Comadur Sa

Omega Sa

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Alexandre Netuschill

Lionel Blaser

Gregory Kissling

Stewes Bourban

Yves Winkler

Alban Dubach

Stephane Lauper

Stéphane Lauper

Damien Le Boudouil

Fabien Bontaz

Pierry Vuille

Pascal Grossenbacher

Michel Caillaud

Thomas Froelicher

Loïc Oberson

Johan Romand

Nicolas Aubry

Pierre Sauret

A method for manufacturing a timepiece component. The method includes: providing a timepiece component (1); breaking the timepiece component (1) into a plurality of pieces (10); and depositing the pieces (10) on a support (2) and creating a desired pattern to be reassembled having interstices (1). The support (2) is then transferred into a mould and a preform (3) is placed on the pieces (10). The assembly is then heated to a temperature higher than the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) and a force is applied on the preform to fill the interstices (11) and obtain a reassembled timepiece component (1'). The assembly is then cooled below the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) to form the reassembled timepiece component (1′) whereupon the timepiece component (1′) is machined to the required dimensions.

Method for manufacturing a timepiece component

A method is for manufacturing a part including a support made of an electrically non-conductive material, the support being provided with at least one recess filled with an aesthetic element made of an electrically conductive material, and the aesthetic element forms a decoration on a side of the part that is intended to be visible. The method includes inlaying by pressing a preform intended to form the aesthetic element into the at least one recess of the support, and treating the surface of the aesthetic element. The at least one recess opens in one or more places onto a side of the part that is intended to be non-visible, to respectively form one or more contact points for carrying current across the aesthetic element during the surface treatment.

Method for manufacturing decorative parts

A method for decorating the surface of a mechanical part including structuring, on the surface to be decorated, a masking layer having a thickness that is at least equal to the thickness of the decoration element to be produced; making, in the masking layer, at least one opening that coincides with the location on the surface to be decorated where the decoration element is to be produced, the opening having a contour that is identical to the contour of the decoration element and defining a volume with the mechanical part; filling the volume delimited by the masking layer and the surface to be decorated of with a filling material wherein the decoration elements are sought to be produced; and removing the masking layer.

Method for decorating a mechanical part

A method for assembling at least a first element and a second element to form, once assembled, an external component for a portable device, including the steps of: a) making the first element; b) making the second element; c) arranging at least a first groove in the first element and at least a second groove in the second element; d) placing and holding the first and second element end-to-end with at least a third connecting element which is inserted and locked in the first and second grooves.

Method for assembling at least two elements

Method for producing an external horological element () which is a heterogeneous component, according to which a primary cavity () is produced in a structure (), only the periphery of this said primary cavity () is re-machined or laser machined, which primary cavity () is filled with a second material that is different in appearance from the first material in order to produce a primary insert (), where the bottom of this said primary cavity () is left rough before being filled with said second material, and, in the thickness of this primary insert (), a secondary cavity () is produced, which is filled with a third material that is different in appearance from the first material and/or from the second material in order to produce a secondary insert ().

Method for producing a multi-decoration and/or multicoloured horological component having a ceramic structure

A method for brazing a first ceramic component and a second metal alloy component, to make a structural or external timepiece element, a zirconia-based ceramic is chosen for the first component and a titanium alloy for the second component, a first recess is made inside the first component, set back from a first surface in a junction area with a second surface of the second component, braze material is deposited on this first surface and inside each recess, the second surface is positioned in alignment with the first surface to form an assembly, this assembly is heated in a controlled atmosphere to above the melting temperature of the braze material, in order to form the braze in the junction area.

Method for brazing titanium alloy components with zirconia-based ceramic components for horology or jewellery

A dial configured to be mounted in a watch case, includes a plate made of a fragile material, the plate defining a horizontal plane and including at least one housing defining a point of attachment for at least one foot formed of a body and a head arranged to rest inside the at least one housing, the foot includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy able to move from a retracted position to an open position in which the foot is mechanically held in the housing.

Dial made of non-conductive material with feet

A method for marking a sapphire watch crystal, through the interaction between a laser beam and the sapphire. The beam is focused on a point inside the crystal and the interaction is such that it produces a rectilinear opaque area, which is parallel to the upper surface of the crystal or perpendicular to the surface. The orientation of the opaque area depends on the mode of operation applied. According to the hatching mode of operation, the beam is scanned along one or more linear paths, producing opaque lines inside the crystal, which are parallel to the upper surface. The perforation mode of operation produces distinct opaque areas, obtained by discontinuous operation of the beam on a number of juxtaposed points. According to this latter mode of operation, the opaque areas extend in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the crystal.

Method for marking a sapphire watch crystal

A decorative piece includes a support made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged. The housing is arranged so that at least one aesthetic element is housable therein. The substrate further includes a gripper elastically deforming to retain the aesthetic element in the housing. The gripper further includes at least one setting element. A method for setting an aesthetic element on a support includes taking a support provided with at least one hollow, taking at least one aesthetic element, filling the hollow with a first material, making a setting hole and a gripper in the first material, and setting the aesthetic element by placing it in the hole and by deforming the gripper so as to retain the aesthetic element.

Decorative piece produced by setting

A setting or mounting includes a ring carrying elements for setting a decorative element, this setting or mounting being arranged to be placed radially inside a hollow provided in a substrate of an item to be decorated. The setting includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy which can undergo a reversible transformation. The ring-like element is able to move from a retracted position in which it rests in the slot, to an open position in which the ring-like element at least partially protrudes from the slot to hold the setting in the substrate.

Decorative element made by a setting technique

The present invention relates to a decorative piece comprising a support produced in a material which does not include plastic deformation and in which at least one hollow is provided, characterised in that said hollow being filled with a first material being an at least partially amorphous alloy forming a substrate in which at least one housing is provided, said at least one housing being designed so that at least one aesthetic element can be housed therein.

Decorative piece produced by setting on amorphous metal

A decorative piece including a support made of a material having no plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged, the at least one housing configured so that at least one aesthetic element can be housed therein.

A decorative piece includes a support made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged. The housing is arranged so that at least one aesthetic element is housable therein. The substrate further includes a gripper deforming by thermal expansion to retain the aesthetic element in the housing. The gripper further includes at least one setting element. A method for setting an aesthetic element on a support includes taking a support provided with at least one hollow, taking at least one aesthetic element, filling the hollow with a first material, making a setting hole and a gripper in the first material, and setting the aesthetic element by placing it in the hole and by deforming the gripper so as to retain the aesthetic element.

The invention relates to an inlaid ceramic decoration () including a ceramic body () that has at least one recess () forming the pattern for a decoration (). According to the invention, said at least one recess is entirely filled by first and second electrically conductive layers () of approximately 50 nm and a metallic galvanic plating () so as to form a ceramic element () inlaid with at least one metallic decoration () with improved visual rendering. The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing the inlaid ceramic element. The invention concerns the field of decorated ceramic parts.

Ceramic element inlaid with at least one metallic decoration

An element including a body including at least one recess forming the pattern cavity for a decoration, the at least one recess being entirely filled by a galvanic deposition in order to form an element inlaid with at least one metallic decoration with improved visual quality. The element includes a device for fixedly securing the at least one metallic decoration communicating with the at least one recess in order to improve the securing of the at least one decoration against said element.

Growing community of inventors

Le Prevoux, Switzerland

Alexandre Netuschill