The method of manufacturing a timepiece shaft (1) includes grinding a ceramic piece, especially to form a balance shaft (1), having a functional portion (2a; 2b) including at least one part (221a; 221b) of a pivot-shank (22a; 22b) and/or at least one part (211a; 211b) of a pivot (21a; 21b), the first functional portion being made of ceramic and a first outer diameter (D1) of the first functional portion being less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm.

A timepiece shaft (1), especially a balance shaft (1), comprising a first functional portion (2a; 2b) including at least one part (221a, 221b) of a pivot-shank (22a; 22b) and/or at least one part (211a, 211b) of a pivot (21a, 21b), the first functional portion being made of ceramic and a first outer diameter (D1) of the first functional portion being less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm

An elastic fastening element for holding a timepiece component on a support element, including an opening the contour of which includes at least four contact areas for receiving and clamping the support element in the opening, the contact areas each being included on an inner face of a deformable portion provided with a through-hole of the fastening element.

The method for manufacturing a timepiece movement component (1) having at least a first portion comprising a surface (11), in particular an upper surface, includes etching (E3) the surface (11) of the timepiece movement component (1) or of a blank (1a) of the timepiece movement component (1) in order to form at least one cavity (7); and depositing a material (E4) in the at least one cavity (7).

A modular installation for assembly and repair that includes an adaptable number of assembly workstations, preferably at least one regulating station, a central oil station and a transport system for the transport of clockworks in disassembled or partially disassembled condition between the stations. By dividing the work steps into relatively simple assembly and the more demanding ones of oiling and regulating and by connecting the corresponding stations with a transport system as well as, at the assembly stations, a combination of two transport systems for controlled placement of the components of a particular clockwork movement and the associated transport components at an assembly station, a parallel but error-free and faster repair of clockworks is achieved. Preferably, the oil station is highly automated to carry out the oiling processes reproducibly and quickly. With the use of a manipulation ring, clockworks of different dimensions with standardized tools may be handled.

A method for producing a timepiece component (100) made of amorphous metal alloy, the production method comprising a step (E1) of producing a first preform made of amorphous metal alloy, then a step (E2) of hot drawing the first preform to obtain a second preform, then a step (E3) of machining the second preform.