Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a casing element made of ceramic, for the fields of watchmaking or jewelry making, which enables a casing element to be obtained that is substantially homogeneous in terms of its structure and mechanical properties and that has variations of hue and/or color that are both original and unique on its surface. The manufacturing method includes, in particular, a machining step intended to make different layers, of different respective natures, visible on the surface of the casing element.

An article made from a material having a density between 2 and 7 g/cm.sup.3, the material comprising by weight for a total of 100%: a filler (2) made from a metal and/or ceramic material; at least one polymer (4); optionally at least one coupling agent (3) present in a percentage greater than or equal to 0% and less than 10%; optionally at least one reinforcement present in a percentage between 0 and 10%; optionally at least one pigment present in a percentage between 0 and 5%; optionally at least one diluent and/or a plasticiser present in a percentage between 0 and 5%. The polymer (4) is bonded to the filler (2) and the coupling agent (3) is respectively bonded to the polymer (4) and to the filler (2) by one or more bonds chosen from a hydrogen bond, a coordinate bond and an ionic bond.

An exterior member that is favorably manufactured, a case having the exterior member and a timepiece having the case are provided. The exterior member includes an exterior main body section in which a first resin layer is provided on one side of a sheet member formed of carbon fiber and a cutout recess section from which a portion of the sheet member is exposed is provided in the first resin layer on the one side of the sheet member, and a protection member which covers the cutout recess section of the first resin layer. Accordingly, the exterior member is favorably manufactured with its strength being increased.

The present invention relates to a covering element for a portable object made of a first material, the first material being a ceramic material having a first color, characterized in that the surface of said covering element is at least partially treated so as to exhibit at least one conversion having a different color from the first color.

A case includes a case main body, an exterior cover formed of a synthetic resin and mounted on an upper portion and an outer circumferential portion of the case main body to cover the upper portion and the outer circumferential portion, and a reinforcement member formed of a synthetic resin harder than the exterior cover and embedded in an inner surface of the exterior cover to prevent an inner circumferential side of the exterior cover from being bent back relative to the case main body.

An elastomer material for a wristband or components for horology configured to be in contact with skin, the elastomer material including a moisture wicking mechanism. The wicking mechanism includes hydrophilic microfibers capable of wicking away and neutralizing moisture through the material.

A decorative item made from a moulded material having a density of between 2 and 7 g/cm.sup.3, wherein the moulded material includes by weight: 60 to 90% of a metallic or ceramic material having a density higher than or equal to 5 g/cm.sup.3, 10 to 32% of a plastic material including a thermoplastic resin and a coupling agent, 0 to 8% of a reinforcement, 0 to 3% of a pigment. Also, a method of manufacturing this decorative item by injection moulding.

A method for brazing a first ceramic component and a second metal alloy component, to make a structural or external timepiece element, a zirconia-based ceramic is chosen for the first component and a titanium alloy for the second component, a first recess is made inside the first component, set back from a first surface in a junction area with a second surface of the second component, braze material is deposited on this first surface and inside each recess, the second surface is positioned in alignment with the first surface to form an assembly, this assembly is heated in a controlled atmosphere to above the melting temperature of the braze material, in order to form the braze in the junction area.

A polycrystalline ceramic solely formed based on alumina, on chromium oxide and on magnesium oxide, where the polycrystalline ceramic contains between 0.8% and 1.2% of chromium oxide by total weight of the polycrystalline ceramic and between 0.03% and 0.09% of magnesium oxide by total weight of the polycrystalline ceramic, making it possible to obtain a red ceramic with a toughness (K.sub.c) at least equal to 2.8 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2.

The invention relates to a timepiece component made of composite material including at least one reinforcement and one matrix, the reinforcement having a three-dimensional honeycomb structure with a plurality of cells into which the matrix is injected.

The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing such a timepiece component.