Crystal volume having a decorative dichroic visual effect

• US 8,518,532 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baccarat (Starwood Capital Group Global LLC)
• Original Assignee: Baccarat (Starwood Capital Group Global LLC)
• Inventors: Gaillard Allemand, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHAN, TAHSEEN
• Application Number:
  US11/792,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20080096011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,804 Days
• Field of Search: 428/216, 428/332, 428/432
• US Class Current: 428/332
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/36 at least one coating being a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3621 one layer at least containing a fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3649 made of metals other than silver
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3657 the multilayer coating having optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/3684 the multilayer coating being used for decoration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/42 consisting of particles only
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/734 comprising an alternation of high and low refractive indexes
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/92 Coating of crystal glass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

The invention concerns a volume of transparent amorphous vitreous material such as crystal or glass whereof one part of the outer surface is coated with successive layers of metal or ceramic particles designed to provide it with a decorative dichroic visual effect when said part is observed through a volume of the transparent material. The succession of layers observes the following scheme: at least one alternation of two transparent layers of metal and/or ceramic particles in contact with the crystal; then a final reflecting opaque layer consisting of metal.

Claims

1. A jewel comprising a volume of transparent amorphous vitreous material of the crystal type, whereof a portion of the external surface is coated with successive layers of metal or ceramic particles designed to provide it with a decorative dichroic visual effect when said portion is observed through the volume of the transparent material,

wherein the succession of the layers observes the following scheme:

at least one alternation of two transparent layers of metal and/or ceramic particles in contact with the crystal;

then

a final reflecting opaque layer consisting of metal;

said final reflecting opaque layer allowing reflectance and preventing transmittance of light.

2. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the metal forming the final opaque layer is titanium (Ti).

3. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the metal forming the final opaque layer is chromium (Cr).

4. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the succession of layers includes one or two alternations of two layers of metal or ceramic particles.

5. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the alternation(s) of layers each consist(s) of a pair formed with a SiO₂ layer and a TiO₂ layer.

6. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the alternation(s) of layers each consist(s) of a pair formed with an MgF₂ layer and Cr layer.

7. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the final opaque layer has a thickness larger than or equal to 50 nm.

8. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first layer of each alternation is between 50 and 500 nm.

9. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second layer of each alternation is between 90 and 400 nm.

10. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the crystal volume is a cabochon on a surface of which the succession of layers is applied.

11. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer of the two transparent layers is of ceramic particles.

12. The jewel according to claim 1, wherein the two transparent layers are of ceramic particles.