A method for depositing a decorative and/or functional layer on at least a portion of a surface of a finished or semi-finished article made of a non-conductive ceramic material, this deposition method includes the following operations: subjecting the at least a portion of the surface of the article to a carburising or nitriding treatment during which carbon, respectively nitrogen atoms, diffuse in the at least a portion of the surface of the article, then depositing, by galvanic growth of a metallic material, the decorative and/or functional layer on at least a portion of the surface of the article which has undergone the carburising or nitriding treatment.

A method including running a simulated plating process on a substrate using a base shield, the base shield including a plurality of openings therethrough defining an array including two coordinates; after running the simulated plating process, determining if a predetermined criterion for the simulated plating process is satisfied; and if the predetermined criterion is not satisfied, adjusting one or more of the plurality of openings. A machine readable medium including program instructions that when executed by a controller cause the controller to perform a method including running a simulated plating process on a substrate using a base shield, the base shield including a plurality of openings therethrough defining an array including two coordinates; after running the simulated plating process, determining if a predetermined criterion for the simulated plating process is satisfied; and if the predetermined criterion is not satisfied, adjusting one or more of the plurality of openings.

A method for fabricating metal decorations on a domed dial made of insulating material, wherein the method includes the steps of forming a photosensitive resin mould by a UV LIGA type process, and electrodepositing a layer of at least one metal starting from the conductive layer to form a block, which substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.

A method of synthesizing a metal foam of at least one metal M having a porous micrometric structure, the method including a step of contact glow discharge electrolysis in an electrolytic plasma reduction conducted in an electrolytic solution in which are immersed an anode and a cathode connected to a continuous electrical power supply, the electrolytic solution including at least one first electrolyte in a solvent, the first electrolyte being the at least one metal M in cationic form, the electrolytic solution further including a gelatine, as well as a metal foam obtained by this method, and a device comprising such a foam.

A counterfeiting deterrent device according to one implementation of the disclosure includes a plurality of layers formed by an additive process. Each of the layers may have a thickness of less than 100 microns. At least one of the layers has a series of indentations formed in an outer edge of the layer such that the indentations can be observed to verify that the device originated from a predetermined source. According to another implementation, a counterfeiting deterrent device includes at least one raised layer having outer edges in the shape of a logo. A light source is configured and arranged to shine a light through a slit in a substrate layer of the device and past an intermediate layer to light up the outer edge of the raised layer. The layers of the device are formed by an additive process and have a thickness of less than 100 microns each.

The invention relates to traceable metallic products, methods of uses and methods of making same. The metallic products may be made traceable for integrity purposes, identification purposes, counterfeit avoidance and the like. The invention also relates to metallic supports for nanostorage of various compounds and samples.

A method for assembling a stone on a setting support, the stone being cut to exhibit a table, a crown, a girdle and a pavilion. A substrate with a recess for the stone, the recess forming, between the substrate and the stone, a peripheral free space in the vicinity of the girdle and of the zones of the crown and of the pavilion contiguous to the girdle, the peripheral free space including a bottom having a conductive surface. Electroplating, in the peripheral free space, a metal layer in the vicinity of the girdle and of the zones of the crown and of the pavilion contiguous to the girdle, so as to confine the girdle in the metal layer to form, around the girdle, the setting support. The stone and its setting support are released from the substrate.

A method for assembling a stone on to a mounting, the stone being cut to have a crown, a girdle and a pavilion, the method including providing a substrate including an adhesive layer; positioning the stone on the adhesive layer; heating the adhesive layer; exerting a pressure on the stone; positioning a setting sheet around the stone above the adhesive layer, so as to form a peripheral free space between the setting sheet and the stone, at least at the level of the girdle and of areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle; depositing a metallic layer in the peripheral free space from the setting sheet, at least at the level of the girdle and of the areas of the crown and the pavilion adjacent to the girdle, the metallic layer and the setting sheet forming the mounting; releasing the stone and its mounting from the substrate.

Superconformally filling a recessed feature includes: contacting the recessed feature with superconformal filling composition that includes: Au(SO.sub.3).sub.2.sup.3 anions; SO.sub.3.sup.2 anions; and Bi.sup.3+ cations; convectively transporting Au(SO.sub.3).sub.2.sup.3 and Bi.sup.3+ to the bottom member of the recessed feature; subjecting the recessed feature to an electrical current to superconformally deposit gold from the Au(SO.sub.3).sub.2.sup.3 on the bottom member relative to the sidewall and the field, the electrical current providing a cathodic voltage; and increasing the electrical current subjected to the field and the recessed feature to maintain the cathodic voltage between 0.85 V and 1.00 V relative to the SSE during superconformally depositing gold on the substrate to superconformally fill the recessed feature of the article with gold as a superconformal filling of gold, the superconformal filling being void-free and seam-free.

A method for manufacturing metal horological components, includes the steps of forming a multilevel mould made of a photosensitive resin, with a UV-LIGA method, and galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal starting from a conductive layer in order to form a block that substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.