By configuring a timepiece component to include an intermediate film provided on at least a portion of a surface of a base material formed by using a nonconductive first material as a main component and to include a buffer film stacked on the intermediate film and mainly composed of a second material having a tenacity higher than that of the first material, the timepiece component may be manufactured with high precision, the weight thereof may be reduced, and even when the base material is formed by using a brittle material such as silicon, the timepiece component becomes resistant to breakage and capable of exhibiting high strength when an impact is externally applied.

By configuring a timepiece component to include an intermediate film provided on at least a portion of a surface of a base material formed by using a nonconductive first material as a main component and to include a buffer film stacked on the intermediate film and mainly composed of a second material having a tenacity higher than that of the first material, the timepiece component may be manufactured with high precision, the weight thereof may be reduced, and even when the base material is formed by using a brittle material such as silicon, the timepiece component becomes resistant to breakage and capable of exhibiting high strength when an impact is externally applied.

A method for manufacturing a jewel of the polycrystalline type, in particular for a timepiece, the jewel including, for example, poly-ruby of the type al2O3Cr or Zirconia of the type ZrO2, the method including a first step of producing a precursor, and a second step of pressing the precursor in order to form a body, the pressing being carried out using a pressing device provided with an upper die and a lower die defining a pressing space in which the precursor is disposed, the device being provided with a wire passing through at least part of the lower die to open out into the pressing space, the lower die being capable of sliding about the wire, the pressing taking place by bringing the lower die and the upper die closer to one another to form a body comprising a bottom face provided with a hole.

A method for manufacturing a jewel for a timepiece, the jewel including, for example, poly-ruby of the Al2O3Cr type or Zirconia of the ZrO2 type, including first producing a precursor and a then pressing the precursor in order to form a body, the pressing being carried out using a pressing device provided with an upper die and a lower die defining a pressing space wherein the precursor is disposed, the upper die including a concave portion of oblong shape, the device having a wire at least partially traversing the lower die to open into the pressing space, the lower die being able to slide around the wire, the pressing being carried out by bringing the lower die and the upper die closer together to form a body including an upper face provided with a dome and a lower face provided with a hole extending at least partially into the dome.

A system including two components intended to be in friction contact with each other in a given direction, wherein the friction occurs in a functional area, wherein the system is at least one of the two components including, on a surface in the functional area, a texture formed of a series of troughs of rounded shape separated by peaks or a series of bumps of rounded shape separated by troughs, the troughs extending parallel in the given direction and allowing for the evacuation of debris produced by friction and serving as a reservoir for a lubricant. A method for manufacturing at least one component or a mold by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sidewalls machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

A system including two components intended to be in friction contact with each other in a given direction, wherein the friction occurs in a functional area, wherein the system is at least one of the two components including, on a surface in the functional area, a texture formed of a series of troughs of rounded shape separated by peaks or a series of bumps of rounded shape separated by troughs, the troughs extending parallel in the given direction and allowing for the evacuation of debris produced by friction and serving as a reservoir for a lubricant. A method for manufacturing at least one component or a mold by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sidewalls machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

An element for radial guiding of a pivot of a rod of a rotating wheel, for example a rod of a balance, for a bearing of an horological movement, in particular shock-absorbing, the guide element including a body configured to cooperate with a bearing unit in such a way as to be maintained in the unit, the body defining a space for radial retention of the pivot, to maintain the rod radially while allowing it to rotate. The radial guide element includes at least three localized radial-bearing parts distributed angularly, the three parts defining the radial retention space, each part having a face for contact with the pivot, each face locally having a cylindrical shape convex towards the inside of the radial retention space, the bearing parts having an elongated body.

A combined device applies an axial force to a timepiece component, and simultaneously measures the axial distance between a reference and a surface of the component. The device includes a support carrying a measuring body which includes a measuring unit for carrying out an axial measurement of the position of this surface, and a controller operated by a user or by an automated manipulator, for applying to this surface, a characterised axial force transmitted to the bearing and measuring point by a calibrated axial resilient return device. The device is used by having a stack of flat, specific resilient elements, which are characterised by the combined force characteristic thereof as a function of the applied axial stroke, impart to the controller the rotational or axial stroke which corresponds to the specific axial force to be applied.

A combined device applies an axial force to a timepiece component, and simultaneously measures the axial distance between a reference and a surface of the component. The device includes a support carrying a measuring body which includes a measuring unit for carrying out an axial measurement of the position of this surface, and a controller operated by a user or by an automated manipulator, for applying to this surface, a characterised axial force transmitted to the bearing and measuring point by a calibrated axial resilient return device. The device is used by having a stack of flat, specific resilient elements, which are characterised by the combined force characteristic thereof as a function of the applied axial stroke, impart to the controller the rotational or axial stroke which corresponds to the specific axial force to be applied.

Disclosed is a device for securing and adjusting a bearing in an orifice in a bridge or a plate of a timepiece. It includes a first bearing screw defining a crimping opening of such a bearing and including an external thread, a second screw, so-called locking screw, defining an internal bore and including an external thread and a socket defining a tubular housing extending following a longitudinal axis, the tubular housing including a first tapped section, adapted to screw the first screw, and a second tapped section, adapted to screw the second screw. Advantageously, the external threads of the first and second screws and the corresponding sections of the socket have respective screwing pitches in opposite directions. Also disclosed is a method for securing and adjusting a bearing in an orifice provided for that purpose in a bridge or a plate of a timepiece thanks to such a device.