Abstract: A ceramic part with a colour gradient, and in particular to a bezel of a timepiece, made using a method involving the injection of at least two differently-coloured ceramic materials, the ceramic materials being mixed in different weight ratios to create a plurality of mixed materials forming a colour gradient.

Abstract: A ceramic part with a colour gradient, and in particular to a bezel of a timepiece. made using a method involving the injection of at least two differently-coloured ceramic materials, the ceramic materials being mixed in different weight ratios to create a plurality of mixed materials forming a colour gradient.

Abstract: An inlaid timepiece component (1) including a body (10) made of a metallic and/or ceramic material including at least one hollow (11) forming the impression of a decoration (12). The at least one hollow is completely filled with successive strata (13, 14, 15) formed by an agglomeration of particles (16) via a cold metallisation in order to form a timepiece component (1) inlaid with at least one decoration (12).

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a part including a support made of an electrically non-conductive material, the support being provided with at least one recess filled with an aesthetic element made of an electrically conductive material, and the aesthetic element forms a decoration on a side of the part that is intended to be visible. The method includes inlaying by pressing a preform intended to form the aesthetic element into the at least one recess of the support, and treating the surface of the aesthetic element. The at least one recess opens in one or more places onto a side of the part that is intended to be non-visible, to respectively form one or more contact points for carrying current across the aesthetic element during the surface treatment.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a timepiece component including successive steps of: providing a timepiece component (1); breaking the timepiece component (1) into a plurality of pieces (10); depositing the pieces (10) on a support (2) and creating a desired pattern to be reassembled, the pattern having interstices (1) between the various pieces (10) of the timepiece component (1); transferring the support (2) into a mould adapted by hot forming and placing a preform (3) on the pieces (10) of the timepiece component; heating the whole to a temperature higher than the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) and applying a force on the preform to fill the interstices (11) and obtain a reassembled timepiece component (1?); cooling the whole below the vitreous transition temperature of the preform (3) to form the reassembled timepiece component (1?); recovering the reassembled timepiece component (1?) and machining it to the required dimensions.

Abstract: A method for decorating the surface of a mechanical part including structuring, on the surface to be decorated, a masking layer having a thickness that is at least equal to the thickness of the decoration element to be produced; making, in the masking layer, at least one opening that coincides with the location on the surface to be decorated where the decoration element is to be produced, the opening having a contour that is identical to the contour of the decoration element and defining a volume with the mechanical part; filling the volume delimited by the masking layer and the surface to be decorated of with a filling material wherein the decoration elements are sought to be produced; and removing the masking layer.

Abstract: A method for assembling at least a first element and a second element to form, once assembled, an external component for a portable device, including the steps of: a) making the first element; b) making the second element; c) arranging at least a first groove in the first element and at least a second groove in the second element; d) placing and holding the first and second element end-to-end with at least a third connecting element which is inserted and locked in the first and second grooves.

Abstract: A setting (1), including, aligned along an axis for driving into a bed (8) of a piece of jewellery or timepiece (9), an upper body (15) including a first surface (2) to receive a component to be set (10), a setting element (4) to hold the component (10), and a lower body (16) including a second front surface (6), between which bodies (15; 16) a deformable area (7) is plastically deformable under the action of an axial driving force greater than a predetermined driving force, to bring the setting (1) into a stressed state wherein the deformable area (7) is irreversibly deformed and/or fractured, in the form of a clot radially pushing back a peripheral surface (3) of the setting (1) towards a lateral wall of the bed (8), or/and in the form of a fault radially pushing back the upper body (15) towards this lateral wall.

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 cermet and/or ceramic multi-coloured article, and in particular a bezel (1) of a timepiece, produced by a method for compressing at least two materials (2, 3) of distinct colours, the article including a relief decoration (8) of a different colour from the rest of the article, the decoration (8) being produced by laser ablation on one of the materials (3) after compression of the two materials (2, 3).

Abstract: A method for brazing a first ceramic component and a second metal alloy component, to make a structural or external timepiece element, a zirconia-based ceramic is chosen for the first component and a titanium alloy for the second component, a first recess is made inside the first component, set back from a first surface in a junction area with a second surface of the second component, braze material is deposited on this first surface and inside each recess, the second surface is positioned in alignment with the first surface to form an assembly, this assembly is heated in a controlled atmosphere to above the melting temperature of the braze material, in order to form the braze in the junction area.

Abstract: A dial configured to be mounted in a watch case, includes a plate made of a fragile material, the plate defining a horizontal plane and including at least one housing defining a point of attachment for at least one foot formed of a body and a head arranged to rest inside the at least one housing, the foot includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy able to move from a retracted position to an open position in which the foot is mechanically held in the housing.

Abstract: A method for marking a sapphire watch crystal, through the interaction between a laser beam and the sapphire. The beam is focused on a point inside the crystal and the interaction is such that it produces a rectilinear opaque area, which is parallel to the upper surface of the crystal or perpendicular to the surface. The orientation of the opaque area depends on the mode of operation applied. According to the hatching mode of operation, the beam is scanned along one or more linear paths, producing opaque lines inside the crystal, which are parallel to the upper surface. The perforation mode of operation produces distinct opaque areas, obtained by discontinuous operation of the beam on a number of juxtaposed points. According to this latter mode of operation, the opaque areas extend in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the crystal.

Abstract: A decorative piece includes a support made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged. The housing is arranged so that at least one aesthetic element is housable therein. The substrate further includes a gripper elastically deforming to retain the aesthetic element in the housing. The gripper further includes at least one setting element. A method for setting an aesthetic element on a support includes taking a support provided with at least one hollow, taking at least one aesthetic element, filling the hollow with a first material, making a setting hole and a gripper in the first material, and setting the aesthetic element by placing it in the hole and by deforming the gripper so as to retain the aesthetic element.

Abstract: A setting or mounting includes a ring carrying elements for setting a decorative element, this setting or mounting being arranged to be placed radially inside a hollow provided in a substrate of an item to be decorated. The setting includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy which can undergo a reversible transformation. The ring-like element is able to move from a retracted position in which it rests in the slot, to an open position in which the ring-like element at least partially protrudes from the slot to hold the setting in the substrate.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a part including a support provided with at least one hollow filled with an aesthetic element forming a decoration on a face of the part intended to be visible. The method includes providing the support provided with the at least one hollow and providing a preform intended to form the aesthetic element of the part, and inlaying by pressing the preform into the at least one hollow of the support. The preform is made of a crystalline aluminium alloy. The inlaying is carried out at a temperature between the solidus temperature and the liquidus temperature of the crystalline aluminium alloy.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a part including a support made of an electrically non-conductive material, the support being provided with at least one recess filled with an aesthetic element made of an electrically conductive material, and the aesthetic element forms a decoration on a side of the part that is intended to be visible. The method includes inlaying by pressing a preform intended to form the aesthetic element into the at least one recess of the support, and treating the surface of the aesthetic element. The at least one recess opens in one or more places onto a side of the part that is intended to be non-visible, to respectively form one or more contact points for carrying current across the aesthetic element during the surface treatment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dial intended to be mounted in a watch case, the dial comprising a plate made of a fragile material, said plate defining a horizontal plane and comprising at least one housing defining a point of attachment for at least one foot formed of a body and a head arranged to rest inside said at least one housing, characterized in that the foot includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy able to move from a retracted position to an open position in which the foot is mechanically held in said housing.

Abstract: A setting or mounting includes a ring carrying elements for setting a decorative element, this setting or mounting being arranged to be placed radially inside a hollow provided in a substrate of an item to be decorated. The setting includes a circular slot arranged to receive a ring-like element made of a shape memory alloy which can undergo a reversible transformation. The ring-like element is able to move from a retracted position in which it rests in the slot, to an open position in which the ring-like element at least partially protrudes from the slot to hold the setting in the substrate.

Abstract: A method for decorating the surface of a mechanical part including structuring, on the surface to be decorated, a masking layer having a thickness that is at least equal to the thickness of the decoration element to be produced; making, in the masking layer, at least one opening that coincides with the location on the surface to be decorated where the decoration element is to be produced, the opening having a contour that is identical to the contour of the decoration element and defining a volume with the mechanical part; filling the volume delimited by the masking layer and the surface to be decorated of with a filling material wherein the decoration elements are sought to be produced; and removing the masking layer.