A non-magnetic watch component (1) comprising a substrate (4) made of a copper alloy, wherein at least one part of the substrate (4) has a surface layer (5) including CuxTi.sub.y intermetallics, and a method for manufacturing this watch component.

A method of making a decorative article (1) such as a jewellery piece, the article comprising a body (2) having a decorative layer (5) and an element (3) set into the body. The method comprises: providing an element that is at least partially coated with a removable layer (4), setting the element into the body, coating the element and the body with the decorative layer, and removing the removable layer and the decorative layer from the element.

A patterned diamond and methods of making such patterned diamond are disclosed. The patterned diamond may include: a single crystal diamond or a polycrystal diamond; and a metallic pattern embedded in the single crystal diamond or the polycrystal diamond such that, the single crystal diamond or the polycrystal diamond encapsulates the metallic pattern from at least 4 sides. The disclosed method may include providing a first portion of a single crystal diamond or a polycrystal diamond; introducing a metallic pattern to at least one surface of the first portion of the single crystal or a first portion of the polycrystal diamond; and growing, using a CVD process or HTHP process, a second portion of the single crystal diamond or the second portion of the polycrystal diamond on the first portion, such that the single crystal diamond or the polycrystal diamond at least partially encapsulates the metallic pattern.

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 method for decorating a surface of a mechanical part including: taking the mechanical part to be decorated, on which a decoration element is sought to be produced; depositing on the surface a masking layer having a thickness that is at least equal to the thickness of the decoration element to be produced; making, in the masking layer, at least one cavity that coincides with the location on the surface to be decorated, the cavity having a contour that corresponds to the contour of the decoration element and defining a volume; depositing a bonding layer made of an electrically-conductive material on top of the masking layer and on the surface, in the locations of the cavity, to facilitate the bonding of the decoration element; filling the volume delimited by the masking layer and the surface with a filling material in which the decoration element; and removing the masking layer.

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 of manufacturing a two-layer metal wire, in particular in a gold-based alloy and of silver, which comprises a succession of steps which consist in coupling an outer metal tube (2) to an inner metal tube (4) interposing a first binding thickness (3) in low-melting metal material, welding the inner surface (12) of the outer metal tube (2) to the outer surface (13) of the first binding thickness (3) and the inner surface (13″) of the same first binding thickness (3) to the outer surface (141) of the inner metal tube (4), to firmly associate the outer tube (2) with the inner tube (4) together, so as to form a tubular element (7, 107) which has at least three metal layers, and then draw, by final drawing, the tubular element (7, 107) to obtain a compound metal wire (9) from at least three metal layers. The object of the present invention is also a semi-finished tubular element (7, 107), having at least three metal layers, which comprises an outer metal tube (2), an Inner metal tube (4) and a first binding thickness (3) interposed between the outer metal tube (2) and the inner metal tube (4).

A method to permanently mark an item of laminated jewelry involves creating a laminate of two metals, and upper layer typically formed of a more precious metal such as gold, platinum or palladium that do not readily oxidize laminated onto the surface of a less precious metal, such as silver, which can be oxidized to create a dark color (e.g. black). A laser is used to create characters and/or designs in the upper layer by vaporizing portions thereof to effectively remove those portions. This exposes the upper surface of the less precious metal that does become oxidized. An oxidizer, such as liquid sulfur, is then used to blacken the silver, typically a dark gray. However, if more contrast is needed by making the marked text, designs etc. darker than gray a second step can be used by applying an additional oxidizing agent to turn the dark gray to substantially black.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a part comprising at least one three-dimensional metallised pattern overlying a local enamel underlayer.

A black member includes a base and a black layer laminated on the base. The black layer contains titanium aluminum nitride, titanium silicon nitride, or titanium aluminum silicon nitride. The black layer may also contain at least one type of elements selected from the group consisting of oxygen, fluorine, and carbon. When the black layer contains carbon, and assuming that a total amount of elements contained in the black layer is 100 at %, the black layer contains carbon of 10 at % or less. In a color evaluation according to an L*, a*, b* color system (CIE color system), the black layer satisfies L*48.0, 2.0a*3.0, and 3.5b*3.0.