Jewelry chain link with faceted sides

#This invention relates to the formation of decorative links used to form jewelry chains.

#One of the objectives of jewelry chain manufacturers is to make chains which are light yet highly reflective of ambient light to make the chains more attractive. Making jewelry lighter reduces the cost yet providing enhanced visual reflective effects enhances the value. An object of this invention is to provide enhanced value for less cost.

#The formation of links used in jewelry chains is an art that has existed for many, many years. Generally, links for chains are formed of regular polygonal or round structures, and such links when individually formed, usually are formed with gaps to permit intertwining of the links to form the jewelry chain.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art link used for jewelry rope chains.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of this invention.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of this invention.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an eight sided prior art jewelry chain link 10 having a gap 12 allowing the links to be intertwined. A regular octagonal shape is shown, and this is one of many shapes which is generally used for such jewelry links. The link has an inner peripheral edge 14, an outer peripheral edge 16 and sides 18 therebetween. In a conventional jewelry rope chain link, sides 18 are flat, parallel to each other and connect the outer and inner peripheral edges. In such jewelry links, the outer peripheral edge 16 primarily is relied upon for providing the reflective qualities for assembled rope chain, for example. For other type jewelry chains, the reflective qualities also primarily rely on the outer peripheral edges.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of this link invention 102 in which sides 182 are slanted inwardly as shown in cross-section. The sides are slanted inwardly from the outer peripheral edge 162 to the inner peripheral edge 142 so as to enhance the reflective qualities and brilliance of the link and assembled jewelry chain including the rope chain assembled in accordance with this invention. Each link can be formed hollow or solid as desired, although when formed as a hollow link, the cost of each link is materially reduced. Gap 122 is also provided in the link of FIG. 2.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of this invention in which sides 183 are slanted as in FIG. 2, but each side 183 is also faceted as shown by segments 185. As illustrated in FIG. 3, an eight-sided polygonal shape is provided for link 103, and the polygonal shape has eight segments 185. A faceted surface forms each segment 185 corresponding to the eight-sided shape of the link 103. The faceted surface on each segment 185 may comprise the same slant or slope or may be different as desired. Further, sides 183 may be equally slanted as in FIG. 2 or only one side 183 may be slanted while the other side could be straight, as shown in FIG. 1. The number of segments is equal to the number of sides of the regular polygon of FIG. 3, and the faceting is also equal to such number of segments. Adjacent segments 185 can be formed with different slants to further enhance the effect of the faceted surfaces.