GB2515512A

GB2515512A - Article and method of formation

Info

Publication number: GB2515512A
Application number: GB1311301.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Quayle
Original assignee: ALLIED GOLD Ltd
Current assignee: ALLIED GOLD Ltd
Priority date: 2013-06-25
Filing date: 2013-06-25
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-25
Also published as: WO2014207468A2; WO2014207468A3; EP3013174B1; HK1205441A1; HK1207804A1; GB201311301D0; GB2515512B; GB2522288A; GB2531467A; US20160302540A1; GB201601330D0; GB2522288B; EP3013174A2; GB201411321D0

Abstract

A method of forming a substantially annular article comprising providing a first annular element 120R; providing a second annular element 130R having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the first element; positioning the second annular element around the first annular element; and rolling the first annular element with the second annular element until a diameter of the first annular element has increased sufficiently to trap the second annular element. The inner element may have a circumferential groove 125 in its outer surface to trap the second element. The article may be worn around the wrist or finger, and so may be a bracelet or a ring. The elements may be formed from a precious metal such as gold, silver or platinum. The first element may have a number of circumferential grooves, with an annular element in each. The annular element may be formed by cutting from a tube, or by pressing a blank from a sheet and forming a tube element by coning.

Description

ARTICLE AND METHOD OF FORMATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to articles of jewellery and to a method of formation thereof.

In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to articles of jewellery comprising two or more precious metals, further particularly but not exclusively two or more rings or bands of precious metal joined to form a single ring or band.

BACKGROUND

It is known to form a ring or the like from two or more precious metals each in the form of a circular ring element. The two ring elements may be stacked on top of one another in a side by side arrangement along a common axis, and joined together by soldering. Alternatively the ring elements may be joined such that one ring element (an outer ring element) surrounds the other ring element (an inner or basal ring element), i.e. one is positioned radially outward of the other.

In the latter case, the ring is typically fabricated by forming a groove in a radially outer surface of the basal ring element by machining on a lathe. The outer ring element is then placed around the basal ring element, and the basal ring element expanded by stretching to increase its diameter. The basal ring element is expanded sufficiently to trap the outer ring element in the groove formed in the inner ring element.

Bands or bangles of two different precious metals may be made in a similar manner to the rings described above.

It is an aim of the present invention to address disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention may be understood with reference to the appended claims.

Aspects of the present invention provide an article and a method.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of forming a substantially annular article comprising: providing a first annular element; providing a second annular element having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the first element; positioning the second annular element around the first annular element; and rolling the first annular element with the second annular element positioned therearound until a diameter of the first annular element has increased sufficiently to trap the second annular element in the circumferential groove of the first element.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a second annular element of reduced thickness (in a radial direction) may be employed. This is because the groove may be formed to a more precise depth and in some embodiments a more shallow depth by rolling compared to cutting. Thus, the first annular member may be formed to be thinner than prior art members because it is not required to support as deep a groove. The second annular element may be formed to have a thickness lower than that of known articles since the groove may be made to a more precise depth, eliminating the requirement to finish the article by trimming a thickness of the second element (typically by turning and cutting in a lathe) so that it does not stand proud of the first element, following expansion of the first element.

The ability to employ a second annular clement (and/or a first annular element) of reduced thickness has the advantage that the amount of precious metal required to be used to form the article may be reduced, reducing in turn a cost of materials required to form each article.

Advantageously the method comprises forming a circumferential groove in a radially outer surface of the first element prior to positioning the second element around the first element.

Further advantageously the method comprises forming the circumferential groove by rolling.

This feature has the advantage that loss of material due to turning and cutting the first annular element may be avoided. This reduces wastage of valuable material, which is typically recycled. By avoiding cutting, the step of recycling may be avoided. Use of cutting equipment may also be avoided.

The method may comprise forming the circumferential groove to have a length parallel to a cylinder axis of the first element that is sufficiently large to trap the second annular element in the groove when the first annular element is subsequently rolled.

It is to be understood that the groove may be formed in the first element such that when the first element has been expanded by rolling to trap the second element, the groove shrinks in length to trap the second element. The second element may be arranged to be trapped by an interference fit within the groove. Other arrangements are also useful.

The annular article may be arranged to be worn around one selected from amongst a finger or wrist.

Optionally, the first annular elementis of an inside diameter in the range from substantially 10mm to substantially 25mm, optionally in the range from around 14mm to around 22mm.

This size range is found to be suitable for manufacturing rings to be worn on fingers.

Thus, the annular elements may be ring elements for forming a ring to be worn on a digit of a person, such as a finger or thumb. Such rings typically have an inside diameter in the size range from 13.370mm (inside circumference 42mm) to 23.877mm (inside circumference 75mm). Other sizes are also useful.

Alternatively the first annular element may have an inside diameter in the range from around to 75mm. This size range is found to be suitable for manufacturing bangles to be worn around a wrist.

The bangles may have an inside diameter in the range from 54mm (inside diameter 169.7mm) to 75mm (inside diameter 235.7mm).

The method may comprise forming the first annular element from a first material and the second annular element from a second material.

The first and second materials may be substantially the same material.

The first and second materials may be different respective materials.

For example, the first and second materials may comprise different elements, or comprise alloys of different respective compositions.

The first and second materials may comprise a precious metal.

For example, the first and second materials may comprise gold, silver or platinum.

Other materials and other non-precious metals and combinations thereof are also useful.

The precious metal may be white gold, yellow gold or red gold. Other types of gold are also useful.

It is to be understood that the first and second annular elements may be formed from respective different precious metals. For example the first element may be formed from yellow gold and the second element may be formed from white gold or red gold. Other arrangements are also useful.

The step of positioning a second annular element around the first annular element may comprise positioning a plurality of annular elements around the first annular element.

Optionally the step of forming a circumferential groove comprises forming a plurality of circumferential grooves in the first element.

Optionally the method may comprise providing an annular element in each of the plurality of grooves in the first element.

The method may comprise forming one or more of the annular elements by cutting from a tube.

The method may comprise forming one or more of the annular elements by pressing a blank from a sheet, the blank being formed in the shape of an annulus, subsequently forming a tube element from the blank.

Optionally, forming the tube element from the blank comprises forming the tube element by coning.

Thus, optionally, the blank may be subject to one or more coning operations whereby the blank is coned' to form a slug in the form of a relatively shod length of tube. The coning operation involves forcing the blank through a die in order to deform the blank into a cone shape (a frusto-conical shape). The slug may then be subjected to one or more drawing operations in a die until the slug is of a substantially uniform wall thickness and substantially constant diameter along a length thereof.

Thus, the one or more drawing operations will typically ensure that sides of the slug are substantially parallel and of substantially constant thickness along a length of the slug.

It is to be understood that the coning operation effectively twists the sheet of material from which the blank is formed by substantially 90 degrees, to form a relatively short length of tube.

Forming the slug in this manner has the advantage that a jewellery maker is not required to keep substantial lengths of tube of precious metal in stock, with tubes of different size for different article diameters.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided an article formed by a method according to any preceding aspect.

In a still further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of forming an article comprising: providing a first annular element substantially in the shape of a washer; forming a groove in a surface of the annular element; placing a second element in the groove formed in the first element; and coning the first element to form a slug comprising the first and second elements.

The method may comprise subjecting the slug to a drawing operation.

Optionally, the groove is provided in the form of an endless loop around an axis of the first annular element.

The method may comprise forming the second element to be of a shape corresponding substantially to the groove, the second element being arranged to fit at least partially within the groove.

The method may comprise joining the first and second elements, for example by means of soldering, to retain the second element within the groove.

The second element may therefore be combined with the first element on a substantially flat surface of the blank pre-coning. Some embodiments of the invention have the advantage that a rolling operation to increase a diameter of the first element may be eliminated since the coning operation (and optionally the drawing operation in addition) may be sufficient to cause the first and second elements to be of a snug fit together.

Optionally, the second element is in the form of a substantially endless loop.

Alternatively the second element may be discontinuous. The second element may be formed by joining ends of a length of material to form a substantially continuous, endless element.

The second element may be oriented radially rather than circumferentially in some embodiments. For example the second element may be provided with a longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to a radial direction, for example in the manner of a spoke of a wheel.

A plurality of second elements may be provided.

The first and second annular elements may be substantially circular.

As noted above, in an alternative embodiment the second annular elements may be non-circular. The second annular elements may be substantially linear. Other arrangements are also useful.

The first and second elements may be formed from a similar or different metal. The second element may be formed to have a corrugated profile. Other arrangements are also useful.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided an article formed by a method according to a preceding aspect.

The article may be an article of jewellery, optionally a finger ring, a wrist band, a bracelet or a bangle or like article.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives, and in particular the individual features thereof, set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, may be taken independently or in any combination. For example features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is to be understood that features described with respect to one aspect of the invention may be included within any other aspect of the invention, alone or in appropriate combination with one or more other features.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIGURE 1 illustrates a process of forming a double ring according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 illustrates a structure of a double ring according to an embodiment of the present invention (a) before and (b) after rolling of inner and outer ring elements to form a single double ring; FIGURE 3 shows first and second ring elements according to an embodiment of the present invention in (a) plan view, (b) front view and (c) perspective view; FIGURE 4 shows a triple ring according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 5 illustrates a process of forming a double ring according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an article of jewellery comprising two or more ring elements that are combined in a single article.

FIG. 1 shows a process of forming an article according to one embodiment of the invention.

In the present example illustrated the article is a finger ring, in particular a finger ring of the double ring' type in which two ring elements are combined to form a single article. Double rings are typically formed such that each ring element is formed from a different precious metal, for example a yellow gold and a red gold, a white gold and a red gold, or any desired combination of red, yellow and white gold. Other precious metals may be used in addition or instead, such as platinum or silver or any other suitable precious metal.

In the present embodiment an annular blank of material 100 (FIG. 1(a)) is first formed by pressing from a sheet of material. The blank 100 may be described as being substantially in the shape of a washer.

The material may be any suitable material but in the present embodiment the material is a precious metal. The metal may be any suitable precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum, a coloured gold in the form of an alloy of gold with silver and/or copper such as white gold, yellow gold or red gold, or any suitable metal.

It is to be understood that gold of different colours such as white, yellow or red is typically produced by alloying gold with one or more of silver or copper. A reddish coloured gold may be formed by alloying with copper, whilst a whitish gold may be formed by alloying with silver.

After forming the blank 100, the blank 100 is coned in a coning operation whereby the sheet of metal from which the blank is formed is rotated through substantially 90 degrees about a circumferential axis from the substantially flat initial shape shown in FIG. 1(a) through a cone-like shape (frusto-conical shape) shown in FIG. 1(b) through to a slug 120 having a substantially tubular shape as shown in FIG. 1(c).

The process of starting from a sheet, producing a washer and then forming a short section of tube by a series of coning processes (which involve drawing of the die) may be referred to as the Klink process in some embodiments. The short section of tube is referred to herein as a slug' but may also be referred to as a do-nut'. It is to be understood that one or more annealing processes may be performed between coning and drawing operations to relieve mechanical stress due for example to work hardening. An annealing process may be performed at any stage of the process of fabricating an article, as required.

The slug is then drawn by means of a die to ensure that the wall of the slug is of substantially uniform thickness and substantially constant diameter along a length thereof.

The resulting structure may be referred to as a ring element 1 2CR.

The ring element 12CR is then placed between first and second rollers Ri, R2 as shown in FIG. 1(d). Roller Ri has a ridge portion Rlr formed around a peripheral surface thereof shaped to form a recess 125 in the outer surface of the ring element 12CR when the ring element 12CR is placed between the rollers Ri, R2. The second roller R2 is substantially flat around the peripheral surface. The ring element 12CR is rolled' between the rollers Ri, R2 which are urged together under pressure until the recess 125 is sufficiently deep to receive a second ring element 13CR (FIG. 1(e) and FIG. 2). The ring element 12CR may be subject to an annealing treatment before, during and/or after rolling to form the recess or groove 125.

It is to be understood that in some embodiments the first roller Ri may have two or more ridge portions Rir thereby to form a corresponding two or more recesses 125 in the ring element 12CR.

After forming the recess 125 in the ring element 12CR, the second ring element 13CR is formed in a similar manner to the first 120R and presented to the first ring element 120R.

The second ring element 13CR has an internal diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first ring element 12CR. The second ring element 13CR is of a length L parallel to a cylinder axis thereof that is sufficiently small to fit within the recess 125 formed in the first ring element 120R.

FIG. 3 illustrates the second ring element 1 30R being offered to the first ring element 1 20R.

FIG. 3(a) shows a view from above whilst FIG. 3(b) shows a front view, parallel to a cylinder axis of the ring elements 12CR, 13CR. FIG. 3(c) is a 3D view of the configuration shown in FIG. 3(a).

It can be seen that in the present embodiment the second ring element 13CR is arranged to have an inside diameter that is sufficiently large to allow it to fit over the first ring element 120R. The inside diameter of the second ring element 130R may be substantially the same as an outer diameter of the first ring element 120R in some embodiments.

The first and second ring elements 12CR, 130R are then placed between a further pair of rollers, third and fourth rollers R3, R4 as shown in FIG. 1(e) such that the second ring element 13CR is held securely within the recess 125 formed in the first ring element 120R.

The first and second ring elements 120R, 130R are then rolled between the rollers R3, R4, pressure being applied by the rollers to cause the first ring element 120R to increase in diameter.

In the present embodiment roller R3 has a diameter of around 100mm whilst roller R4 has a diameter of around 8mm. Other arrangements are also useful.

The second ring element 13CR may also increase in diameter in some embodiments, however the first ring element 120R is arranged to increase in diameter at a faster rate than the second ring element 13CR such that the first ring element 12CR expands to capture the second ring element 13CR snugly within the recess 125 around substantially the entire diameter of the first ring element 12CR. The second ring element 13CR is thereby constrained such that it cannot become detached from the first ring element 120R. The groove 125 formed in the first ring element 12CR may contract in length parallel to the cylinder axis thereof during the rolling process, gripping the second ring element 130R and preventing relative movement once the fabrication process is complete. It is to be understood that a thickness of the first ring element 120R in a radial direction will reduce as a consequence of the rolling process, which results in an increase in circumference of the ring element 12CR. The ring element 12CR is therefore formed initially to have a radial thickness that is greater than the intended thickness at the end of the rolling operation.

It is to be understood that deforming the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R by rolling facilitates the formation of an article for which little or no further processing is required in respect of the addition of the second ring element 1 30R to the first 12CR. That is, an outer diameter of second ring element 130R may become substantially the same as the outer diameter of the first ring element 120R. As such, trimming of the second ring element 130R by cutting in a lathe or other means is not required. For example, in the prior art example described above, stretching of the first ring element without rolling is performed until the second ring element becomes securely embedded in the groove formed in the first ring element 120R. The second ring element 130F1 may therefore not increase in diameter at all, or by any significant amount. It is therefore important to ensure that a depth of the groove formed in the first ring element will correspond substantially to the thickness of the second ring element when the first ring element has been stretched to grip the second ring element. This is not an easy task to achieve, and trimming of the second ring element to reduce the radial thickness thereof is typically required. In contrast, in embodiments of the present invention the rolling together of the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R may be arranged to have the effect that the first and second elements 1 20R, 1 30R have substantially the same outer diameter, eliminating the need to trim either of the elements 120R, 130R.

Furthermore, because both the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R will typically experience some increase in circumference and therefore reduction in radial diameter as a consequence of the rolling process, the second ring element 130R may be formed to have a lower thickness than would otherwise be achievable reliably and reproducibly using known techniques. By way of example, in some embodiments of the present invention the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R may be arranged to increase in diameter by at least a factor of from around 1.5 to 2 or 3, as required.

It is to be understood that the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R may be subject to an annealing treatment before, during and/or after the rolling operation.

The second ring element 130R may be held within the groove without any further joining processes. Alternatively, the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R may be joined by soldering, or heating to allow interdiffusion of metal between the elements 120R, 130R to form a bond between them.

The article formed by combining the first and second ring elements 120R, 130R as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 may be referred as a double ring'. As noted above, a triple ring may be formed by combing a third ring element with the first and second ring elements. FIG. 4 illustrates a triple ring in which a first ring element 220R has second and third ring elements 231 R, 232R provided in respective recesses 225 formed in the first ring element 220R. Other arrangements are also useful.

In some embodiments, a recess or groove may be formed in the first ring element 120R on a radially inner, circumferential surface instead of the radially outer circumferential surface as per the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. This may be accomplished by reversing the relative positions of the first and second rollers Ri, R2 in FIG. 1(d) to form the groove on the radially inner surface of the first ring element 120R. The second ring element 130R is then placed on an inside of the first ring element 120R and the first and second ring elements 1 20R, 1 30R rolled to increase the diameter of the second ring element 1 30R. The diameter of the second ring element 130R is increased at a rate greater than the first 120R to cause the second ring element 130R to expand to sit within the groove formed in the first ring element 120R.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of fabricating an article according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown the article is also in the form of a double ring.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a first blank 300 is formed by pressing from a sheet of precious metal. The blank 300 is substantially in the form of a washer shaped element.

A groove 325 is formed in the blank 300 by pressing. Other methods of forming the groove 325 are also useful, for example by cutting, e.g. by means of a lathe or any other suitable means for forming a groove.

Once the groove 325 has been formed, a second blank 330 is inserted into the groove 325 to form a blank assembly 300A as shown in FIG. 5(a). The second blank 330 is shaped and sized in a complementary manner to the groove 325 such that a radial width w of the groove is greater than or substantially equal to the radial width of the second blank 330. In the present embodiment, the second blank 330 is soldered to the first blank 300 to retain the second blank 330 in the groove formed in the first blank 300.

The assembly 300A is then subject to a coning operation in a similar manner to the blank illustrated in FIG. 1. The assembly 300A is thus transformed through an intermediate frusto-conical shaped structure as shown in FIG. 5(b) to a substantially tubular structure 320T as shown in FIG. 5(c). The tubular structure 300T may be considered to be composed of a first ring element 320R (formed from blank 300) having a second ring element 330R (formed from second blank 330) embedded in an outer circumferential surface thereof. The tubular structure 3001 is then subject to a drawing operation in which the structure is drawn to ensure that a wall thickness and a diameter of the structure is substantially uniform along a length thereof.

It is to be understood that in the embodiments of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the grooves 125, 225, 325 and second ring elements 1 30R, 231 R, 232R, 330R may be formed to be of any desirable shape. Thus the second ring elements may have a corrugated shape, a helical or other curved shape, or any other suitable shape.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, instead of a single ring element 330R, two or more ring elements may be provided. In some alternative embodiments one or more letters, indicia or other elements may be embedded in corresponding grooves or recesses formed in the first blank 300. The elements may be shaped such that following the coning operation (and/or a subsequent drawing operation if required) the elements have a desired shape. Thus, the elements as inserted into the grooves or recesses may be of a shape (and optionally a thickness) that is distorted relative to the final desired shape (and optionally thickness) such that following the coning operation and/or drawing operation the elements have the desired shape and thickness.

It is to be understood that a trimming and/or polishing operation may be performed following the coning or drawing operation, to reduce a thickness of the second ring element 130R, 231 R, 232R, 330R.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming an article such as a finger ring, bracelet, bangle or other wrist or arm-worn article that enables the article to be formed with a reduced amount of wastage and a reduced amount of starting material.

Some embodiments enable a ring or bracelet or bangle or the like to be formed having a required size with each of the ring elements fitting sufficiently tightly whilst avoiding distortion or breakage.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example comprising" and comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of forming a substantially annular article comprising: providing a first annular element; providing a second annular element having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the first element; positioning the second annular element around the first annular element; and rolling the first annular element with the second annular element positioned therearound until a diameter of the first annular element has increased sufficiently to trap the second annular element in the circumferential groove of the first element.
2. A method according to claim 1 comprising forming a circumferential groove in a radially outer surface of the first element prior to positioning the second element around the first element.
3. A method according to claim 2 comprising forming the circumferential groove by rolling.
4. A method according to claims 2 or claim 3 comprising forming the circumferential groove to have a width that is sufficiently large to trap the second annular element in the groove when the first annular element is subsequently rolled.
5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second annular elements are of a diameter in the range from substantially 5mm to substantially 300mm.
6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the annular article is arranged to be worn around one selected from amongst a finger or wrist.
7. A method according to any preceding claim comprising forming the first annular element from a first material and the second annular element from a second material.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first and second materials are the same material.
9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first and second materials are different respective materials.
10. A method according to any one of claim 7 to 9 wherein the first and second materials comprise a precious metal.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the first and second materials comprise gold, silver or platinum.
12. A method according to any preceding claim wheiein the step of positioning a second annular element around the first annular element comprises positioning a plurality of annular elements around the first annular element.
13. A method according to claim 12 depending through claim 2 wherein the step of forming a circumferential groove comprises forming a plurality of circumferential grooves in the first element.
14. A method according to claim 13 comprising providing an annular element in each of the plurality of grooves in the first element.
15. A method according to any preceding claim comprising foiming one oi more of the annular elements by cutting from a tube.
16. A method according to any preceding claim comprising forming one or more of the annular elements by pressing a blank from a sheet, the blank being formed in the shape of an annulus, subsequently forming a tube element from the blank.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein forming the tube element from the blank comprises forming the tube element by coning.
18. An article formed by a method according to any preceding claim.
19. A method of forming an article comprising providing a first annular element substantially in the shape of a washer; forming a groove in a surface of the annular element; placing a second element in the groove formed in the first element; and coning the first element to form a slug comprising the first and second elements.
20. A method according to claim 19 comprising subjecting the slug to a drawing operation.,
21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20 whereby the groove is provided in the form of an endless loop around an axis of the first annular element.
22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21 comprising forming the second element to be of a shape corresponding substantially to the groove, the second element being arranged to fit at least partially within the groove.
23. A method according to claim 22 as dependent on claim 22 whereby the second element is in the form of a substantially endless loop.
24. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 23 whereby the first and second annular elements are substantially circular.
25. A method or an article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A method of forming a substantially annular article comprising: providing a first annular element having a circumferential groove formed in a radially outer surface thereof; providing a second annular element having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the first element; positioning the second annular element around the first annular element; and rolling the first annular element with the second annular element positioned therearound until a diameter of the first annular element has increased sufficiently to trap the second annular element in the circumferential groove of the first element.2. A method according to claim 1 comprising forming a circumferential groove in a radially outer surface of the first element prior to positioning the second element around the first element.3. A method according to claim 2 comprising forming the circumferential groove by rolling. LtD4. A method according to claims 2 or claim 3 comprising forming the circumferential C'J groove to have a width that is sufficiently large to trap the second annular element in the groove when the first annular element is subsequently rolled.5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second annular elements are of a diameter in the range from substantially 5mm to substantially 300mm.6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the annular article is arranged to be worn around one selected from amongst a finger or wrist.7. A method according to any preceding claim comprising forming the first annular element from a first material and the second annular element from a second material.S. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first and second materials are the same material.9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first and second materials are different respective materials.10. A method according to any one of claim 7 to 9 wherein the first and second materials comprise a precious metal.11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the first and second materials comprise gold, silver or platinum.12. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the step of positioning a second annular element around the first annular element comprises positioning a plurality of annular elements around the first annular element.13. A method according to claim 12 depending through claim 2 wherein the step of forming a circumferential groove comprises forming a plurality of circumferential grooves in the first element.14. A method according to claim 13 comprising providing an annular element in each of LI) the plurality of grooves in the first element.C'.J 15. A method according to any preceding claim comprising forming one or more of the annular elements by cutting from a tube.16. A method according to any preceding claim comprising forming one or more of the annular elements by pressing a blank from a sheet, the blank being formed in the shape of an annulus, subsequently forming a tube element from the blank.17. A method according to claim 16 wherein forming the tube element from the blank comprises forming the tube element by coning.18. An article formed by a method according to any preceding claim.19. A method or an article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.