Abstract: A method for structuring a decorative or technical pattern in the thickness of an object made of an at least partially transparent amorphous, semi-crystalline or crystalline material, wherein the object is made of an at least partially transparent material including a top surface and a bottom surface which extends away from the top surface. The top or bottom surfaces is provided with a mask defining an opening whose outline corresponds to the profile of the pattern to be structured, the mask covering the top or bottom surface at the positions which are not to be structured. The pattern is structured with a mono- or multicharged ion beam through the opening of the mask, wherein the mechanical properties of the mask are sufficient to prevent the ions of the ion beam from etching the top or bottom surface at the positions where this top or bottom surface is covered by the mask.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring ring 14 for snap fitting a rotating bezel, the spring ring extending in a plane and being intended to be received in an annular groove arranged on a cylindrical outer rim of a watch case middle part made of ceramic. According to the invention, the spring ring comprises on the inner rim thereof at least one lug inclined in relation to the plane of the spring ring, said lug being intended to engage with a cylindrical outer surface of the watch case middle part, so as to index the position of the spring ring in relation to the middle part.

Abstract: A binder for an injection moulding composition including: from 40 to 55 volume percent of a polymeric base, from 35 to 45 volume percent of a mixture of waxes or a mixture of wax and palm oil, and at least 5 volume percent of at least one surfactant, wherein the polymeric base is formed of copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, copolymers of ethylene and propylene and/or maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, and polymers soluble in isopropyl alcohol, propyl alcohol and/or turpentine, and chosen from the group including a cellulose acetate butyrate, a polyvinyl butyral and a copolyamide, the respective quantities of the binder components being such that their sum is equal to 100 volume percent of the binder.

Abstract: Method for producing an external horological element (100) which is a heterogeneous component, according to which a primary cavity (10) is produced in a structure (1), only the periphery of this said primary cavity (10) is re-machined or laser machined, which primary cavity (10) is filled with a second material that is different in appearance from the first material in order to produce a primary insert (2), where the bottom of this said primary cavity (10) is left rough before being filled with said second material, and, in the thickness of this primary insert (2), a secondary cavity (20) is produced, which is filled with a third material that is different in appearance from the first material and/or from the second material in order to produce a secondary insert (3).

Abstract: A method for structuring a decorative or technical pattern in the thickness of an object made of an at least partially transparent amorphous, semi-crystalline or crystalline material, wherein the object is made of an at least partially transparent material including a top surface and a bottom surface which extends away from the top surface. The top or bottom surfaces is provided with a mask defining an opening whose outline corresponds to the profile of the pattern to be structured, the mask covering the top or bottom surface at the positions which are not to be structured. The pattern is structured with a mono- or multicharged ion beam through the opening of the mask, wherein the mechanical properties of the mask are sufficient to prevent the ions of the ion beam from etching the top or bottom surface at the positions where this top or bottom surface is covered by the mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hole jewel, including forming a precursor from a mixture of at least one powder material with a binder; pressing the precursor, with upper lower dies, to form a green body of the future hole jewel including a blind cavity having a height between a height of the green body and a height of the future hole jewel, the cavity being provided with upper and lower portions respectively including blanks of a through hole and of a functional element of the future hole jewel; sintering the green body to form a body of the future hole jewel; machining the body, including a first sub-step of shaping a top of the body, during which a height of the upper portion is configured in readiness for an opening in the through hole blank for connecting the functional element to the upper surface, and a second sub-step of shaping a base of the body to form a lower surface of the hole jewel for connecting the functional element to to the lower surface.

Abstract: A method for structuring a decorative or technical pattern in the thickness of an object made of an at least partially transparent amorphous, semi-crystalline or crystalline material, wherein the object is made of an at least partially transparent material including a top surface and a bottom surface which extends away from the top surface. The top or bottom surfaces is provided with a mask defining an opening whose outline corresponds to the profile of the pattern to be structured, the mask covering the top or bottom surface at the positions which are not to be structured. The pattern is structured with a mono- or multicharged ion beam through the opening of the mask, wherein the mechanical properties of the mask are sufficient to prevent the ions of the ion beam from etching the top or bottom surface at the positions where this top or bottom surface is covered by the mask.

Abstract: Method for cutting crystal boules using diamond wire, wherein this boule is driven about a main axis, a cutting wire is held taut and driven through a temporary drum immobilising each boule in position with respect to the main axis throughout the entire cutting operation, this temporary drum being made by overmoulding a coating material on at least one boule bonded onto a sacrificial core, the cutting being followed by the slicing of cut rings from which are detached, particularly using heat, crystalline plates with parallel faces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring ring 14 for snap fitting a rotating bezel, the spring ring extending in a plane and being intended to be received in an annular groove arranged on a cylindrical outer rim of a watch case middle part made of ceramic. According to the invention, the spring ring comprises on the inner rim thereof at least one lug inclined in relation to the plane of the spring ring, said lug being intended to engage with a cylindrical outer surface of the watch case middle part, so as to index the position of the spring ring in relation to the middle part.

Abstract: A mixer for ceramic feedstock pellets includes a tank, a mixing device within the tank, and a heat exchanger including a cooler for cooling of the content of this tank. A controller controls the heat exchanger which includes a heater arranged to heat the content of this tank to a temperature comprised between a lower temperature (TINF) and a higher temperature (TSUP) stored in a memory for a specific mixture. The heater exchanges energy with a heat exchanger and mixing temperature maintenance circuit, external to this tank. The thermal inertia of this circuit is higher than that of this fully loaded tank.

Abstract: A binder for an injection moulding composition includes: from 35 to 54% by volume of a polymeric base, from 40 to 55% by volume of a mixture of waxes, and approximately 10% by volume of a surfactant, wherein the polymeric base contains copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, or copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or copolymers of ethylene including maleic anhydride or a mixture of these copolymers, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylic resin.

Abstract: A binder for an injection moulding composition including: from 40 to 55 volume percent of a polymeric base, from 35 to 45 volume percent of a mixture of waxes or a mixture of wax and palm oil, and at least 5 volume percent of at least one surfactant, wherein the polymeric base is formed of copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, copolymers of ethylene and propylene and/or maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, and polymers soluble in isopropyl alcohol, propyl alcohol and/or turpentine, and chosen from the group including a cellulose acetate butyrate, a polyvinyl butyral and a copolyamide, the respective quantities of the binder components being such that their sum is equal to 100 volume percent of the binder.

Abstract: A method for structuring a decorative or technical pattern in the thickness of an object made of an at least partially transparent amorphous, semi-crystalline or crystalline material, wherein the object is made of an at least partially transparent material including a top surface and a bottom surface which extends away from the top surface. The top or bottom surfaces is provided with a mask defining an opening whose outline corresponds to the profile of the pattern to be structured, the mask covering the top or bottom surface at the positions which are not to be structured. The pattern is structured with a mono- or multicharged ion beam through the opening of the mask, wherein the mechanical properties of the mask are sufficient to prevent the ions of the ion beam from etching the top or bottom surface at the positions where this top or bottom surface is covered by the mask.

Abstract: Binder for injection moulding composition including: from 45 to 50 volume percent of a polymeric base, at least 34 volume percent of a mixture of waxes or a mixture of wax and palm oil, and from 11 to 16 volume percent of a surfactant, wherein the polymeric base contains ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid copolymers, or ethylene copolymers comprising a maleic anhydride or a mixture of such copolymers, in addition to polyethylene, polypropylene and an acrylic resin, the respective quantities of the binder components being such that added together, they do not exceed 100 volume percent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hole jewel, including forming a precursor from a mixture of at least one powder material with a binder; pressing the precursor, with upper lower dies, to form a green body of the future hole jewel including a blind cavity having a height between a height of the green body and a height of the future hole jewel, the cavity being provided with upper and lower portions respectively including blanks of a through hole and of a functional element of the future hole jewel; sintering the green body to form a body of the future hole jewel; machining the body, including a first sub-step of shaping a top of the body, during which a height of the upper portion is configured in readiness for an opening in the through hole blank for connecting the functional element to the upper surface, and a second sub-step of shaping a base of the body to form a lower surface of the hole jewel for connecting the functional element to to the lower surface.

Abstract: Method for cutting crystal boules using diamond wire, wherein this boule is driven about a main axis, a cutting wire is held taut and driven through a temporary drum immobilising each boule in position with respect to the main axis throughout the entire cutting operation, this temporary drum being made by overmoulding a coating material on at least one boule bonded onto a sacrificial core, the cutting being followed by the slicing of cut rings from which are detached, particularly using heat, crystalline plates with parallel faces.

Abstract: A binder for an injection moulding composition includes: from 35 to 54% by volume of a polymeric base, from 40 to 55% by volume of a mixture of waxes, and approximately 10% by volume of a surfactant, wherein the polymeric base contains copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, or copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or copolymers of ethylene including maleic anhydride or a mixture of these copolymers, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylic resin.

Abstract: A process for the production of a grey zirconia-based article wherein a first mixture includes a zirconia powder forming the base constituent, 4% to 15% by weight of at least one stabilizer selected from among the group of oxides including yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide and calcium oxide alone or in combination, 0.1% to 1% by weight of a vanadium oxide powder (V2O5), 0.1% to 1% by weight of a chromium oxide powder (Cr2O3) and 0.1% to 1% by weight of a silicon oxide powder (SiO2); making a second mixture including the first mixture and a binder; making a granulated mixture by conducting a granulation of the second mixture; forming a blank by giving this second granulated mixture the shape of the desired article; sintering the blank in air for at least thirty minutes at a temperature in the range of between 1250° and 1550° C.

Abstract: The invention also concerns a binder for an injection molding composition including: from 35 to 54% by volume of a polymeric base, from 40 to 55% by volume of a mixture of waxes, and approximately 10% by volume of a surfactant, wherein the polymeric base contains copolymers of ethylene and methacrylic or acrylic acid, or copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, or copolymers of ethylene including maleic anhydride or a mixture of these copolymers, as well as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylic resin.

Abstract: A system of polishing a concave surface of an external piece for a timepiece, including a securing device including a support that carries the piece, and a grinding device including an abrasive mechanism rotatably mounted along a first axis and configured to polish the piece along a first curvature. The securing device further includes a moving mechanism of the support so that the support imparts a back-and-forth motion along a second axis and a contact surface of the abrasive mechanism is curved to polish the piece along a second curvature in addition to the first curvature. The system can be applied to the field of crystals for a timepiece.