Inner shine

Abstract

An article of jewelry arranged to enhance natural optical effects, such as sparkle and scintillation, is described. The article comprises a gem, such as a brilliant cut diamond, and one or more light sources. A device is Incorporated in the article of jewelry for the purpose of amplifying the light so as to enhance the appearance of the gemstone. This is accomplished by channeling ambient light through, for example, an optical fiber into the gemstone. The ambient light is amplified using a lens in order to make the gem appear more brilliant which drives additional light into the gem to enhance the natural optical effects of the gem.

Claims

1. An article of jewelry containing a gemstone arranged to enhance optical effects, such as sparkle, the article comprising a gem and at least one diverting light source incorporated in the article of jewelry for enhancing the optical effect of the gem.

2. An article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the light output intensity is increased causing the gem to appear more brilliant and of better quality.

3. An article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the gem is enhanced by an optical light source, such as a fiber optic so as to cause the ambient light to be amplified.

4. An article of jewelry according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more additional light sources, each being arranged to illuminate the gem and equipped with a lens to channel additional light to the gem.

5. An article of jewelry according to claim 4, wherein the lens or lenses are colored to make the gem have an appearance of a different color.

6. An article of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the jewel includes at least one precious stone, semi-precious stone or imitation stone.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an article of jewelry in which the gem is naturally illuminated in such a way as to enhance its appearance. This is accomplished by channeling additional ambient light into the gem so as to make the gem appear more brilliant and of higher quality.

[0009] Thus, an article of jewelry embodying the present invention can maintain an enhanced appearance in the presence of ambient light. The stimulation of the optical effects enhances the natural optical effects of the gem.

[0010] The term jewel is to be construed broadly throughout this description to mean any article or a material having optical reflective and/or refractive properties. Examples of such jewels are one or more precious stones such as diamonds or rubies, semiprecious stones, and imitations of such stones made from artificial materials. These jewels may be combined aesthetically as desired. The amplification of light in this way enhances the natural internal optical reflections of a gemstone. The light reaching the viewer appears to come from different positions within the gem in the preferred embodiment which represents a realistic optical effect. The channeling of ambient light using, for example, fiber optics and lenses, to increase the ambient light entering the gem causes the gem to appear more brilliant and of higher quality.

[0011] A jewel may be coupled to more than one or more redirecting light sources. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light sources are arranged to channel ambient light of different colors through lenses. This advantageously provides stimulation of the natural refractive optical effects that are seen in an externally illuminated gem. Advantageously, realistic visual effects can be produced by varying the color of the gem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first presently preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows an illumination system used in an item of jewelry namely, ring 2. Other geometrical configurations of the system are possible as is the use of the system in other types of jewelry. Beside each gemstone are one or more lenses 3. Each lens 3 is attached to a fiber optic 4 which is used to channel light collected by lens 3 into the gemstone 1 which is embedded within and around ring 2. The result is the redirecting of ambient light into the gemstone creating a more brilliant optical effect 5 in the gemstone 1.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a geometric form of a gemstone having facets such as shown at 11, 12, and 13 to reflect and refract the ambient light entering the gemstone back to the table 10 of the gemstone.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows the reflectivity of the ambient light entering the gemstone at 20 and 21 and leaving the gemstone at 22 and 23, which makes the gemstone appear more brilliant through table 24 of the gemstone.