A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.

A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.

A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

A timepiece with a mechanical movement which includes an indicator mechanism of at least one time data item, a mechanical resonator forming a mechanical oscillator which paces the running of the indicator mechanism, and a regulation device to prevent a potential time drift in the running of the indicator mechanism. The regulation device is formed by a master oscillator and a mechanical braking device of the mechanical resonator, this mechanical braking device being arranged to be able to apply periodically to the mechanical resonator braking pulses at a braking frequency determined by the master oscillator. The system, formed of the mechanical resonator and the mechanical braking device, is configured so as to enable the mechanical braking device to be able to start the braking pulses at any position of the mechanical resonator. The braking pulses have a duration less than one quarter of a set-point period.

A method for manufacturing at least two mechanical parts to be arranged in a timepiece mechanism including magnetised functional areas having antagonistic polarities, the parts being arranged in a timepiece mechanism to cooperate with each other in relative displacement, the method including a step of constructing a blank of each of the two parts including at least one functional area from which the parts are able to cooperate with each other and a step of obtaining each of the parts including a sub-step of transforming said at least one functional area of the blank of each of these parts into a magnetised functional area from which emanates a magnetic field, at least one feature of which is configured so that this magnetic field participates in achieving a separation of the magnetised functional areas of the two parts when they are in a stop position in the mechanism.

A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator and an electromechanical transducer formed by an electromagnetic assembly including a coil and a magnet mounted on the balance of the mechanical oscillator. The induced voltage signal, produced by the electromagnetic transducer during each oscillation, exhibits, in a first half-alternation between the oscillator passes via the neutral position thereof, a first lobe of maximum amplitude having a first polarity and, in a second half-alternation following a passage via the neutral position, a second lobe of maximum amplitude having a second polarity opposite the first. An electric converter includes two power supply capacitors and a device for regulating the medium frequency of the mechanical oscillator. The first power supply capacitor is charged merely with a positive voltage whereas the second capacitor is charged merely with a negative voltage. A load pump is arranged to transfer electric loads between the two capacitors according to a time drift of the mechanical oscillator relative to a time base.

A piezoelectric element for an automatic frequency control circuit, the element including: a balance spring formed of a strip of piezoelectric material; at least a first electrode, configured to be connected to the circuit and being disposed on all or part of one side of the strip; at least a second electrode configured to be connected to the circuit and being disposed on all or part of another one side of the strip distinct from the one side on which the first electrode is disposed, the piezoelectric material being a piezoelectric crystal or a piezoelectric ceramic; and at least two discontinuous layers of an insulating material, each discontinuous layer being disposed on at least one side of the strip and separating the first electrode from the second electrode, the layers of insulating material being distributed on predetermined portions of the balance spring substantially forming arcs in a predetermined angular periodicity.

A piezoelectric element for an automatic frequency control circuit. The element includes a balance spring formed of a piezoelectric crystal strip, a first electrode connected to the automatic control circuit, and disposed on at least a first side of the strip, and a second electrode connected to the automatic control circuit and disposed on at least a second side of the strip. The first and second electrodes are placed on one portion or over the entire length of the balance spring in a predetermined angular distribution.

A timepiece includes a mechanical movement with a mechanical oscillator and an electronic device for regulating the medium frequency of this mechanical oscillator. It includes an electromagnetic transducer and an electric converter which includes a power supply capacitor for powering the regulation circuit. The electromagnetic transducer is arranged to supply a voltage signal exhibiting first voltage lobes in first half-alternations and second voltage lobes in second half-alternations of the oscillations of the mechanical oscillator. The regulating device includes a load pump arranged to store momentarily electric loads which are extracted selectively in different time zones according to a time drift detected in the functioning of the mechanical oscillator relative to an auxiliary oscillator, particularly quartz-based. The electric loads extracted are rendered after a certain delay to the power supply capacitor also according to the time drift detected.

A timepiece includes a mechanical movement with a mechanical oscillator and an electronic device for regulating the medium frequency of this mechanical oscillator. It includes an electromagnetic transducer and an electric converter which includes a power supply capacitor for powering the regulation circuit. The electromagnetic transducer is arranged to supply a voltage signal exhibiting first voltage lobes in first half-alternations and second voltage lobes in second half-alternations of the oscillations of the mechanical oscillator. The regulating device includes a load pump arranged to store momentarily electric loads which are extracted selectively in different time zones according to a time drift detected in the functioning of the mechanical oscillator relative to an auxiliary oscillator, particularly quartz-based. The electric loads extracted are rendered after a certain delay to the power supply capacitor also according to the time drift detected.