Interchangeable jewelry setting

1. A system for the retention of a jewel, whereby a plurality of jewels may interchangeably set in an article of jewelry, the system comprising:

a) a fixed portion housed within an article of jewelry, the fixed portion comprising a receiving chamber and a biasing member,

b) a removable portion comprising a seat portion for retaining a jewel and comprising an insertion member adapted for insertion into the receiving chamber,

c) the fixed portion further comprising an outer end exposed during the wearing of the article of jewelry, an inner end hidden during the wearing of the article of jewelry, and an inner wall having securing means and being disposed between the inner end and the outer end;

d) the fixed portion adapted for passage of the insertion member through the inner end and into the receiving chamber for seating of the removable portion within the fixed portion and for displaying of the jewel seated within the seat portion adjacent the outer end, the fixed and removable portions extending along a longitudinal axis upon insertion of the insertion into the fixed portion, the removable portion being seated relative to the fixed portion through a rotatable engagement of the insertion member with the securing means on the inner wall of the fixed portion;

e) wherein the insertion member engages the biasing member upon rotation of the removable portion within the fixed portion, and the biasing member generates an axially longitudinally directed force for urging the fixed and the removable portions to remain seated so that the fixed and removable portions are prevented from axial displacement relative to one another while seated; and

f) wherein the insertion member has a predefined shape and the inner end has a plurality of passages that form a pattern of passages, each passage of the plurality of passages corresponding in shape to the shape of the insertion member.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the outer end and the inner end each have a diameter and the diameter of the outer end is less than the diameter of the inner end for preventing passage of the insertion member completely through the outer end.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one insertion member is fin-shaped.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the predefined shape and the pattern of passages are configured for unidirectional insertion of the insertion member into the receiving chamber.

5. A system for the retention of a jewel, whereby a plurality of jewels may interchangeably set in an article of jewelry, the system comprising:

a) a fixed portion comprising a receiving chamber and a biasing member, the fixed portion adapted to be housed within an article of jewelry, and

b) a removable portion comprising a seat portion adapted to retain a jewel and further comprising at least one insertion member adapted for insertion into the receiving chamber,

c) said fixed portion further comprising an outer end, an inner end and an inner wall disposed therebetween, the inner wall having securing means, the outer end adapted for being exposed during the wearing of the article of jewelry and the inner end adapted for being hidden during the wearing of the article of jewelry,

d) said fixed portion further adapted for passage of the at least one insertion member through the inner end and into the receiving chamber for seating of the removable portion within the fixed portion and for displaying of a jewel seated within the seat portion adjacent the outer end, the seating of the removable portion occurring through a rotatable engagement of the at least one insertion member with the securing means on the fixed portion inner wall,

e) wherein the at least one insertion member engages the biasing member upon rotation of the removable portion within the fixed portion,

f) wherein the at least one insertion member has a predefined shape and the inner end has a plurality of passages that form a pattern of passages, each passage of the plurality corresponding in shape to the shape of the at least one insertion member, and

g) wherein the biasing member further comprises a substantially annular spring member.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the biasing member further comprises at least one chordal section.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising at least one groove disposed on the at least one insertion member for biased engagement with the at least one chordal section.

8. A system for the retention of a jewel, whereby a plurality of jewels may interchangeably set in an article of jewelry, the system comprising:

a) a fixed portion comprising a receiving chamber and a biasing member, the fixed portion adapted to be housed within an article of jewelry, and

b) a removable portion comprising a seat portion adapted to retain a jewel and further comprising at least one insertion member adapted for insertion into the receiving chamber,

c) said fixed portion further comprising an outer end, an inner end and an inner wall disposed therebetween, the inner wall having securing means, the outer end adapted for being exposed during the wearing of the article of jewelry and the inner end adapted for being hidden during the wearing of the article of jewelry,

d) said fixed portion further adapted for passage of the at least one insertion member through the inner end and into the receiving chamber for seating of the removable portion within the fixed portion displaying of a jewel seated within the seat portion adjacent the outer end, the seating of the removable portion occurring through a rotatable engagement of the at least one insertion member with the securing means on the fixed portion inner wall,

e) wherein the at least one insertion member engages the biasing member upon rotation of the removable portion within the fixed portion,

f) wherein the at least one insertion member has a predefined shape and the inner end has a plurality of passages that form a pattern of passages, each passage of the plurality corresponding in shape to the shape of the at least one insertion member, and

g) wherein the biasing member comprises a plurality of tab sections that are biased toward the inner end of the fixed portion.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a stop surface disposed on the inner wall in the receiving chamber to limit rotation of the removable portion within the fixed portion.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the receiving member is adapted for the through passage of a jewel seated within the seat portion only from the inner end to the outer end.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further including the article of jewelry and wherein the first portion is integrally mounted within the article of jewelry.

12. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further including a jewel, the jewel being fixedly in the seat portion.

13. A system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a facilitator tool for engaging the removable portion to engage or disengage the removable portion with the fixed portion.

14. An article of jewelry comprising:

a) a retaining chamber comprising an outer end having an outer end opening and an outer end opening dimension and an inner end having an inner end opening and an inner end opening dimension, the inner end opening having a plurality of passages that form a pattern of passages;

b) a biasing member disposed between the inner and outer ends;

a setting comprising a jewel seat for a jewel and comprising an engagement portion; the jewel seat for passage through the outer end opening, the engagement portion having a plurality of insertion members for axial insertion through the plurality of passages and into the retaining member through the inner opening for displaying the jewel proximate to the outer opening each of the plurality of insertion members having a predefined shape that corresponds with the inner end opening passage,

c) and the engagement portion engaging the retaining member through a rotation of the setting within the retaining member; and

d) wherein the retaining member and the setting extend along a longitudinal axis upon insertion of the setting into the retaining member, and the biasing member generates an axially longitudinally directed force for urging the retaining member and the setting to remain engaged so that the retaining member and the setting are prevented from axial displacement to one another while engaged.

15. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the outer end opening dimension is smaller than the inner end opening dimension to prevent the complete passage of the setting through the outer end opening.

16. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the pattern of passages and the plurality of insertion members are fin-shaped.

17. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the plurality of insertion members are symmetrically and radially disposed around the setting.

18. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising at least one additional setting comprising an additional jewel seated thereon and adapted for removable engagement with the retaining member.

19. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising a facilitator tool for engaging the setting to engage and disengage the setting with the retaining member.

20. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising a washer disposed between the jewel and the jewel seat.

21. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising a cover engageable with the article of jewelry to prevent rotation of the setting within the retaining member and to prevent removal of the setting from the retaining member once the engagement portion is secured within the retaining member.

22. A jewelry system comprising:

a) a plurality of jewels set within a plurality of settings, and

b) a jewelry article having a receiving member for individually and interchangeably receiving each of the plurality of settings, the receiving member having an insertion end, a display end biasing member and a rotation stop, the insertion end having a plurality of passages including an insertion end opening passage, the plurality of passages forming a pattern of passages, each of the plurality of settings including a plurality of insertion member, each of the plurality of insertion members having a predefined shape, the predefined shape corresponding with the insertion end opening passage;

c) wherein each of the plurality of settings is axially insertable through at least one of plurality of passages of the plurality of insertion members each of the plurality of settings being engaged by the rotation of each of the plurality of settings with the receiving member until the rotation is inhibited by the rotation stop;

d) wherein the receiving member is dimensioned and configured to prevent passage of each of the plurality of settings completely through the display end; and

e) wherein the receiving member and each of the plurality of settings extend along a longitudinal axis upon insertion of each of the plurality of the settings into the receiving member, and the biasing member generates an axially longitudinally directed force for urging the receiving member and each of the plurality the settings to remain engaged so that the receiving member and each of the plurality the settings are prevented from axial displacement related to one another while engaged.

23. A jewelry system in accordance with claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of jewelry articles each interchangeably engageable with the plurality of settings.

24. A jewelry system in accordance with claim 22 , further comprising means for identifying the plurality of settings.

25. A jewelry system in accordance with claim 24 , further comprising means for sealing the identifying means for insuring the integrity of the identifying means and the relationship of the identifying means with a respective setting.

26. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising means associated with the setting for identifying the jewel secured within the setting.

27. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 26 , further comprising means for sealing the identifying means for ensuring the integrity of the identifying means relative to the setting.

28. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 26 , wherein the identifying means is a microchip.

29. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 28 , wherein the microchip is programmable with user information.

30. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 26 , wherein the identifying means is a barcode placed on a surface of the setting.

31. An article of jewelry in accordance with claim 26 , wherein the identifying means is an engraving placed on a surface of the setting.