Multi-element pleochroic genstomes
AssigneeAllied Chemical Corporation
InventorsRobert C. Morris, O'Dell, E. Wayne
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Abstract
Multi-element transparent gemstones comprising pleochroic materials are provided which evidence enhanced colors or other unusual optical properties, based on the pleochroic behavior of the material. Doublet stones, comprising two pleochroic materials, and triplet stones, comprising two pleochroic materials separated by an optical rotator, are described. The multi-element gem may have a rotatably mounted pleochroic element or a rotatably mounted optical rotator.
Claims15
A multi-element transparent gemstone comprising an optically active rotator element disposed between two pleochroic elements, each element being fixedly mounted to the adjoining element said elements being arranged, relative to each other, in a manner so that the color displayed by individual ones of said pleochroic elements is modified in the combination at least through the action of said rotator element.
The gemstone of claim 7, wherein said optically active rotator comprises alpha-quartz.
A multi-element transparent gemstone comprising at least two pleochroic elements having different crystal orientations, including a pleochroic element at each end, wherein each of said end pleochroic elements is contiguous to the adjoining element at a substantially planar mating face, each of said mating faces being substantially parallel to the other and having substantially in its plane a principal optical direction, the principal optical direction in the mating face of the element at one end forming with the principal optical direction in the mating face of the element at the other end an angle within the range of about 20.degree. to 160.degree. whereby the color displayed by individual ones of said pleochroic elements is modified in the combination, each element being fixedly mounted to the adjoining element.
A multi-element transparent gemstone comprising at least two pleochroic elements having different crystal orientations, including a pleochroic element at each end, wherein each of said end pleochroic elements is continuous to the adjoining element at a substantially planar mating face, each of said mating faces being substantially parallel to the other and having substantially in its plane a principal optical direction, one of said end pleochroic elements being disposed, relative to the remainder of the gemstone, in continuously variable rotational configuration about an axis normal to its mating face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.