invention a stainless steel article "to be adorned" is prepared with a trench of predetermined dimensions, fixing a pre-cast stainless steel stone setting insert in the trench by soldering, and assembling diamonds in the settings using an automatic assembling machine.

Embodiments of the invention enable stainless steel articles, as described, to be adorned with diamonds (and other stones) in a manner that significantly reduces manufacturing costs compared to prior art methods.

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Claims

1. A gem stone setting formed in a regularly shaped metallic insert for fixing in a surface of ametallic article prepared to receive the insert.

2. An gem stone setting according to claim 1, in which the inserts are formed in an integrally formed series array that can be cut in lengths comprising one or more stone settings for fixing in one operation to the article.

3. A gem stone setting according to claim 1 or 2, in which each setting has an upper rigid platform in which the setting is formed and a solid base shaped to fit snugly into a cavity in the article.

4. A gem stone setting according to claim 3, as dependent on claim 2, in which each solid base is separated from an adjacent base to allow the array to flex to some extent to allow an array of gem stone settings to be mounted in an arcuate cavity in an article.

5. A metallic article adorned with gem stones that is formed with a cavity in a normally exposed surface thereof, and a separately formed metallic gem stone setting insert fixed in the cavity.

6. A metallic article according to claim 5, in which the 7 gem stone setting comprises integrally formed two or more settings, each for respectively holding a gem stone.

7. Gem stone settings and articles fitted with gem stone settings substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method for adorning a stainless steel article with diamonds (or other stones) which comprises preparing the article with a trench of predetermined dimensions, fixing a pre-cast stainless steel stone setting insert in the trench by soldering, and assembling diamonds in the setting using an automatic assembling machine.