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US 201302396.14A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0239614 A1 Malinowski et al. (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 19, 2013

(54) SAPPHRE COATED Publication Classification (76) Inventors: Jack Malinowski, Austin, TX (US); (51) Int. Cl. Gary Lacourt, Franklin, WI (US); A44C 17/00 (2006.01) Frank Calcagni, Austin, TX (US) (52) U.S. Cl. CPC ...... A44C 1700 (2013.01) (21) Appl. No.: 13/577,068 USPC ...... 63/32: 428/472.2: 428/336: 428/333; 428/212:427/595; 501/86 (22) PCT Filed: Feb. 4, 2011 (86) PCT NO.: PCT/US1 1/23771 (57) ABSTRACT S371 (c)(1), The present invention provides a simulant with (2), (4) Date: Mar. 19, 2013 greater similarity to a diamond than . The present invention further provides a diamond simulant with Related U.S. Application Data durability, hardness, and optical features closer to that of a (60) Provisional application No. 61/301,352, filed on Feb. genuine diamond that previously afforded by other diamond 4, 2010. simulants, such as cubic Zirconia.

Patent Application Publication Sep. 19, 2013 US 2013/0239614 A1

US 2013/02396.14 A1 Sep. 19, 2013

SAPPHRE COATED GEMSTONE 0008 According to one aspect of the invention, a gem stone simulant has a body formed from a composition con CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED taining and Zirconia. A coating is applied to APPLICATION an exterior surface of the body. 0009. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, 0001. The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. a method of forming a diamond simulant is provided. The No. 61/301,352, filed Feb. 4, 2010, the disclosure of which is method includes forming a gemstone from a composition incorporate herein in its entirety. consisting essentially of yttrium and Zirconia, and applying a FIELD OF THE INVENTION coating of Al-O to the gemstone. 0010. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, 0002 The present invention relates generally to gemstone a diamond simulant consists essentially of yttrium, Zirconia, simulants and, more particularly, a Sapphire coated diamond hafnium, gadolinium, and aluminum . simulant. 0011. According to a further aspect of the invention, a gemstone consists essentially of a diamond simulant and a BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sapphire coating applied to the diamond simulant. 0003 have historically been the most popular 0012. It is therefore an object of the present invention to of all , and are frequently used in wedding bands, have a gemstone simulant having physical and visual charac engagement rings, pendants, earrings, and other types of jew teristics similar to that of a diamond. elry. Because of their popularity and additional market forces, 0013. It is another object of the invention to improve the diamonds are generally more expensive than other gem diamond simulant characteristics of a known diamond simu stones. As a result, diamond simulants that simulate the opti lant, Such as Zirconia. cal properties of diamonds but at a fraction of the cost are 0014. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a becoming increasingly popular. Additionally, with the grow method for making a gemstone simulant using a coating of ing awareness of conflict diamonds, there is increased con Sapphire or similar material. Sumer apprehension regarding the origin of diamonds and 0015. Other objects, features, and advantages of the inven thus increased consumer reluctance to purchase authentic tion will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the diamonds. As such, there has been a growing demand for following detailed description and accompanying drawings. synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants, such as cubic It should be understood, however, that the detailed descrip Zirconia and . tion and specific examples, while indicating preferred 0004 Cubic zirconia is a cubic crystalline form of zirco embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of nium dioxide that is hard, can be optically flawless, and is illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifi often colorless. Because of its durability, generally low cost to cations may be made within the scope of the present invention produce, and visual likeness to diamond, cubic Zirconia is without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention commonly used as a diamond simulant. Despite having a includes all Such modifications. visual appearance close to that of diamond, there are notable characteristics distinguishing cubic Zirconia from diamond. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0005 For example, diamond has a hardness of 10.0 on the 0016. The drawings illustrate the best modepresently con Mohs hardness scale whereas cubic Zirconia has a hardness of templated of carrying out the invention. 8.0. A diamond has a light 2.417 whereas (0017. In the drawings: cubic Zirconia has a light refractive index of approximately 0018 FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gemstone simulant 2.2. A diamond has a value of 0.044 nm whereas according to the invention; cubic zirconia has a dispersion value of approximately 0.06 0019 FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway isometric view of the nm. Cubic Zirconia weighs approximately 1.7 times more gemstone stimulant of FIG. 1; and than diamond of an equivalent size. A diamond may also have 0020 FIG. 3 is a section view of the gemstone simulant a yellow tint. Any color present in a cubic Zirconia gemstone taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. is typically the result of an additive. 0006 Thus, while there are significant similarities DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION between cubic Zirconia and diamond that make cubic Zirconia a popular diamond simulant, there are significant differences 0021 Turning now to the figures, the present invention between cubic Zirconia and diamond that make consumers includes a diamond simulant 10 having properties closer to that of diamond than other types of diamond simulants. The reluctant to purchase a cubic Zirconia instead of a diamond. diamond simulant 10 is generally comprised of a gemstone For example, cubic Zirconia is brittle compared to a diamond, body 12 fabricated from a composition consisting essentially and thus is less durable and prone to Scratching. Also, color of yttrium and Zirconia with a sapphire or Al-O coating 14 less cubic zirconia will give off a rainbow-like reflection that applied to an exterior surface of the body 12. Sapphire has a is not found in genuine diamonds. hardness and a refraction index closer to that of diamond than SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION cubic zirconia and therefore the diamond simulant of the present invention has a hardness and refraction index closer to 0007. The present invention provides a diamond simulant that of diamond. As such, when the Sapphire coating 14 is with greater similarity to a diamond than cubic Zirconia. The applied to the body 12 the resulting simulant 10 is more like present invention further provides a diamond simulant with a real diamond. That is, the simulant 10 is durable, less prone durability, hardness, and optical features closer to that of a to Scratching, and has a visual appearance similar to that of genuine diamond that previously afforded by other diamond diamond. The body 12 may also include hafnium and other simulants, such as cubic Zirconia. constituents, such as gadolinium. US 2013/02396.14 A1 Sep. 19, 2013

0022. In a preferred implementation, the present invention 0027 Many changes and modifications could be made to provides a diamond simulant 10 consisting essentially of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The yttrium, , hafnium, gadolinium, and other trace Scope of these changes will become apparent from the elements, as well as a Sapphire coating 14. The addition appended claims. and/or Substitution of hafnium and gadolinium to the standard 1. A diamond simulant comprising: cubic Zirconia formula also results in a gemstone with more a body formed from a composition containing yttrium and diamond-like properties. Zirconia; and 0023. In a preferred embodiment, the sapphire coating 14 a Sapphire coating applied to an exterior Surface of the is applied using ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD); how body. ever, other types of application techniques may be used. The 2. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the composition further Sapphire coating or chemical equivalent, e.g., Al-O is pref includes hafnium. erably deposited onto the gemstone in a uniform, conformal, 3. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the composition further and amorphous manner, and to a thickness of one optical includes gadolinium. half-wave (1400-1700 A). The thickness of the coating is 4. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the Sapphire coating has sufficient to improve the hardness of the gemstone without a thickness of 1400-1700 A. negatively impacting its visual appearance. That is, diamond 5. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the sapphire coating has like , which is commonly used as a coating for dia a thickness of one optical half-wave. mond simulants, has a definitive black color. As a result, very 6. The simulant of claim 1 further comprising a color little diamond-like carbon can be used without affecting the additive. color of the simulant. In contrast, the Sapphire or Al-O coat 7. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the sapphire coating is ing 14 of the present invention is transparent in the visual transparent in the visual spectrum. spectrum. Also, the Sapphire coating 14 of the present inven 8. The simulant of claim 1 wherein the body has a first tion has a lower refractive index than the underlying gem refractive index and the Sapphire coating has a second refrac stone and, as such, the Sapphire coating does not alter the total tive index lower than the first refractive index. internal reflection of the gemstone. Diamond-like carbon, on 9. A method of forming a diamond simulant, comprising: the other hand, has a refractive index higher than cubic Zir forming a gemstone from a composition consisting essen conia. In additional contrast to the present invention, dia tially of yttrium and Zirconia; and mond-like carbon is applied using chemical vapor deposition. applying a coating of Al-O to the gemstone. 0024. The present invention may also be embodied in a 10. The method of claim 9 whereinforming the gemstone method of forming a diamond simulant 10. The underlying includes adding hafnium to the composition. gemstone body 12 can be manufactured in a conventional 11. The method of claim 9 whereinforming the gemstone manner from a composition containing yttrium, Zirconia, includes adding gadolinium to the composition. hafnium, and gadolinium. The Sapphire coating 14 may be 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the coating is applied applied to a bulk of simulant material or applied to individual using ion-beam assisted deposition. simulants after they have been cut from the bulk. Color may 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the coating is applied also be added in a manner as known in the art. to a thickness of 1400-1700 A. 0025. In an alternate embodiment, the sapphire coating 14 14. The method of claim 9 further comprising adding color is applied to a conventional diamond simulant, such as cubic to the coating. Zirconium, to provide a simulant having characteristics closer 15. A diamond simulant consisting essentially of to that of diamond. yttrium; 0026. It will be appreciated that the diamond simulant of Zirconia; the present invention may be used in various forms of jewelry, hafnium; including but not limited to rings and bands, pendants, neck gadolinium; and laces, charms, brooches, and the like. The diamond simulant aluminum oxide. may also be cut to have a desired cut and using known 16. A gemstone consisting essentially of a diamond simu cutting techniques. In Such cases, the coating is applied after lant and a sapphire coating applied to the diamond simulant. cutting. k k k k k