Seiko Epson Corporation

Koki Takasawa

Hironori Hasei

Takumi Oshio

Kiyoto Takeda

An austenized ferritic stainless steel includes a first region including a first soft magnetic layer composed of a ferrite phase, a first non-magnetic layer composed of an austenized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenized, and a first mixed layer in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed, the first mixed layer being formed between the first soft magnetic layer and the first non-magnetic layer, and a second region including a second non-magnetic layer composed of the austenized phase, the second non-magnetic layer having a thickness greater than that of the first non-magnetic layer.

Austenized ferritic stainless steel, watch component and electric watch

A housing is a housing formed of austenitized ferritic stainless steel including a base formed of a ferrite phase and a surfacing layer formed of an austenitized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenitized, the housing including a first surface exposed to an external space of the housing, and a second surface adjacent to the first surface with a corner portion interposed therebetween, and exposed to the external space, wherein an angle of an internal angle formed by the first surface and the second surface at the corner portion is greater than 0&#xb0;, and less than 180&#xb0;, and a surfacing layer at the corner portion is thicker in thickness than a surfacing layer in the first surface and a surfacing layer in the second surface.

Housing and device

A watch component includes an austenized ferritic stainless steel, the austenized ferritic stainless steel including a first layer including a ferrite phase, and a second layer including an austenized phase formed of a nitrogen solid solution of the ferrite phase. An average particle size of ferrite crystal grains constituting the ferrite phase is 300 &#x3bc;m or greater, and an average particle size of austenitic crystal grains constituting the austenized phase is 150 &#x3bc;m or smaller.

Watch component and watch

A method for manufacturing a watch component is a method for manufacturing a watch component that is formed of an austenitized ferritic stainless steel including a base portion formed by a ferrite phase and a surface layer formed by an austenitized phase obtained by austenitizing the ferrite phase. The method includes a first processing step for forming a thinned portion by providing a step in a base material formed of a ferritic stainless steel, a heat treatment step for performing nitrogen absorption treatment on the base material to form the surface layer on an outer surface side of the base portion, and a second processing step for providing a hole portion in the thinned portion.

Method for manufacturing watch component

A watch component includes a metal material obtained by performing a nitrogen absorption treatment on a base material, the base material being a ferritic stainless steel that contains, by mass %, 18 to 22% of Cr, 1.3 to 2.8% of Mo, 0.05 to 0.50% of Nb, less than 0.5% of Ni, less than 0.8% of Mn, less than 0.5% of Si, less than 0.10% of P, less than 0.05% of S, less than 0.05% of N, and less than 0.05% of C, with a remainder thereof being composed of Fe and an unavoidable impurity.

A watch component comprising an austenitic ferritic stainless steel. The austenitic ferritic stainless steel includes a base portion composed of a ferrite phase, a surface layer composed of an austenitic phase, and a mixed layer formed between the base portion and the surface layer, wherein the mixed layer is composed of the ferrite phase and the austenitic phase. The surface layer contains 1.0 to 1.6 mass % of nitrogen, in which the surface layer has, at a surface of the surface layer, an oxide film having a thickness of 2.5 nm or greater, as calculated in terms of oxygen profiles in AES analysis.

A watch component includes an austenized ferritic stainless steel including a base including a ferrite phase, a surface layer formed on a surface of the base, the surface layer including an austenized phase, and a mixed layer formed between the base and the surface layer, the mixed layer being a layer in which the ferrite phase and the austenized phase are mixed. In a cross section taken along a depth direction from the surface, a thickness of the mixed layer is 45% or less of a thickness of the surface layer.

A method for manufacturing a watch component is a method for manufacturing a watch component formed of austenitized ferritic stainless steel including a base formed of a ferrite phase and a surfacing layer formed of an austenitized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenitized, the method including a first processing step for forming a hole portion or a recessed portion at a base material formed of ferrite stainless steel, a heat treatment step for performing a nitrogen absorption treatment on the base material to form the surfacing layer at a surface side of the base, and a second processing step for cutting a surfacing layer corresponding to the hole portion or the recessed portion to form the watch component.

Provided is a timepiece band that improves durability, water resistance, and fit. The timepiece band includes a first band, which is a single part, configured from metallic glass with an elastic modulus greater than or equal to 30 GPa and less than or equal to 70 GPa, and an elastic limit greater than or equal to 2% and less than or equal to 20%, and a second band, which is also a single part, configured from metallic glass with an elastic modulus greater than or equal to 30 GPa and less than or equal to 70 GPa, and an elastic limit greater than or equal to 2% and less than or equal to 20%.

Timepiece band, external part for a timepiece, and timepiece

Provided is a timepiece case that does not require a seal ring, such as an O ring, that is made of a resin material. The timepiece case includes a case body configured from metallic glass; and a button part that is formed integrally with the case body and is flexible.

Timepiece case and timepiece

presenting A timepiece faceplate includes a plate-shaped member provided on one surface with a ridge having a function for reflecting and scattering incident light, which is made of a material having optical transmission properties; and a layer in which numerous powder particles having a function for reflecting light are dispersed and which faces a surface opposite from the surface on which the ridge of the plate-shaped member is provided. The plate-shaped member and the layer of the timepiece faceplate are superimposed when viewed from above.

Timepiece faceplate and timepiece

To provide a timepiece dial that presents a rich stereoscopic effect, and to provide a timepiece comprising the timepiece dial, the timepiece dial of the invention comprises a microlens layer composed of a plurality of microlenses arranged in an orderly fashion as viewed in a planar view, and a decorative layer composed of a repeating design having a plurality of constituent units. As viewed in a planar view, the microlens layer and the decorative layer are superimposed, and the decorative layer has regions where pitches of the constituent units that are adjacent are different from each other.

Manufacturing method of timepiece dial, timepiece dial, and timepiece

To provide a timepiece faceplate having appropriate light permeability with excellent aesthetic appearance having glittering property, and an electrical timepiece equipped with a solar battery, a timepiece faceplate of the invention includes a faceplate main body that has light permeability, and a glittering layer that is provided on either one of a front surface side and a back surface side of the faceplate main body and is configured by dispersing a glittering powder into a light permeable resin. The glittering powder is configured by laminating a metallic oxide film above one surface side of a plate shaped base material, which has light permeability, and the glittering powder is a lamination powder that an average grain diameter is more than 10 &#x3bc;m and less than 90 &#x3bc;m.

Timepiece faceplate, and electrical timepiece equipped with solar battery

To provide a timepiece face created by bonding a plurality of substrates configured primarily from polycarbonate, excellent bonding strength being achieved between substrates and air bubbles being effectively prevented from forming in the bond layer, and a timepiece including the timepiece face, a timepiece face according to the invention includes a first substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; a second substrate configured primarily from polycarbonate; and a bond layer for bonding the first substrate and the second substrate.

Timepiece face and timepiece

A timepiece dial has excellent transparency to electromagnetic waves (radio and light), and an excellent appearance, a timepiece dial manufacturing method enables manufacturing the timepiece dial, and a timepiece has the timepiece dial. The timepiece dialhas a substratethat is electromagnetically transparent, and a dispersion filmcontaining a dispersion of metal powderwith an average particle diameter of 5 &#x3bc;m&#x2266;20 &#x3bc;m and an average particle thickness of 30 nm&#x2266;50 nm. The average thickness of the dispersion filmis 0.5 &#x3bc;m&#x2266;3.0 &#x3bc;m. The metal powderis disposed with a specific gap therebetween in the through-thickness direction of the dispersion film

Growing community of inventors

Suwa, Japan

Koki Takasawa