Abstract: This timepiece is furnished with a direct impulse escapement comprising a locking lever (2) for locking the escapement wheel furnished with two locking pallets (2a, 2b), with a fork (2c) and with a guard pin (2d). The guard pin is mounted so as to pivot on the fork about an axis parallel to the pivoting axis of the locking lever (2). It comprises displacement means (2d1, 2d2, 2d3), designed to engage with drive means secured to said frame, so as to amplify the angular displacement of the guard pin (2d), caused by the locking lever (2) passing from one to the other of its two positions. This invention also applies to the guard pin of a pallet assembly of an indirect impulse escapement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watch-making or clock-making component comprising an amorphous metal alloy corresponding to the formula: FeaCobNicNbdVeBfTag, in which: 0<a<70; 0<b<70; 8<c<60; 1<d<19; 1<e<10; 12<f<25; 0<g<5; with 20<a+b<70; 50<a+b+c<90; 5<d+e<20; and a+b+c+d+e+f+g=100. This watch-making or clock-making component may be a spring, such as a barrel spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to an amorphous metal alloy which may be used in the field of mechanical applications, in particular as a spring. This amorphous metal alloy corresponds to the formula FeaCObNicNbdVeBfTag in which: 0?a?70; 0?b?70; 8<c?60; 1?d?19; 1?e<?10; 12?f?25; 0?g?5; with 20?a+b?70; 50?a+b+c?90; 5?d+e?20; and a+b+c+d+e+f+g=100.

Abstract: A watch case comprising: a middle (3), a first tube (1) provided with first indexing elements (1a), a control crown (C) including: a cap (4) having a distinctive sign (S) on a front face (4?), and a bush (5) intended to be connected to the movement of the watch, a second tube (2) adapted to be fastened to the middle (3) and to receive the bush (5), the control crown (C) and the first tube (1) including respective screwing elements (1b,4b) for screwing them together. Second indexing elements (3a,3a?,3a?) fastened to the middle (3) are provided to cooperate with the first indexing elements (1a) of the first tube (1). The first tube (1) and the second tube (2) are conformed so that fastening the second tube (2) to the middle (3) ensures axial immobilization of the first tube (1) relative to the middle (3).

Abstract: This watch case comprises a middle (1), a tube (3, 23), which is secured to the middle (1) and is provided with a thread, a control crown (C) which is provided with a thread screwed onto the tube (3, 23), the control crown (C) having an external part (10, 20) that has a distinctive mark (S) that is visible from the outside and an internal part (2, 24) housed inside the external part (10, 20) and clamping means (11) for axially holding said external part (10, 20) and said internal part (2, 24) in an angular position determined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tube. The internal part (2, 24) has first angular indexing means (2a, 24a), the external part (10, 20) having second angular indexing means (10a, 20a), these indexing means being shaped so as to engage axially in one another.

Abstract: A device for the connection and the locking of two parts (30a, 30b), including a female part (10) comprising two bars (12), a male part (21) cooperating with this female part (10), and a hinged flap (17). Each bar (12) contains two balls (2a, 2b) and at least one movable inner stop (5) arranged between the balls (2a, 2b). The axial length of the movable stop (5) plus the diameters of the two balls (2a, 2b) is greater than the distance between the two lateral faces of the branch (11a, 11b) in which the ball bar (12) is situated. Also provided is a method for the connection and the locking of two parts, a ball bar, and a method for producing the latter and to the uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immobilizing device for a toothed wheel suitable for the field of horology where it can be part of a direct- or indirect-impulse escapement, in particular in a wristwatch. This immobilizing device (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) comprises: —a base (7); —an immobilizer (9) comprising two arms (10, 11) each provided with a pallet (14, 15) intended to come into contact with a tooth of the toothed wheel (40); —a first and a second elastic element (12, 13) each having an end connected to the immobilizer (9) and another end connected to the base (7); —a third elastic element (16) connected to the immobilizer (9), and it has the particular feature that it is in one piece or in one piece apart from at least one of the pallets (14, 15). The invention also relates to a timepiece and to a method for assembling such a timepiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to an alumina-based opaque ceramic, similar to ruby and having a high toughness. This ceramic comprises, by weight: 0.4% to 5% of at least from one oxide of a metal chosen from chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, vanadium, titanium and iron; 0.00080 to 0.5% of magnesium oxide; and 0.05 to 6% of at least one oxide of an element of the group of rare earths. The ceramic is applicable in particular in jewellery, fine jewellery and watch making. The invention also relates to methods of preparing such a ceramic.

Abstract: Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator, comprising n blades, where n?2, which are fastened via at least one of their respective homologous ends and wound in spirals with an angular offset capable of neutralizing the lateral forces liable to be exerted on its central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly around said central arbor relative to its other end.

Abstract: A split collet in which the contour of the central opening that is intended to receive a balance staff is not circular. The collet is characterised in that the contour (3) of the central opening (2) comprises a limited number of supporting parts (4, 5, 12, 14, 15) intended to co-operate with the balance shaft, said number being greater than two.

Abstract: A balance wheel for timepiece movement, which obeys the following condition: D5·f/I?20?2m3kg?1s?1 where D is the diameter of the balance wheel, f is the frequency and I is the moment of inertia.

Abstract: Mainspring for a mechanism driven by a motor spring, especially for a timepiece, formed from a ribbon of metallic glass material. This ribbon is monolithic and has a thickness of greater than 50 ?m.

Abstract: This flat balance spring for a horological balance comprises a wound strip shaped to ensure an approximately concentric development of the balance spring and almost zero force on the pivots and on the fixing point, during a rotation of less than 360° of its inner end relative to its outer end in both directions from its rest position. The stiffness of its strip decreases gradually and through more than 360° from each of its two ends, the lowest stiffness being situated in the median part of the strip.

Abstract: A device (100; 200) for resetting to a predetermined position an indicator member (2, 13; 22) indicative of a parameter connected with time, notably a “flyback” device, the indicator member being kinematically linked to a drive mobile (15; 35), the device comprising an energy accumulator (9) and a return element (1; 21) for returning the indicator member indicative of the parameter connected with time to the predetermined position, the return element being powered by energy from the accumulator, the energy being supplied to the energy accumulator by a user via a control member (4) for resetting to the predetermined position, the control member being able to be manipulated by the user.

Abstract: This timepiece is provided with a device for the adjustment of functions and time indications comprising a selection control (L) for each time indication which has to be adjusted and a control (T) for adjustment of the said selected time indications. At least the selection control (L) or the indication which has to be adjusted is kinematically linked with a selection cam (C1) comprising a profile corresponding to two states 0, 1, corresponding to a non-selection state and a selection state respectively, the control device comprising means (L1, L2, L3) for connecting the adjustment control (T) to each of the selected time indications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a translucent or transparent, colored enamel that contains metal nanoparticles that lost their natural tendency to aggregate with each other, and having a color essentially provided by the reflection of light. The nanoparticles have lost their natural capability to aggregate with each other due to the application of a coating, or because they have been functionalised electrostatically or using highly sterically hindered entities or using hydrophilic entities located at the surface thereof. The nanoparticles may be gold nanoparticles that impart an intense and deep red to said enamel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a spring for a timepiece that comprises at least one monobloc ribbon of metal glass including at least one curvature. The method is characterized in that said method comprises the step of shaping by means of plastic-deformation said monobloc ribbon in order to obtain at least a portion of said curvature.

Abstract: According to this process for manufacturing a ceramic element intended to be fitted onto a watch case, the visible surface of which has features, a soluble layer (2) is selectively deposited on said visible surface, the thickness of said soluble layer being at least equal to the height of said features, a first tie layer (3) of the Ti, Ta, Cr or Th type is vacuum-deposited by magnetron sputtering with a thickness of at least 100 nm by physical vapor deposition (PVD) on said surface thus selectively coated, followed, without venting atmosphere, by PVD deposition of said second layer (4) made of Au, Pt, Ag, Ni, Pd, TiN, CrN, ZrN or alloys thereof with a thickness of at least 100 nm, and then said soluble layer (2) is dissolved.

Abstract: This timepiece has a case (8) enclosing a horological movement (10), and a transmission mechanism for transmitting constant-velocity rotary movements between two stems (1a, 1b) on parallel axes, connecting the outside of the case (8) to the horological movement (10) through a hole in the case (8). The adjacent ends of the two stems (1a, 1b) are connected to two respective sliding elements (3, 6) having defined cross sections engaged with two respective slide-ways (4, 7) having cross sections complementary to those of the sliding elements, having sliding planes perpendicular to said axes, the two slide-ways (4, 7) being connected to a common linking member (5) and being oriented at an angle of 90° to each other.

Abstract: A bracelet strand (1) for a wristwatch, comprising a first end (2) suitable for a connection to a watchcase (29), which comprises a comfort pad (10) arranged on the inner surface thereof towards this first end (2) and wherein this comfort pad (10) comprises a longitudinal opening (15).