Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece assembly including at least two elements in contact and mobile relative to each other, one of the elements having at least a first contact surface intended to rub against at least a second contact surface of the other element under dry lubrication conditions. At least one of the first and second contact surfaces is covered with a hydrophobic coating having an angle of contact with water greater than 90°, preferably greater than 100° and preferably greater than 110°, and a coefficient of friction lower than 0.15, preferably lower than 0.12 and preferably lower than 0.1, the variation in the coefficient of friction as a function of the relative humidity being lower than 25%, preferably lower than 10% and preferably lower than 5%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a timepiece component including at least one housing intended to receive at least one precious or non-precious stone and including at least one first end, referred to as the setting end, and a rail. The rail is located on the periphery of the housing, and is arranged to allow the stone or stones to be inserted into the rail at the first end of the housing, such that the stone or stones can slide in the rail along the longitudinal axis of the housing, and to hold the stone or stones once inserted into the rail in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method including the following steps: a) providing a substrate including a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer and an intermediate silicon oxide layer therebetween; b) etching the first silicon layer in order to form the timepiece components therein; c) releasing from the substrate a wafer formed by at least all or part of the etched, first silicon layer and including the timepiece components; d) thermally oxidizing and then deoxidizing the timepiece components; e) forming by thermal oxidation or deposition a silicon oxide layer on the timepiece components; f) detaching the timepiece components from the wafer.

Abstract: The display device is arranged in a timepiece which includes a counting wheel and a manual control mechanism which is arranged to permit cyclical starting, stopping and resetting of the counting wheel. The display device includes an indicating member, a unit for moving the indicating member into a first predefined position when the counting wheel is being reset, a unit for moving the indicating member into a second predefined position, different from the first predefined position, when the counting wheel is being started, and a unit for permitting the indicating member to be moved into a reading position following stopping of the counting wheel, the reading position being determined by the position of the counting wheel.

Abstract: The micromechanical clockwork part is cut from a plate-like silicon substrate. The cut edges of the part include portions intended to serve as contact surfaces arranged to slide against corresponding contact zones of another micromechanical part in a clockwork piece. The cut edges have a ribbed surface including an alternating set of ribs and furrows, the ribs and the furrows being straight and each contained in a plane parallel to the plate. Moreover, the ribs and furrows which the cut edges have form a stepped pattern on the cut edge, with first intervals in which the spacing separating the ribs from one another is equal to a first distance, and at least one second interval in which the spacing between the ribs is equal to a second distance different from the first distance.

Abstract: A method for producing a timepiece spring includes the following steps: producing a piece based on silicon, having the desired shape of the timepiece spring; thermally oxidising the piece; deoxidising the piece; annealing the piece in a reducing atmosphere; forming a silicon oxide layer on the piece.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing timepiece hairsprings according to the invention comprises the following successive steps: a) forming hairsprings in a wafer, b) forming a thermal compensation layer on the hairsprings, c) identifying the hairsprings having a stiffness within a predetermined range, d) optionally, detaching from the wafer the hairsprings identified in step c), e) modifying the other hairsprings so that the stiffness of at least some of them is within the predetermined range, f) detaching from the wafer these other hairsprings and, if they have not been detached in step d), the hairsprings identified in step c). This method makes it possible to reduce manufacturing dispersions between the hairsprings.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism includes a first energy source with a regulating member, a second independent energy source, a control member driven by the second energy source, and a blocking device controlled by the first energy source to block the second energy source and release it to allow the control member to be displaced by jumps powered by the second energy source. The blocking device includes first and second mobile parts kinematically interconnected, the first mobile part including a drive device, the second mobile part including a stopping device; a rotating drive member connected to the first energy source and cooperating with the drive device to displace the mobile parts, alternately in opposite directions; and a rotating blocking member connected to the second energy source and cooperating with the stopping device to be blocked by the second mobile part and released at the determined times by second mobile part movement.

Abstract: A device for finely adjusting the length of a bracelet inserted between two elements of the bracelet and includes an outer part attached to one, an inner part attached to the other and to slide in the outer part parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, causing the length of the bracelet to be varied, and a stop arranged to limit the travel of the inner part relative to the outer part so the bracelet cannot be extended beyond a maximum length. The outer part includes a wall having an immobilization hole on its inner side. The inner part includes a pivoting lever with a first end biased by a spring toward the outer part wall, permitting the first end to engage the immobilization hole, immobilizing the inner part relative to the outer part. The inner part has a control member permitting manual control of the lever.

Abstract: A drive member and a mechanism for a timepiece including such a drive member includes at least two monolithic units stacked and connected in series, each of these units including a hub and a rim which are connected by at least one elastic arm.

Abstract: In an oscillator for a timepiece including a balance and a hairspring, the balance lacks equilibrium, such that: the curves for running of the oscillator owing to weight of the hairspring as a function of the oscillation amplitude of the balance in at least four vertical positions of the oscillator spaced by 90° each pass through 0 at an oscillation amplitude of the balance between 200° and 240°; and between oscillation amplitudes of 150° and 280°, curves representing the running of the oscillator owing to lack of equilibrium in the balance as a function of the oscillation amplitude in the vertical positions each has an average slope of opposite sign to the average slope of the corresponding curve among the curves representing the running of the oscillator owing to the weight of the hairspring. A reduction in the running discrepancies between the vertical positions can thus be achieved.