A process for manufacturing a timepiece or jewellery component, the component being manufactured from a first material, the process including: obtaining the component, having undergone, at a very latest during the obtaining, a treatment directed toward combining the component with a chromic element, the chromic element including at least one pigment capable of reacting to an energy supply and a matrix for binding the pigment; placing the component in a machine capable of at least locally supplying energy to the component; using the energy supply machine in a predefined operating program at least locally to provide energy to the chromic element to bring about a reaction of its pigment; removing the component from the energy supply machine.

A novelty communication object, such as a sign or printed object (book, brochure, greeting card or the like), and method of making, wherein at least one page, surface or sheet of the object has not only directly visible images, but also a plurality of cut-outs or other portions at least partially transparent or optically reactive to light, which can become visible when a user shines an illumination source such as a flashlight at the page and projects an image of the transparent or optically reactive portions onto a neighboring wall or other surface, or backlights the transparent or optically reactive portions for direct viewing. The plurality of transparent or optically reactive areas are preferably selected so that the illuminated image has a different visual appearance than the directly visible image, thereby enhancing the overall narrative content of the communication object.

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 of manufacturing a watch component (10) for a timepiece, wherein it comprises a first stage of manufacturing a watch component (10) comprising a first surface (1), in which there is arranged at least one recess (20), that is to say a surface recessed from the first surface (1), and wherein it comprises a second finishing stage the watch component, leading to a change in the surface condition, more particularly the roughness, more particularly measured by the parameters Ra and/or Str, and/or the gloss, of the first surface (1) but not of the at least one recess (20) or of a portion exclusively of this at least one recess (20).

Provided is a decorating method for decorating a metal component by laser irradiation. The method includes performing laser irradiation while scanning, with a first element as a starting point, along a direction toward the metal component, and an oxide film is formed on the front surface of the metal component by the laser irradiation.

A method for marking a workpiece (6) uses a device, wherein the workpiece (6) is formed at least partially in a thermal master or forming process, comprises a surface (10) directed towards the workpiece (6), wherein a number of individually controllable heating elements (2) is distributed behind the surface (10) for a local heating of a workpiece surface portion. Each of the heating elements (2) comprises a solid material (11) having a surface structure and a heating structure (3), wherein the surface (10) directed towards the workpiece (6) encompassing the surface structures (40) has a uniform smooth surface allowing to dark, burn or foam the surface (7) of the workpiece (6) through heat introduction.

Embodiments are directed to laser-based processes for forming features on the surface of a part. The feature may include a geometric element, a color element, and/or a surface finish element. In some cases, the laser-formed features are formed as a pattern of textured features that produce an aesthetic and/or tactile effect on the surface of the part. In some cases, the texture features may be sufficiently small that they may not be discerned by the unaided human eye. Also, in some cases, a multiple laser-based processes are combined to form a single feature or a finished part having a specific aesthetic and/or tactile effect.

A method is for producing an ornamental design (O) in a clearcoat layer (K). The ornamental design (O) is produced by a selective matting of the clearcoat layer (K) by working the clearcoat layer (K) by a laser. The working of the clearcoat layer may be performed by a UV laser. Additionally, the working of the clearcoat layer K may be performed by electromagnetic waves at a wavelength of about 355 nm. Furthermore, the working of the clearcoat layer K may be performed by a laser operating at a frequency of about 23 500 Hz. Still further, the working of the clearcoat layer (K) may be performed by a laser operating with a pulse duration of about 2 μs. The working of the clearcoat layer (K) may be performed by a laser operating with a line spacing of about 0.03 mm.

Embodiments are directed to laser-based processes for forming features on the surface of a part. The feature may include a geometric element, a color element, and/or a surface finish element. In some cases, the laser-formed features are formed as a pattern of textured features that produce an aesthetic and/or tactile effect on the surface of the part. In some cases, the texture features may be sufficiently small that they may not be discerned by the unaided human eye. Also, in some cases, a multiple laser-based processes are combined to form a single feature or a finished part having a specific aesthetic and/or tactile effect.

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.