Method of forming a gem setting

1. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form simultaneously, from the blank, a base and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another; and

forcing a solid against at least one of the distal ends to form at least one receptacle end adapted to confine the gem between the distal ends.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the solid comprises simultaneously pressing a male die against an inner surface of the at least one of the distal ends, and securing a female die against an outer surface of the at least one of the distal ends.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising using impressing means to force the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another comprises pressing the blank against a stamping die having a base negative impression and at least three prong negative impressions.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising annealing the base and the at least three prongs.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising using shaping means to form the at least one receptacle end from the at least one of the distal ends.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the solid comprises shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and the at least three prongs, comprises forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, the base and four prongs, and wherein shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end, comprises shaping four distal ends into four substantially V-shaped receptacle ends.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the blank comprises forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, a mountable base adapted for mounting in a conventional shank.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein forcing the solid comprises simultaneously pressing a male die against an inner surface of the at least one of the distal ends, and securing a female die against an outer surface of the at least one of the distal ends.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising using impressing means to force the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another comprises pressing the blank against a stamping die having a base negative impression and at least three prong negative impressions.

13. The method of claim 9 , comprising annealing the base and the at least three prongs.

14. The method of claim 9 , comprising using shaping means to form the at least one receptacle end from the at least one of the distal ends.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein forcing the solid comprises shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, the base and the at least three prongs, comprises forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, the base and four prongs, and wherein shaping the at least one of the distal end into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end, comprises shaping four distal ends into four substantially V-shaped receptacle ends.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising

forcing the blank and the negative impression against one another to form from the blank, the base, the at least three prongs, and flash;

removing the flash;

forcing the solid against the at least one of the distal ends to form the at least one receptacle end and additional flash; and

removing the additional flash.

18. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, a base and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another;

forcing a solid against at least one of the distal ends to form at least one receptacle end adapted to confine the gem between the distal ends;

wherein forcing the solid comprises shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end; and

wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and the at least three prongs, comprises forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and four prongs, and wherein shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end, comprises shaping four distal ends into four substantially V-shaped receptacle ends.

19. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, a base and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another;

forcing a solid against at least one of the distal ends to form at least one receptacle end adapted to confine the gem between the distal ends;

forcing the blank and the negative impression against one another to form, from the blank, the base, the at least three prongs, and flash;

removing the flash;

forcing the solid against the at least one of the distal ends to form the at least one receptacle and additional flash; and

removing the additional flash.

20. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, a base and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another;

forcing a solid against at least one of the distal ends to form at least one receptacle end adapted to confine the gem between the distal ends;

wherein forcing the blank comprises forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, a mountable base adapted for mounting in a conventional shank;

wherein forcing the solid comprises shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end; and

wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank, the base and the at least three prongs, comprises forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and four prongs, and wherein shaping the at least one of the distal end into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle end, comprises shaping four distal ends into four substantially V-shaped receptacle ends.

21. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

pressing the blank against a stamping die having a base negative impression and at least three prong negative impressions to form in the blank, a base adapted for mounting in a conventional shank, flash, and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base;

removing the flash;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another;

shaping the at least one of the distal ends into at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle by simultaneously pressing a male die against an inner surface of the at least one of the distal ends and securing a female die against an outer surface of the at least one of the distal ends, thereby forming additional flash; and

removing the additional flash.

22. The method of claim 21 , comprising annealing the base and the at least three prongs.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein pressing the blank against the stamping die to form the at least three prongs comprises pressing the blank against the stamping die to form four prongs, and wherein shaping the at least one of the distal ends into the at least one substantially V-shaped receptacle, comprises shaping the four distal ends into four substantially V-shaped receptacles.

24. A method of forming a setting for a gem, comprising:

providing a partially-formed setting having a base and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base, wherein the base and the at least three prongs are formed simultaneously in the partially-formed setting;

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another; and

forcing a solid against at least one of the distal ends to form at least one receptacle end adapted to confine the gem between the distal ends.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein providing the partially-formed setting comprises providing an impressed-blank partially-formed setting.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein providing the partially-formed setting comprises providing a casted partially-formed setting.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein forcing the solid comprises shaping the at least one of the distal ends into a substantially V-shaped receptacle end.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein providing the partially-formed setting comprises providing four prongs, wherein forcing a solid comprises forcing a solid against four distal ends to form four receptacle ends.

29. The method of claim 24 , wherein providing the partially-formed setting comprises providing the partially-formed setting having a mountable base adapted to be mounted in a conventional shank.

30. A method of forming a setting for a gem from a blank, comprising:

forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form simultaneously, from the blank, a base adapted for mounting in a conventional shank and at least three prongs each extending radially from the base in a substantially coplanar manner and each having an end distal to the base; and

forcing the distal ends to substantially face one another.

31. The method of claim 30 , comprising using impressing means to force the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another.

32. The method of claim 30 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another comprises pressing the blank against a stamping die having a base negative impression and at least three prong negative impressions.

33. The method of claim 30 , comprising annealing the base and the at least three prongs.

34. The method of claim 30 , wherein forcing the blank and the at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and the at least three prongs, comprises forcing the blank and at least one negative impression against one another to form from the blank the base and four prongs.