The present invention relates to a free-standing single crystalline diamond part and a single crystalline diamond part production method. The method includes the steps of: —providing a single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; —providing a first adhesion layer on the substrate or layer; —providing a second adhesion layer on the first adhesion layer: —providing a mask layer on the second adhesion layer; —forming at least one indentation or a plurality of indentations through the mask layer and the first and second adhesion layers to expose a portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer; and—etching the exposed portion or portions of the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer and etching entirely through the single crystalline diamond substrate or layer.

The method of manufacturing a timepiece shaft (1) includes grinding a ceramic piece, especially to form a balance shaft (1), having a functional portion (2a; 2b) including at least one part (221a; 221b) of a pivot-shank (22a; 22b) and/or at least one part (211a; 211b) of a pivot (21a; 21b), the first functional portion being made of ceramic and a first outer diameter (D1) of the first functional portion being less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm.

A mechanical watch or measurement instrument having metallic parts, wherein each part of the mechanical watch mechanism has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 1.01.

A mechanical watch or measurement instrument having metallic parts, wherein each part of the mechanical watch mechanism has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 1.01.

A component intended to be in friction contact with another component, the component being coated with an electrically conductive layer in one piece, at least partially covering every surface of the component, the friction occurring on at least one of these surfaces, called the functional surface, the functional surface being surrounded by a plurality of side surfaces, the component having on its functional surface a texture formed of a succession of troughs coated with the electrically conductive layer, the troughs each extending between two side surfaces such that the electrically conductive layer remains in one piece over the component despite the wear caused by friction on the functional surface. The invention also relates to the method for manufacturing the component by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sides machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

A component intended to be in friction contact with another component, the component being coated with an electrically conductive layer in one piece, at least partially covering every surface of the component, the friction occurring on at least one of these surfaces, called the functional surface, the functional surface being surrounded by a plurality of side surfaces, the component having on its functional surface a texture formed of a succession of troughs coated with the electrically conductive layer, the troughs each extending between two side surfaces such that the electrically conductive layer remains in one piece over the component despite the wear caused by friction on the functional surface. The invention also relates to the method for manufacturing the component by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sides machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

A timepiece escapement comprising: an escapement wheel pivotably mounted about a first axis of rotation and intended to be driven by a power source; a lever pivotably mounted about a second axis of rotation, said lever comprising an entry pallet and an exit pallet, each pallet comprising a rest face arranged to alternately and sequentially lock the escapement wheel, the lever being suitable for transmitting pulses received from the escapement wheel to a regulating member arranged to oscillate, and for releasing the escapement wheel periodically under the control of said regulating member, wherein the rest face of the entry pallet is arranged such that, when it locks a tooth of the escapement wheel, a draw force is generated by the interaction between the rest face and the tooth to apply a torque that tends to retain the lever in the rest position. According to the invention, the rest face is shaped in such a way that the draw angle (Υ) at the contact point (C) of said face with a tooth of the escapement wheel is constant or decreases along the release stroke of the entry pallet.

A timepiece escapement comprising: an escapement wheel pivotably mounted about a first axis of rotation and intended to be driven by a power source; a lever pivotably mounted about a second axis of rotation, said lever comprising an entry pallet and an exit pallet, each pallet comprising a rest face arranged to alternately and sequentially lock the escapement wheel, the lever being suitable for transmitting pulses received from the escapement wheel to a regulating member arranged to oscillate, and for releasing the escapement wheel periodically under the control of said regulating member, wherein the rest face of the entry pallet is arranged such that, when it locks a tooth of the escapement wheel, a draw force is generated by the interaction between the rest face and the tooth to apply a torque that tends to retain the lever in the rest position. According to the invention, the rest face is shaped in such a way that the draw angle (Υ) at the contact point (C) of said face with a tooth of the escapement wheel is constant or decreases along the release stroke of the entry pallet.

Micromechanical component intended for clock mechanisms, wherein at least one portion of the component consists of a crystalline mineral material with a carbon or alumina basis and comprises at least one contact surface intended to be brought into sliding and/or pivoting contact; the contact surface locally comprising at least one microstructured area having a three-dimensional texture; the three-dimensional texture being formed of microcavities, making the microstructured area more oleophobic than the non-microstructured contact surface, and/or formed of micro pillars making the microstructured area more oleophilic than the non-microstructured contact surface; the microstructured area being configured to locally confine a lubricant substance to a lubricated portion of the contact surface.

A horological movement including a tourbillon or karussel frame carried by an arm subjected to the torque of a first energy source, and a second energy source driving a frame pitch mobile driving the frame, and, for periodically controlling a retrograde movement of the arm, a release mobile connected to the second energy source and cooperating at a pallet-stone with an interrupted cam that a cam mobile kinematically connected to this arm includes, to allow advancing the arm in a direct direction as long as the pallet-stone is resting on the cam, and to control a rapid retrograde return of this arm during a drop of the pallet-stone between two of its successive support surfaces on the cam.