A method for fabricating an external element or a timepiece dial from non-conductive material, by performing or repeating a basic cycle of making a base from a non-conductive, or ceramic, or glass. or sapphire substrate; dry coating the base with a first sacrificial protective metal layer; etching a decoration with an ultrashort pulse laser to a depth at least equal to the local thickness of the first layer; dry coating the decoration and the remaining part of the first layer with a second metal and/or coloured decorative treatment layer; chemically removing each first layer; and before or after chemical removal of each first layer, mechanically levelling on the upper level of the base the compound thus formed.

A cermet and/or ceramic multi-coloured article, and in particular a bezel (1) of a timepiece, produced by a method for compressing at least two materials (2, 3) of distinct colours, the article including a relief decoration (8) of a different colour from the rest of the article, the decoration (8) being produced by laser ablation on one of the materials (3) after compression of the two materials (2, 3).

The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article, the surface of the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, wherein the method includes the steps of: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article in a chamber in which a hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen gas mixture is heated; heating said article and the gas mixture using at least one resistive element traversed by an electric current to obtain dissociation of the hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen based gas molecules and an increase in the temperature of said article; keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thus created to obtain diffusion of the carbon/nitrogen atoms in the external surface of said article.

Provided is a timepiece including, in addition to a crystal, the following external elements: a back (2), a middle part (1), a dial (3), and two bracelet strands (30), at least one of these external elements includes a body formed of a first portion made of a first opaque material and of a second portion made of a second partially transparent or translucent material. The first material being integral with the second material and the timepiece also includes at least one light source (10) producing light which passes through the second portion made of a partially transparent or translucent ceramic material comprising zirconia.

A method for decorating a substrate which includes the succession of the following steps: provide the substrate; deposit a layer of a sacrificial material over a surface of the substrate; structure the sacrificial material layer so as to create in this sacrificial material layer a plurality of cavities to form a decorative or technical pattern; eliminate the sacrificial material layer except at the location where the pattern is provided.

A method for colouring a part to be treated made of metal, this method including the step of implanting mono- or multi-charged ions in a surface layer of the part to be treated by directing towards this part to be treated a mono- or multi-charged ion beam produced by a source of mono- or multi-charged ions, the part to be treated changing colour under the effect of this ion implantation. A coloured metal can be obtained with the above method.

A watch case (10) comprising a middle (11) to which a crystal (12) and a back (13) are fastened so as to form an internal volume, the watch case (10) including, in the internal volume, an external part component (14) whereon a stack of thin layers (15) comprising a substrate layer (150), a solid-state phase switching layer (151) inserted between a transparent encapsulation layer (152) and a spacing layer (153) separating the phase switching layer (151) from the substrate layer (150) is deposited, the phase switching layer (151) being configured so as to have a refractive index capable of varying under exposure from light rays so as to impart to the stack of thin layers (15) at least two interferential colours.

A method for disassembling first and second watch-surfaces of a watch includes the steps of removing a decorative cover from the watch; rotating an adjusting screw to move an H-shaped snapping member toward a casing so that the H-shaped snapping member abuts against the adjusting screw; rotating a snapping ring so that an engaging protrusion does not overlap a pressing protrusion and the snapping ring can be removed from the casing; opening the watch; using a tool to press against a platform of the connecting sleeve; rotating the main screw to remove the connecting sleeve; removing the first watch-surface from the casing; removing first and second positioning rings and suspension columns; turning the casing to remove the snapping ring; opening the watch; using the tool to press against the platform; rotating the main screw to remove the connecting sleeve; and removing the second watch-surface from the casing.

A dial for a timepiece, such as a watch, includes at least one three-dimensional decoration offset away from a base plate which forms part of the dial. The decoration is mounted on the base plate by an assembly of elements including a fixing screw, a support bar including a proximal end secured to the base plate by the fixing screw and a distal end attached to a first point of the lower surface of the decoration, a support foot including a proximal end held in a fixed position in the plate of the base plate and a distal end attached to a second point of the lower surface of the decoration, and a spacer which forms a lateral connection between the fixing screw and the support foot, the spacer being secured with the support bar to the base plate by the fixing screw.

A method for assembling at least a first element and a second element to form, once assembled, an external component for a portable device, including the steps of: a) making the first element; b) making the second element; c) arranging at least a first groove in the first element and at least a second groove in the second element; d) placing and holding the first and second element end-to-end with at least a third connecting element which is inserted and locked in the first and second grooves.