MULTI-PURPOSE JEWELRY WITH VARIABLE APPEARANCE

Abstract

Multi-purpose jewelry has a changeable configuration to enable the jewelry to serve as a ring, a pendant/necklace, a brooch, an earring, and/or a bracelet. Various materials and shapes may be provided as decorative aspects of the jewelry. In one aspect, interchangeable decorative surfaces of the jewelry may be provided.

Claims

1. Jewelry comprising: a member configured and sized to fit at least partly around a wearer's finger, the member comprising: an element which generally follows an arc; a pair of extensions, one at either end of the arc that the element generally follows; each extension having a channel facing the wearer's finger and running along the extension; each extension having a hole at a distal end thereof; the jewelry further comprising an insert with flanges on opposing sides of the insert, each flange fitting within a respective channel so that the insert is movable along the channel, and rotatable within the channel; wherein the jewelry is a ring, a necklace, a brooch, or an earring depending on a position and orientation of the insert within the channels of the extensions.

2. Jewelry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jewelry is a ring in response to rotation of the insert in the channels to be perpendicular to the member and to positioning of the insert near the distal ends of the extensions.

3. Jewelry as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a chain inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a necklace in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions.

4. Jewelry as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pin inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a brooch in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions.

5. Jewelry as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rod inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is an earring in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions, the earring comprising an attachment device for attachment to an ear, the rod connecting to the attachment device to hold the jewelry.

6. Jewelry as claimed in claim 5, wherein the attachment device comprises structure selected from the group consisting of a post to go through a hole in an ear lobe and a back into which to insert the post to secure the earring, a wire to go through the hole in the ear lobe, and a clasp to attach to the ear lobe.

7. Jewelry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a base and a decorative addition removably attached to the base.

8. Jewelry as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of decorative additions, each removably attachable to the base.

9. Jewelry as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach the decorative addition to the base, the attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of one or a plurality of magnets, a bayonet mount, and a clasping mechanism.

10. Jewelry as claimed in claim 3, wherein the insert contains a cavity to contain the chain, the insert comprising two pieces which are at least partly separable from each other to enable placement of the chain within the cavity, and securely attachable to each other to secure the chain within the cavity.

11. Jewelry comprising: a member configured and sized to fit at least partly around a wearer's wrist, the member comprising: an element which generally follows an arc; a pair of extensions, one at either end of the arc that the element generally follows; each extension having a channel facing the wearer's finger and running along the extension; each extension having a hole at a distal end thereof; the jewelry further comprising an insert with flanges on opposing sides of the insert, each flange fitting within a respective channel so that the insert is movable along the channel, and rotatable within the channel; wherein the jewelry is a bracelet, a necklace, or a brooch, depending on a position and orientation of the insert within the channels of the extensions.

12. Jewelry as claimed in claim 11, wherein the jewelry is a bracelet in response to rotation of the insert in the channels to be perpendicular to the member and to positioning of the insert near the distal ends of the extensions.

13. Jewelry as claimed in claim 12, wherein the insert contains a cavity, the insert comprising two pieces which are at least partly separable from each other to enable placement of the chain within the cavity, and securely attachable to each other to secure the chain within the cavity.

14. Jewelry as claimed in claim 11, wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal interior to fit around at least part of the wearer's hand.

15. Jewelry as claimed in claim 11, wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal exterior.

16. Jewelry as claimed in claim 11, wherein the decorative addition comprises one or more of metal, wood, gemstones, cameo, or mother of pearl.

17. Jewelry as claimed in claim 16, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of yellow gold, white gold, silver, platinum, copper, titanium, alloys thereof, brass, or stainless steel.

18. Jewelry as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cameo comprises material selected from the group consisting of shell, agate, onyx, ivory, coral, mother-of-pearl, stone, lava, or glass.

19. Jewelry as claimed in claim 16, wherein the wood is selected from the group consisting of redwood, teak, maple, oak, rosewood, olive wood, ebony, pine, cedar, birch, walnut, and mahogany.

20. Jewelry as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gemstones are selected from the group consisting of diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, tanzanite, alexandrite, turquoise, opal, peridot, pearls, agate, spinel, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, quartz, citrine, and jasper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Aspects of the present invention now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1A depicts the jewelry according to an embodiment, and FIGS. 1B and 1C depict alternative attachments for the jewelry according to embodiments;

[0007] FIG. 2 depicts one portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0008] FIG. 3 depicts another portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0009] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict different modes of the jewelry according to embodiments;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a different depiction of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a further depiction of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0012] FIGS. 7A and 7B are yet further depictions of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0013] FIGS. 8A-8C are depictions of an attachment mechanism for jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0014] FIGS. 9A and 9B are further depictions of an attachment mechanism for jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0015] FIGS. 10A-10C are still further depictions of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0016] FIGS. 11A-11C are yet still further depictions of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 12 is a view of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0018] FIGS. 13A-13C are different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0019] FIGS. 14A-14C are still different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0020] FIGS. 15A-15D are yet different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0021] FIGS. 16A and 16B are yet still different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0022] FIGS. 17A-17C are further different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0023] FIGS. 18A-18D are structural and explanatory views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0024] FIGS. 19A-19D are different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 20 is a view of a bracelet according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1A shows a portion of jewelry 100 configured as a necklace, with a chain 110, a member 120 with two extending portions 122, 124, and an insert 130. Extending portion 122 has an opening 123 near its distal end. Extending portion 124 has an opening 125 near its distal end. Chain 110 may be threaded through the openings 123, 125 when the jewelry is being used as a necklace. In an embodiment, as shown for example in FIG. 1B, chain 110 may have clasps 111 at either end, for attachment to respective openings 123, 125 in member 120. In an embodiment, as shown for example in FIG. 1C, a pin 140 may have an elongate portion 145 that fits through the openings 123, 125 to configure the jewelry 100 as a brooch.

[0027] In embodiments, member 120 may have different thicknesses or depths, so that openings 123, 125 may have different sizes, enabling thicker or thinner chains 110 to be used as desired.

[0028] In an embodiment of member 120, as seen for example in FIG. 2, extending portion 122 may have an opening 123 and have a channel 126 running along its interior, and extending portion 124 may have an opening 125 and a channel 127 running along its interior. In an embodiment, member 120 is U-shaped, with extending portions 122, 124 forming the legs of the U shape. In an embodiment, member 120 defines a smooth arc on its outside surface. In different embodiments, member 120 may have a pattern or other decoration on the outside surface. In an embodiment, member 120 defines a smooth arc on its inside surface. In different embodiments, member 120's inside surface need not be smooth. In an embodiment, member 120 may have a shape other than U-shape, for example, square or rectangular. So long as extending portions 122, 124 are configured to enable sliding movement of an insert 130 (see, for example, FIG. 3) in a manner to be described, member 120 may have any arbitrary shape.

[0029] In an embodiment, as seen for example in FIG. 3, insert 130 may have flanges or extensions 132, 134 which seat in respective channels 126, 127 of member 120. The flanges or extending portions 132, 134 enable insert 130 to rotate within channels 126, 127. Insert 130 presents a surface substantially perpendicular to extending portions 122, 124 when the jewelry is configured as a ring. Insert 130 presents a surface substantially parallel to extending portions 122, 124 when the jewelry is configured as a pendant or brooch. In an embodiment, insert 130 is round. In an embodiment, insert 130 may have a shape other than round, for example, oval, or square, or rectangular. So long as flanges 132, 134 extend from insert 130 so as to seat in channels 126, 127 of member 120 and enable insert 130 to rotate within the channels or slide up and down within the channels, insert 130 may have any arbitrary shape. Ordinarily skilled artisans will appreciate that a shape of insert 130 need not conform to an inside area of member 120.

[0030] FIGS. 4A and 4B show different positions of insert 130. FIG. 4A shows a position of insert 130 when the jewelry 100 is configured as a pendant or a brooch. In an embodiment, in the position in FIG. 4A, flanges 132, 134 (not shown) are at or near the bottom of the respective channels 126, 127. Insert 130 is rotated to lie flat or even with member 120. FIG. 4B shows a position of insert 130 when the jewelry 100 is configured as a ring. In the position in FIG. 4B, flanges 132, 134 are at or near the top of the respective channels 126, 127. Insert 130 is rotated so as to be substantially perpendicular to member 120, leaving room for a wearer to slip the ring on their finger.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows more detail of insert 130. In embodiments, insert 130 may have a relatively flat surface to which a decorative addition 135 may be attached. Attachment may be accomplished in a variety of ways. Where attachment is intended to be permanent, an epoxy, glue, or other attachment material may be used. Ordinarily skilled artisans will appreciate that other types of permanent attachment may be used.

[0032] In an embodiment, attachment may be releasable or removable or temporary, for example, to allow different kinds of attachments to provide different jewelry appearances, for example, with different surfaces, or different materials (including metal, gemstone, wood, mother of pearl, or plastic). Ordinarily skilled artisans will appreciate that there are a number of different ways of achieving releasable or removable or temporary attachment. By way of non-limiting example, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the attachment may be by way of magnets 137, 139 in lower half 136 and upper half 138 of insert 130, respectively. Upper half 138 contains decorative addition 135. As another non-limiting example, the attachment may be by way of a bayonet mechanism, with one of upper 138 and lower half 136 having a protrusion, and the other of upper half 138 and lower half 136 having a groove into which the protrusion fits such that rotation of the half with the groove around the half with the protrusion locks the two halves with each other. Yet another non-limiting example of temporary attachment is a clasping mechanism. In one embodiment, the clasping mechanism may have flexible clips which deform around insert 130 to hold upper half 138 and lower half 136 together. In another embodiment, the clasping mechanism may have clips which rotate away from the insert 130 to permit detachment of upper half 138 from lower half 136, and rotate toward the insert 130 to permit attachment of upper half 138 to lower half 136. In an embodiment, the clips may extend from one of lower half 136 or upper half 138, and extend around the other of lower half 136 or upper half 138 to secure the decorative addition 135 to insert 130.

[0033] Another feature of the embodiment of FIG. 6 is a cavity 115 defined by lower half 136 and upper half 138, where these halves are not solid, so as to leave space that is formed when the halves are mate. In an embodiment, a chain 110 may be stored in cavity 115 so that, when jewelry 100 is to be worn as a necklace, the chain 110 may be removed from cavity 115, and inserted through openings 123, 125 in respective extending portions 122, 124. The chain 110 may fit around the neck of the user, and may be provided with a clasp 111 as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0034] As a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 5, a top of insert 130 and a back of decorative addition 135 may be hollow so as to accommodate a chain 110, to the same end as with the embodiment of FIG. 6.

[0035] FIGS. 7A and 7B show different views of insert 130. FIG. 7A is a front view, with flanges 132 and 134 visible, as well as lower half 136 and upper half 138. FIG. 7B is a side view, with flange 132 sticking out from the plane of the Figure.

[0036] FIGS. 8A-8C are depictions of an alternative attachment for jewelry according to an embodiment. FIG. 8A shows front and side views of insert 130. In FIG. 8A, heart-shaped cutout 150 may be filled with enamel 155, or another material to provide a varied appearance. The heart shape may be any desired shape. FIG. 8B likewise shows insert 130 divided into two pieces. Circular magnet 137 attaches decorative addition 135 to base 139 in FIG. 8C. With this arrangement, decorative addition 135 may be swapped out for any of a number of elements, to change the appearance of the jewelry, whether the jewelry is configured as a necklace, or as a ring, or as a brooch.

[0037] FIGS. 9A and 9B are further depictions of another alternative attachment for jewelry according to an embodiment. FIG. 9A resembles the configuration of FIG. 8A, but has a different attachment mechanism, as shown in FIG. 9B. This attachment mechanism divides the pieces of insert 130 horizontally instead of vertically, leaving halves 160, 165. Half 160 has the cut portion facing the reader, while half 165 has the cut portion facing away. Magnet 170 in half 160 mates with a corresponding magnet (not shown) in half 165, so that the halves 160, 165 can be mated.

[0038] FIG. 10A shows insert 130 with a mother of pearl, or nacre insert 155 inside heart-shaped opening 150, as an alternative to the enamel in FIG. 8A according to an embodiment. FIG. 10B shows a side view of insert 130. In an embodiment, mother of pearl insert 155 would fit inside insert 130, and so would not be visible in FIG. 10B. FIG. 10C shows mother of pearl surface 159 inside ring 158, which would attach to an underside of insert 130. A back of the mother of pearl surface 159 may be exposed according to an embodiment.

[0039] In addition to the enamel 155 in FIG. 8A or mother of pearl inset 155 in FIG. 10A, other materials may be considered usefully. Different kinds of wood or stones or gemstones may be carved and inset, for example. A different kind of metal from the metal of insert 130 also may be used, to provide color contrast, according to an embodiment.

[0040] FIGS. 11A-11C are yet still further depictions of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment, as a variant of the embodiment of FIGS. 10A-10C. FIGS. 11A and 11B are the same as FIGS. 10A and 10B, and so will not be discussed further here. In FIG. 10C, mother of pearl inset 159 seats at the back of insert 130, and is exposed at the back. In FIG. 11C, backing piece 180 seats inside a back of insert 130, behind the mother of pearl inset 159. In an embodiment, protrusions 182 in backing piece 180 mate with indentations 184 at the back of insert 130.

[0041] FIG. 12 is a view of member 120 according to an embodiment, showing more detail. In FIG. 12, channel 127 and its relation to opening 125 are more apparent. Opening 123 also is shown. Variants for the outside appearance of member 120 in FIG. 12 may be the same as described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 4A.

[0042] FIGS. 13A-13C are different views of a portion of the jewelry according to an embodiment. All three of FIGS. 13A-13C show views of insert 130. FIG. 13B shows decorative addition 134, along with flanges or extending portions 132, 134. FIG. 13C shows decorative addition 135 as a top half of insert 130.

[0043] FIGS. 14A-14C are still different views of member 120 according to an embodiment. FIG. 14A shows channel 127 and its relation to opening 125, with opening 123 opposing opening 125. FIG. 14B shows member 120 in a different orientation, with channel 127 and opening 123. FIG. 14C shows a side view of member 120, with extending arm 122 and opening 123.

[0044] FIGS. 15A-15D show different views of insert 130 inside member 120. FIG. 15A shows a top view of member 130, with top half 138 and bottom half 136, with flanges or extending portions 132, 134 inside their respective channels. In the orientation in FIG. 15A, insert 130 is flush with member 120. This would be a necklace or broach orientation according to an embodiment. FIG. 15B shows insert 130 perpendicular to member 120. This would be a ring orientation according to an embodiment, with member 120 surrounding a wearer's finger, and insert 130 overlying the wearer's finger.

[0045] FIG. 15C shows a different view of the orientation of FIG. 15A, with insert 130 slid some distance down the channels 125, 127 (not shown) in the necklace or brooch orientation according to an embodiment. FIG. 15D shows a different view of the orientation of FIG. 15B, with insert 130 slid to the top of the channels 125, 127 in the ring orientation according to an embodiment.

[0046] FIGS. 16A and 16B show top and side views of a coin shaped element 190 from which one or more portions of insert 130 may be made, for example, the bottom half 136 or top half 138, or even decorative addition 135.

[0047] FIGS. 17A-17C show an embodiment of member 120 similar to that in FIG. 2. In an embodiment, as seen for example in FIGS. 17A-17C, extending portion 122 may have an opening 123 and a channel 126 running along its interior. Extending portion 124 may have an opening 125 and a channel 127 running along its interior. In an embodiment, member 120 is U-shaped, with extending portions 122, 124 forming the legs of the U shape. In an embodiment, the U shape is convenient for a ring or a bracelet because a finger or a wrist can fit the contour of the inner portion of the U shape.

[0048] In an embodiment, member 120 defines a smooth arc on its outside surface. In different embodiments, member 120 may have a pattern or other decoration on the outside surface. In an embodiment, member 120 defines a smooth arc on its inside surface. In different embodiments, member 120's inside surface need not be smooth. In an embodiment, as noted earlier member 120 may have a shape other than U-shape, for example, square or rectangular. So long as interiors of respective extending portions 122, 124 are configured to enable sliding movement of an insert 130 (see, for example, any of FIG. 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 13B, 13C, or 15A-15D) in a manner to be described, member 120 may have any arbitrary shape. In an embodiment, it may be desirable for member 120 to have a curved inner contour in which a finger (for a ring) or a wrist (for a bracelet) can fit comfortably. Even with a curved inner contour, however, the outer contour of member 120 still can be square, rectangular, polygonal, or other desired shape, subject to the ability of insert 130 to slide as discussed previously.

[0049] FIG. 18A shows an embodiment of a bar 200 which may, for example, pass through portions of a wearer's ear. Bar 200 has balls or other end pieces 210. One of the pieces 210 is removably attached to thin rod 220. Removing piece 210 from rod 220 enables placement of rod 220 through holes 123, 125 in member 120 so that member 120, with flanges of insert 130 positioned channels of member 120, can hang from rod 220. Reattaching piece 210 to rod 220 holds member 120 in place.

[0050] FIG. 18B shows a mode of attaching rod 220 and piece 210. End 225 of rod 220 may be snap fit into hole 230 to hold piece 210 in place. Pulling piece 210 away from rod 220 releases the snap fit and permits member 120 to be removed from rod 220.

[0051] FIG. 18B shows an embodiment of a bar or pin 250. Bar 250 has balls or other end pieces 260. One of the pieces 260 is removably attached to thin rod 220. Removing piece 260 from rod 270 enables placement of rod 270 through holes 123, 125 in member 120 so that member 120, with flanges of insert 130 positioned channels of member 120, can hang from rod 220. Reattaching piece 260 to rod 270 holds member 120 in place.

[0052] FIG. 18D shows a mode of attaching rod 270 and piece 260. End 275 of rod 270 may have screw threads so that the rod 270 may be screwed into hole 280 to hold piece 210 in place. Unscrewing piece 210 releases rod 220 and permits member 120 to be removed from rod 220.

[0053] FIGS. 19A-19D show various aspects of an earring 300 according to embodiments. Insert 310, which in an embodiment may be a post, or in another embodiment may be a wire, may be inserted into a pierced earlobe of a wearer. An earring back (not shown) may be provided to hold the post in the wearer's pierced earlobe. In an embodiment, back and the post may be screwed together.

[0054] Bar 315 extends downwardly from insert 310, and is connected to proximal ends of two further bars 322, 324 which extend downwardly in turn from bar 315, each at an angle. A bar 320 extends between distal ends of the bars 322, 324. In an embodiment, the bars 322, 324 form two sides of an isosceles triangle. In an embodiment, the bars 322, 324 form two sides of an equilateral triangle. In an embodiment, the bars 322, 324 form two sides of a scalene triangle.

[0055] In an embodiment, bars 322, 324 need not be straight, but instead can be curved, with bar 320 still extending between the above-mentioned distal ends. In another embodiment, bars 322, 324 themselves can comprise two more smaller bars connected at angles to each other, for example, at a right angle, or an obtuse angle, or an acute angle. Such configurations would provide different shapes of a structure to accommodate jewelry 100 to hang from bar 320. In a further embodiment, bar 315 may be omitted, and insert 310 may be attached directly to proximal ends of bars 322, 324.

[0056] Bar 320 may be secured to the distal ends of bars 322, 324 so as to be detachable at one end to allow jewelry 100 comprising member 120 and insert 130 to hang down from the bar. In FIGS. 19A and 19D, a hinge or pivot 325 may be seen. Hinge or pivot 325 holds one end of the bar 320 onto bar 324, while the other end of the bar 320 is detachably secured to the other bar 322. In this embodiment, bar 320 can swing away from bar 322 to allow jewelry 100 to be hung therefrom, whereupon bar 320 can be resecured to bar 322.

[0057] Ordinarily skilled artisans will appreciate that there can be multiple ways to secure bar 320 to bars 322, 324.

[0058] FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of jewelry in the form of a bracelet 400 with member 420 and insert 430. In one aspect, bracelet may be simply a larger form of jewelry 100 implemented as a ring, as described earlier. As described with respect to various embodiments of insert 130, insert 430 may have two pieces detachably secured together, and hollowed out sufficiently to accommodate a chain such as chain 110. When the bracelet is to be worn as a pendant as part of a necklace, chain 110 may be removed and threaded through openings in extended portions of member 420.

[0059] Ordinarily skilled artisans will appreciate that the jewelry described herein may be constructed of a wide range of materials and combinations of materials. Any materials which may be used to create jewelry may be employed usefully herein. Such materials include, but are not limited to metals (by way of non-limiting example, yellow gold, white gold, silver, platinum, copper, titanium, alloys thereof, brass, stainless steel, or combinations thereof); gemstones (by way of non-limiting example, birthstones and combinations of birthstones, and other stones which may or may not be birthstones, such as diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, tanzanite, alexandrite, turquoise, opal, peridot, pearls, agate, spinel, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, quartz, citrine, jasper, or combinations thereof); wood (by way of non-limiting example, redwood, teak, maple, oak, rosewood, olive wood, ebony, pine, cedar, birch, walnut, mahogany hickory, cherry, or combinations thereof); or plastics of different colors and/or types.

[0060] Aspects of the present invention are set out in the following clauses: [0061] CLAUSE 1. Jewelry comprising: [0062] a. a member configured and sized to fit at least partly around a wearer's finger, the member comprising: [0063] i. an element which generally follows an arc; [0064] ii. a pair of extensions, one at either end of the arc that the element generally follows; [0065] iii. each extension having a channel facing the wearer's finger and running along the extension; [0066] iv. each extension having a hole at a distal end thereof; [0067] b. the jewelry further comprising an insert with flanges on opposing sides of the insert, each flange fitting within a respective channel so that the insert is movable along the channel, and rotatable within the channel; [0068] c. wherein the jewelry is a ring, a necklace, or a brooch, depending on a position and orientation of the insert within the channels of the extensions. [0069] CLAUSE 2. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the jewelry is a ring in response to rotation of the insert in the channels to be perpendicular to the member and to positioning of the insert near the distal ends of the extensions. [0070] CLAUSE 3. Jewelry according to clause 1, further comprising a chain inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a necklace in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions. [0071] CLAUSE 4. Jewelry according to clause 1, further comprising a pin inserted through the holes in the extensions, wherein the jewelry is a brooch in response to rotation of the insert to be parallel to the member and to positioning of the insert away from the distal ends of the extensions. [0072] CLAUSE 5. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the insert comprises a base and a decorative addition removably attached to and fitting over the base. [0073] CLAUSE 6. Jewelry according to clause 5, further comprising a plurality of decorative additions, each removably attachable to the base. [0074] CLAUSE 7. Jewelry according to clause 5, further comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach the decorative addition to the base, the attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of one or a plurality of magnets, a bayonet mount, and a clasping mechanism. [0075] CLAUSE 8. Jewelry according to clause 7, wherein the bayonet mount comprises a protrusion extending upwardly from the base or downwardly from the decorative addition, and a groove extending downwardly from the decorative addition or upwardly from the base, wherein relative rotation of the base and the decorative addition with respect to each other with the protrusion inserted into the groove removably attaches the decorative addition to the base. [0076] CLAUSE 9. Jewelry according to clause 7, wherein the clasping mechanism comprises one or more clips extending from one of the decorative addition and the base, and wrapping sufficiently around the other of the decorative addition and the base to removably attach the decorative addition to the base. [0077] CLAUSE 10. Jewelry according to clause 7, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a magnet attached to one of the base and the decorative addition, or a magnet attached to each of the base and the decorative addition. [0078] CLAUSE 11. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal interior to fit around at least part of the wearer's hand. [0079] CLAUSE 12. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the element has an arcuate or a polygonal exterior. [0080] CLAUSE 13. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the decorative addition comprises one or more of metal, wood, gemstones, cameo, or mother of pearl. [0081] CLAUSE 14. Jewelry according to clause 13, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of yellow gold, white gold, silver, platinum, copper, titanium, alloys thereof, brass, or stainless steel. [0082] CLAUSE 15. Jewelry according to clause 13, wherein the wood is selected from the group consisting of redwood, teak, maple, oak, rosewood, olive wood, ebony, pine, cedar, birch, walnut, and mahogany. [0083] CLAUSE 16. Jewelry according to clause 13, wherein the gemstones are selected from the group consisting of diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, tanzanite, alexandrite, turquoise, opal, peridot, pearls, agate, spinel, amber, lapis lazuli, jade, quartz, citrine, and jasper. [0084] CLAUSE 17. Jewelry according to clause 13, wherein the cameo comprises material selected from the group consisting of shell, agate, onyx, ivory, coral, mother-of-pearl, stone, lava, or glass. [0085] CLAUSE 18. Jewelry according to clause 1, wherein the member is made of material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, and plastic. [0086] CLAUSE 19. Jewelry according to clause 17, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of yellow gold, white gold, silver, platinum, copper, titanium, alloys thereof, brass, or stainless steel. [0087] CLAUSE 20. Jewelry according to clause 17, wherein the wood is selected from the group consisting of redwood, teak, maple, oak, rosewood, olive wood, ebony, pine, cedar, birch, walnut, and mahogany.

[0088] Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of a number of changes may be made to various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as described by the claims. For example, optional features of various device embodiments may be included in some embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing description is provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention as it is set forth in the claims.