A dial for a timepiece, preferably a watch, the dial being provided with a relief portion which is made as an assembly of pieces on different levels, juxtaposed on a base, such that the relief portion is formed by the upper surfaces of the pieces. A method for manufacturing the dial with several separate pieces, the upper surfaces of the pieces being subjected to a polishing step and/or possibly an enameling step. The pieces are then cut along a defined contour and then assembled edge-to-edge on a base, so as to create the relief portion.

A process for blanking an applique for a watch dial, comprises a step of blanking with a laser beam a first part of the outline of this applique, defining a pointed zone or/and a thin groove of at least a first hollow or/and the point or/and the drawn-out portion of at least a first projecting part, and a step of blanking by means of a stamp a second part of said outline which is complementary with the first part. This hybrid blanking technology makes it possible to obtain appliques having, at the end of the blanking process according to the invention, an outline which defines at least one hollow having a pointed zone or/and a thin groove or/and which defines at least one projecting part forming a point or/and a drawn-out portion with configurations and particular dimensions that cannot be obtained by blanking merely by stamping.

A process for producing a part provided with an external element includes: providing an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a raised pattern with a crest on the upper surface; depositing an electrically insulating layer onto the upper surface around the pattern to a thickness less than or equal to the distance between the crest and the upper surface; depositing a metal layer onto the crest by galvanic growth so that the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer; dissolving the insulating layer; covering an assembly including the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part to form an imprint; separating the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, the mass then exhibiting an external element formed by a recess, the shape of which corresponds to the imprint and the base of which interfaces with the metal layer.

Packaging (1) for clock hands (2) with a pipe (4) and a body (5), including a pallet (10) for receiving, holding, storing and carrying hands (2) having the same height, including bores (11) for receiving the pipes (4) according to a constant pitch, adjacent to recesses (12) for housing the hand bodies (5) resting on an upper surface (13), each pallet (10) including a position index device (20), and a spacer (15) for cooperating such that it bears against a lower surface (14) of another pallet (10) and extending, from the upper surface (13), over a height which exceeds that of the hand bodies (5), each pallet (10) having a transverse bearing surface (130) for receiving the bearing surfaces (3) of the hands (2), and, parallel thereto, oblong pieces (131), the width whereof is adapted for the insertion of robotic grippers or tweezers for loading/unloading hands.

A watch component is formed of a metal member formed into a component shape. A surface of the metal member includes a coated region being coated with a coating material having a color different from a material color of the metal member and an exposed region from which the material color of the metal member is exposed. A boundary part between the coated region and the exposed region forms a blade-pattern-like design.

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.

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 for fabricating an applique for horology including a visible upper surface, and a lower surface from which protrudes at least one securing foot: a rough piece is made as a straight workpiece; this rough piece is deformed to form a blank so as to form an upper curve; this blank including this feet is machined; this blank is mounted on a tool having a support surface complementary to the lower surface of this blank, a recess for housing each foot, gripping means and/or an adhesive for securing each blank; the upper curve of this blank is machined with at least one final diamond-polishing operation to form this upper surface.

A dial for a timepiece, preferably a watch, the dial being provided with a relief portion which is made as an assembly of pieces on different levels, juxtaposed on a base, such that the relief portion is formed by the upper surfaces of the pieces. A method for manufacturing the dial with several separate pieces, the upper surfaces of the pieces being subjected to a polishing step and/or possibly an enamelling step. The pieces are then cut along a defined contour and then assembled edge-to-edge on a base, so as to create the relief portion.

A method for fabricating a timepiece component made of conductive material includes: making a base from conductive material; coating the base with a first layer of sacrificial metal protection material; etching a recessed decoration mechanically or with a laser; coating the first recessed decoration and the remaining part of the first layer with a second metal and/or coloured decorative treatment layer; and removing each first sacrificial metal protection layer by chemical devices, to obtain a blank including a first decoration formed by the remaining part of the second layer.