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.

A horological component is disclosed, which comprises at least one portion made of colored forged carbon comprising cut carbon fibers, secured to one another by a matrix comprising at least one resin as component, and at least one pigment, the pigment taking the form of solid particles that cannot be mixed with, or are not soluble in, the resin or resins of which the matrix is composed, and the particles of pigment being situated on the surface of at least some of the carbon fibers and located in one or more predefined regions of the portion of horological component. A manufacturing method allowing such a horological component to be produced is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a persistent phosphorescent ceramic composite material which is a sintered dense body comprising two or more phases, a first phase consisting of at least one metal oxide and a second phase consisting of a metal oxide containing at least one activating element in a reduced oxidation state. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the preparation of a phosphorescent ceramic composite material as defined in any of the previous claims, the method comprising the following steps: preparing a mixture of a metal oxide and a phosphor; fabricating a green body from the mixture; and heat treating the green body in a reducing atmosphere.

A case including a case body, and an exterior member which is arranged on an outer periphery of the case body in a manner to be deformable in a circumferential direction and which is provided with a separation section for separating at least a part of the case body in the circumferential direction.

An external element made from a first material for a wearable object, the first material being an insulating ceramic, wherein a surface of the external element is at least partially treated to include at least one conversion with an electrical conductivity.

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 microfibres capable of wicking away and neutralizing moisture through the material.

A method for core impregnation of a finished part made of plastic material with an additive, including: dissolving the additive in a liquid medium to form a solution; placing the plastic part at ambient pressure in a pressure enclosure; hermetically sealing the chamber; impregnating the plastic part with the solution by a fluid at supercritical or near supercritical conditions in the enclosure at a pressure between 3 MPa and 6 MPa, at a temperature between 25 C. and 65 C. for a duration between 1 minute and 15 minutes; releasing the pressure inside the enclosure so that the liquid medium diffuses outside the plastic part and to trap the additive inside the plastic part.

A ceramic component, in particular based on zirconia and/or alumina, for a timepiece or jewelry piece, comprising at least one noble metal among platinum, rhodium, osmium, palladium, ruthenium and iridium, at a quantity of less than or equal to 5% by weight.

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.

A process for the production of a grey zirconia-based article wherein a first mixture includes a zirconia powder forming the base constituent, 4% to 15% by weight of at least one stabilizer selected from among the group of oxides including yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide and calcium oxide alone or in combination, 0.1% to 1% by weight of a vanadium oxide powder (V.sub.2O.sub.5), 0.1% to 1% by weight of a chromium oxide powder (Cr.sub.2O.sub.3) and 0.1% to 1% by weight of a silicon oxide powder (SiO.sub.2); making a second mixture including the first mixture and a binder; making a granulated mixture by conducting a granulation of the second mixture; forming a blank by giving this second granulated mixture the shape of the desired article; sintering the blank in air for at least thirty minutes at a temperature in the range of between 1250 and 1550 C.