The method for manufacturing a timepiece component is capable of thermocompensating a functional assembly including the timepiece component. The method includes at least the following actions: a) providing (e1) a substrate (1) of semiconductor or metallic material; b) proceeding with the deposition (e2) of a polycrystalline or monocrystalline silicon layer (5) on the substrate (1); c) releasing (e4) the timepiece component (10) from the substrate (1).

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 the fine adjustment of the rate of a mechanical oscillator with an oscillating inertial mass, equipped, in a first step, with an actuator made of material suitable for irreversible local micro-expansion under the action of laser fires, to impart to an inertia-block a radial travel during suitable laser fires on a writing zone of the actuator, in a second step, the initial rate of the oscillator is set and measured, in a third step, the direction and the value of the deviation required to achieve a predetermined rate range, and of the travel to be imparted to inertia-blocks are calculated, in a fourth step, a writing zone is subjected to femtosecond laser fires to create expansion lines by local molecular expansion to radially deform the actuator, in a fifth step the rate is measured and the third step and fourth step are repeated if required.

A mechanical oscillator, formed of a mechanical resonator and a device for maintaining oscillation, and an auxiliary oscillator forming a reference time base including a synchronisation device arranged to slave the medium frequency of the mechanical oscillator on that of the auxiliary oscillator. The synchronisation device includes an electromagnetic braking device which is formed of a coil and at least one permanent magnet and arranged such that an induced voltage is generated between the terminals of the coil in each alternation of the oscillation of the mechanical resonator. The synchronisation device is arranged to be able to reduce momentarily the impedance between the terminals of the coil during distinct time intervals, any two successive time intervals exhibiting between the respective starts thereof a time distance substantially equal to a positive whole number multiplied by half of a set-point period for the mechanical oscillator.

A mechanical oscillator, formed of a mechanical resonator and a device for maintaining oscillation, and an auxiliary oscillator forming a reference time base including a synchronisation device arranged to slave the medium frequency of the mechanical oscillator on that of the auxiliary oscillator. The synchronisation device includes an electromagnetic braking device which is formed of a coil and at least one permanent magnet and arranged such that an induced voltage is generated between the terminals of the coil in each alternation of the oscillation of the mechanical resonator. The synchronisation device is arranged to be able to reduce momentarily the impedance between the terminals of the coil during distinct time intervals, any two successive time intervals exhibiting between the respective starts thereof a time distance substantially equal to a positive whole number multiplied by half of a set-point period for the mechanical oscillator.

Method for press-rolling a mainspring, from a wire comprising a pre-formed eye, utilising a roller press comprising a first support and guide means exerting a force on the wire in a first contact area located between a second and a third contact area comprised in a second and a third support and guide means, in order to wind, beyond the eye, an accumulation area with an opposite curvature to that of the eye, and wherein, as the wire advances, the position of the first contact area is gradually moved away from the second and third contact areas, to vary the press-rolling radius from a first minimum value to a second maximum value at a neck junction between the accumulation area and the eye.

An assembly (300) includes (i) a hairspring (2) made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, notably an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen, and (ii) at least one fastening part (1; 1′), notably two parts (1; 1′), in particular a stud (1) or a collet (1′), for an end (2a; 2b) of the hairspring (2), the at least one part (1; 1′) having a first portion (10; 10′) that is designed to come into contact with the hairspring (2) and that is made of titanium or titanium alloy or of tantalum or tantalum alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium.

A fastening stud (1) for one end of a hairspring, the stud having a first portion (10) designed to come into contact with the hairspring, the first portion being formed such as to have a first surface (10b) and a second bearing surface (10c) with the hairspring.

Watch comprising a movement, with a timepiece balance wheel comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, carried by a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the timepiece balance wheel, the movement further including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilising the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.

Watch comprising a movement, with a balance comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, elastically fixed to a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the balance, the movement including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilising the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.