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.

A method for structuring a decorative or technical pattern in the thickness of an object made of an at least partially transparent amorphous, semi-crystalline or crystalline material, wherein the object is made of an at least partially transparent material including a top surface and a bottom surface which extends away from the top surface. The top or bottom surfaces is provided with a mask defining an opening whose outline corresponds to the profile of the pattern to be structured, the mask covering the top or bottom surface at the positions which are not to be structured. The pattern is structured with a mono- or multicharged ion beam through the opening of the mask, wherein the mechanical properties of the mask are sufficient to prevent the ions of the ion beam from etching the top or bottom surface at the positions where this top or bottom surface is covered by the mask.

A timepiece or jewelry component comprising a substrate and at least one decoration joined to the substrate, wherein it comprises a transparent coating covering at least one part of the substrate and at least one part of the decoration, the coating changing the perceptible color of the substrate without changing the perceptible color of the at least one decoration.

A layer of lanthanum boride of stoichiometry LaB.sub.x where x is between 9 and 12 is deposited on substrate, for example a stainless steel watch dial, and subsequently treated with a laser, such that the portion(s) of the layer treated with the laser change colour according to the laser power. This produces multicoloured surfaces having high resistance to corrosion and abrasion. The layer of LaB.sub.x is deposited by PVD and by cathode sputtering, using a LaB.sub.6 target of purple-violet colour, such that the colour of the deposited layer differs from the colour of the target. The laser treatment at specific powers changes the stoichiometry of the layer in the treatment portions, such that the colour of these portions changes according to the stoichiometry obtained. At higher powers, the laser will remove the layer of LaB.sub.x. Thus the colour of the treated portions is determined by the material of the substrate.

A surface treatment process for manufacturing a metal- and/or cermet-based timepiece component from a component having irregularities, such as pores and/or precipitates and/or striations, obtained by a powder metallurgy or additive manufacturing method, which process includes a step of improving the surface finish of the component by superficial remelting on a surface zone of the component.

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 coloured coating on a watchmaking or jewellery external part component, comprising at least one visible surface prepared in advance on a substrate, this method comprising a step of vacuum-deposition of at least one main layer of titanium and silicon nitride (Ti, Si.sub.k)N.sub.x or of titanium and silicon nitride doped with oxygen (Ti, Si.sub.k)N.sub.xO.sub.y.

A method that is for manufacturing a timepiece provided with a personalized decoration, visible in particular when the timepiece is worn, includes constructing the timepiece and producing the personalized decoration on all or part of a body of the timepiece. Producing the personalized decoration includes selecting from a human-machine interface of an electronic device a single portion of a reference digital graphical representation, in particular of an ephemeral reference digital graphic representation, and applying a coating of decorative material on all or part of the body of the timepiece as a function of the descriptive characteristics of the selected single portion.

A timepiece component includes a first silicon-based or ceramic-based part, and a second metal-based part. One surface of the first part is directly welded using laser-type electromagnetic radiation onto a surface of the second part in order to secure the parts without addition of material. A method for fabrication of a timepiece component for a timepiece includes forming a first silicon-based or ceramic-based part and a second metal-based part, mounting a surface of the first part on a surface of the second part, and welding, using laser-type electromagnetic radiation, the surface of the first part mounted directly on the surface of the second part, in order to secure the parts to each other without addition of material.

A method for manufacturing a silicon timepiece component (1) with a functional external profile.