Abstract: A wristwatch, which comprises an atomic oscillator comprising a system for detecting the beat frequencies obtained by the Raman effect.

Abstract: This bracelet comprises a plurality of articulated elements (1) in which one transverse edge of each element is interlocked in a transverse edge of an adjacent element, a transverse passageway passing at least partially through the adjacent interlocked portions in order to form a bearing (7) in which an articulation member (10) is engaged and is held at least one end of the said transverse passageway. The mid-portion of the said articulation member (10) comprises at least one O-ring placed on the portion of the said articulation member (10) situated inside the said bearing (7) and close to its ends and in jointed contact with the wall of the said transverse passageway.

Abstract: This timepiece comprises an indicator dial (40), a days-of-the-month mechanism (1) comprising a days-of-the-month mobile (10) and a stepper drive member (13) for driving the days-of-the-month mobile (10), a months mobile (30) coaxial with the days-of-the-month mobile placed beneath said dial (40) and connected to the days-of-the-month mobile (10) by stepper drive means (12, 20) formed so that the months mobile (30) turns through an angle of 30° each month. The dial (40) has twelve windows (41) that are angularly equidistant and the months mobile (30) supports a distinctive zone (32) of which the trajectory passes through said windows (41) and of which the maximum angular extent is 30° and the minimum angular extent corresponds to that of said windows (41).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a white gold alloy free of nickel and copper having a hardness that is suitable in particular for watchmakers and jewellers. Said alloy consists of (in wt %): more than 75% of Au; more than 18% to less than 24% of Pd; more than 1% to less than 6% of at least one element selected from among Mn, Hf, Nb, Pt, Ta, V, Zn and Zr; optionally, no more than 0.5% of at least one element selected from among Si, Ga and Ti; and optionally, no more than 0.2% of at least one element selected from among Ru, Ir and Re. The invention also relates to a method for preparing said alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel ultra-thin hydrophobic and oleophobic layer, formed by self-assembly on a solid substrate surface, of compounds of the general formula A-B in which A represents a group of the formula in which Z represents C or N+, X represents C—H or C-L, L being an electron-attracting group selected from F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NO2 and N(CH3)3+, Y represents H or CH3, or Y forms a 5- or 6-atom heterocycle with X, T represents NH, CO, CONH or NH2+U?, U? being a soluble anion, and B represents an unsubstituted C1-C20 linear aliphatic alkyl group, or a C1-C20 linear aliphatic alkyl group partially or completely substituted with F, and a method of preparing this layer and its use as an epilame or barrier film.

Abstract: This timepiece comprises a movement with a diameter of less than 40 mm which comprises a barrel (1) for the housing of a mainspring and of which the diameter is less than the radius of said movement. The barrel (1) comprises a cylindrical lateral wall (2), surrounded by a tooth gear (3), of which each edge (21, 21?) is closed by a disk (4, 4?) traversed axially by an opening (5, 5?) for pivoting of a barrel arbor (7). The height of said housing is between 85% and 97% of the total height of the periphery of the barrel (1).

Abstract: This spiral-spring and balance wheel regulating member includes a shaft mounted pivotably on the frame of a timepiece. The spiral spring includes at least one blade, whose inner end is designed to be fixed to the pivot shaft and whose outer end is made in one piece with a member (2) for connection to the frame, the rigidity of this connecting member being substantially greater than that of the spiral. The connecting member (2), on one hand, and the frame (9) or a member (6) for the angular positioning of the regulating member on the frame, on the other hand, both have respective bearing surfaces which are at least partially complementary, and fixing means are used to join these complementary bearing surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watchstrap (1) including a plurality of mutually hinged elements (7) which each comprise at least one link (2, 3, 4, 4?) and at least one recess consisting of at least one hole (15, 15?) for receiving therein a linking member (10, 11, 12). Next to the open ends (16) of at least some of said holes (15, 15?), a clearance (20) of the linking member (10, 11, 12) is provided, preventing any contact at said point between the latter and said links (2, 3, 4, 4?).

Abstract: This device for displaying time periods comprises a display element (A), an indicator component (1), a drive component (3) for driving the indicator component (1), an instantaneous-jump cam (6) engaged with the drive component (3), a drive mobile (5) for driving the cam (6) and correction means (4) for coming into direct engagement with the indicator component (1). A one-way connection device (3b, 11, 12) connects the drive mobile (5) to the cam (6). The drive component (3) is engaged with the cam (6) by elastic return means (3d) and guidance means (3b) defining a degree of freedom of the drive component (3) in order to allow the indicator component (1) to move the drive component (3) against the elastic return means (3d) when the latter occupies a position interfering with the movement of the indicator component (1) by the correction means (4).

Abstract: A device for measuring the torque of a hairspring for a balance wheel-hairspring oscillator includes an arbor on which a seat is arranged, a benchmark element, pivoting means for pivoting the arbor, means for keeping the outer end of the hairspring fixed relative to the arbor during measurement, elastic elements provided on a portion of the seat, and means for acting on the elastic elements. The inner end of said hairspring is secured to a collet, the diameter of the seat of the arbor is of a dimension to allow a driving connection by friction with the wall of an axial aperture of the collet, and the elastic elements are formed to bring, under the action of the action means, the section of the portion of the seat forming the driving connection from a greater dimension to a smaller dimension than that of the axial aperture of the collet.

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 present invention relates to a hairspring for a timepiece hairspring-balance oscillator, which can be produced, in particular, from a low-density material such as silicon, diamond or quartz, and to a method of manufacturing such a hairspring. According to the invention, this hairspring comprises at least one leaf (2) the cross section of which has a thickness and a height and its characterizing feature is that the leaf (2) comprises a plurality of apertures (3) extending in the heightwise direction of the leaf and alternating with bridges (5). The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a hairspring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watch case including a middle (2, 24, 34), one opening of which is closed by a bezel (8, 18, 28) and/or a crystal (1, 11, 21), or by a back (40). At least one of the elements for closing the opening is connected to the middle by a resilient metal member (3, 23, 33) having a recessed cross-section defined by the profile of a non-rectilinear wall having a constant thickness and the ends (3a, 3b) of which are connected to the periphery of said closing element (1, 11, 21, 18) of said middle (2, 24, 34), respectively. The profile of said non-rectilinear wall defines at least one annular fold having an orientation parallel to the plane of said opening, said fold being formed by a curvature, the arc of which defines an angle of between >90° and 180°, so as to impart to said closing member (1, 11, 21, 18) a freedom of movement relative to the plane of the opening.

Abstract: This escapement comprises a balance wheel (3), an escape wheel (1), a detent rocker (4) having an arresting element (4a) and an elastic clearance element (4c), means for inserting the arresting element into the path of the teeth of the escape wheel (1), and a clearance pin (7) rotating integrally with the balance wheel (3) in order to engage with the elastic clearance element (4c) of the rocker (4) once per period of oscillation of the balance wheel. The means for inserting the arresting element (4a) into the path of the teeth of the escape wheel (1) comprise a sliding surface (4b) integral with the detent rocker (4) and arranged so as to move into the path of the teeth of the escape wheel (1) when the arresting element (4a) leaves it, this sliding surface being shaped so as to return the arresting element (4a) to the locking position.

Abstract: At least some of the uniformly distributed teeth of one of the antibacklash partner toothed wheel units, of this backlash-compensating gear train for a horological mechanism, have elastic parts (DR) that are flexible in the direction of the respective thicknesses of the teeth. Some of the teeth are capable of temporarily transmitting a torque considerably greater than the normal drive torque. Two adjacent teeth (D1, D2) capable of temporarily transmitting a torque considerably greater than the normal drive torque each comprise one flank (D1a, D2a) integral with a more rigid part (D12), and one flank (D1b, D2b) integral with a more flexible part (D1R, D2R), the two more rigid parts (D12) of the two teeth (D1, D2) being adjacent.

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: 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: A clasp including long hinged arms (1, 2, 13), a mechanism for adjusting the longitudinal position of the connecting member (20) connecting one of the free ends of the band to one of the long arms (1, 2, 13), having two tracks (18) defining two corresponding paths extending in two planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arms (1, 2, 13), and sliding elements (19, 39) for engaging with the respective guide tracks (18), the respective cross sections of the tracks and of the sliding elements including complementary adjacent surfaces to limit the movement of the sliding elements (19, 39) to one degree of freedom corresponding to the sliding path of the tracks (18), in such a way as to ensure free translational movement of the connecting member.

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: 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.