Abstract A method of manufacturing gems including artificial gemstones or other works of art displaying the optical effect of single or multi-lined chatoyancy, even asterism, from fiber optical materials. Simulated gemstones of glass fiber optical materials are characterized by hardness, density and refractive index approximating naturally occurring rare minerals, yet the gemstones display beauty and optical effects rarely seen in the natural minerals. Doublet gemstones are also made by mounting natural or synthetic gemstones or light-transmitting materials, normally devoid of chatoyancy or asterism, onto a properly fashioned and oriented fiber optical base plate so that single or multi-lined chatoyancy is fascinatingly observed in such materials as if the materials themselves were chatoyant or asterismal. Gemstones of emerald, ruby, opal, topaz, peridot, amethyst and other transparent or semi-transparent cabochoned gems are provided with chatoyancy or multi-lined chatoyancy, even asterism. Also, natural mineral gemstones which exhibit poor chatoyancy or asterism are provided with enhanced optical effects by mounting onto a properly fashioned and oriented fiber optical base plate. Enhanced chatoyant or asterismal gemstones or chrysoberyl, sapphire, tourmaline and the like are made according to the method disclosed.
The gem of claim 1 wherein said gem surface has both light-receiving and light-displaying areas and said fibers oriented along an axis which intersects said areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 2 wherein said gem surface comprises a curved surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 2 wherein said gem surface has a planar side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 2 wherein said fibers are continuous and have opposite core ends that terminate substantially at said gem surface areas for piping light through said solid fused bundle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise glass clad layers and glass cores.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 5 comprising an artificial gemstone and said gem surface being curved to provide an optical effect of chatoyancy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 5 comprising an artificial gemstone, said gem surface being curved and said fibers being arranged to provide an optical effect of asterism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 1 wherein said cores have diameters on the order of at least about 2 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 6 wherein said fiber cores have diameters within the range of about 3 to about 80 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
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The gem of claim 10 wherein said diameters are on the order of about 5-15 microns.