The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Elias Laforge

Pierry Vuille

Simon Springer

Pascal Grossenbacher

Alexandre Haemmerli

François Gueissaz

Alexandre Didier

Benjamin Tixier

A piezoelectric balance spring () for a circuit () for self-regulating an oscillation frequency of an oscillating mechanical system (), or an energy recovery circuit or a motor circuit for actuating the movement or for the automatic maintenance thereof. The piezoelectric balance spring () includes at least one piezoelectric layer (') provided on a top face () or bottom face of a certain number of coils of the spring in a plane, and at least two pairs of electrodes (), whereby the electrodes of each pair are provided on two opposing faces of the same piezoelectric layer or respectively two piezoelectric layers so as to apply a reverse bias voltage on each pair of electrodes.

Piezoelectric balance spring, and method for manufacturing the balance spring

A method for fabricating metal decorations on a domed dial made of insulating material, wherein the method includes the steps of forming a photosensitive resin mould by a UV LIGA type process, and electrodepositing a layer of at least one metal starting from the conductive layer to form a block, which substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.

Method for fabricating a metal decoration on a dial and dial obtained by this method

A method for assembling a stone on a setting support, the stone being cut to exhibit a table, a crown, a girdle and a pavilion, including the steps of: providing a substrate coated with a pattern including an electrically conductive layer covered with a resin layer, the pattern having an inner contour delimiting a hole through the coated substrate and an outer contour corresponding to the outer contour of the desired setting support; removing the resin layer; after dissolution of the resin layer, positioning the stone in the through hole, the stone resting on the electrically conductive layer; and electrodepositing a metal layer on the electrically conductive layer to form the setting support, in order to make the stone integral with the metal layer.

Stone setting method

A method for producing metal decorations on a curved dial made of insulating material includes forming, by a method of the LIGA-UV type, a mould made of photosensitive resin and of galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal from the conductive layer in order to form a block substantially reaching the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.

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Neuchatel, Switzerland

Elias Laforge