Abstract: A micromechanical functional assembly including at least one first part with a first functional surface intended to enter into frictional contact with a second functional surface, the second functional surface belonging either to the first part or to at least one second part constituting with the first part the functional assembly, wherein the functional assembly includes the first functional surface and the second functional surface are formed by a first layer including ultrananocrystalline, nanocrystalline or microcrystalline diamond, the first layer being topped by a second layer including S and F atoms. It also relates to the method for functionalising diamond.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article, the surface of the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, wherein the method includes the steps of: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article in a chamber in which a hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen gas mixture is heated; heating said article and the gas mixture using at least one resistive element traversed by an electric current to obtain dissociation of the hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen based gas molecules and an increase in the temperature of said article; keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thus created to obtain diffusion of the carbon/nitrogen atoms in the external surface of said article.

Abstract: Provided is a timepiece including, in addition to a crystal, the following external elements: a back (2), a middle part (1), a dial (3), and two bracelet strands (30), at least one of these external elements includes a body formed of a first portion made of a first opaque material and of a second portion made of a second partially transparent or translucent material. The first material being integral with the second material and the timepiece also includes at least one light source (10) producing light which passes through the second portion made of a partially transparent or translucent ceramic material comprising zirconia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece including, in addition to a crystal (34), the following external elements: a back (2), a middle (1), a dial (3) and two bracelet strands (30), at least one of these external elements comprising at least one part made of an at least partially transparent or translucent ceramic material, the timepiece further including at least two point light sources (10) releasing heat, each light source (10) being capable of being separately switched on/off and being disposed in or directly beneath said at least one external element comprising the ceramic material, each light source (10) producing light that passes through the ceramic material of said external element, and wherein each light source (10) is configured to produce localised light on a point or quasi-point area (40) of the ceramic material of the external element concerned, so as to produce localised illumination on said external element.

Abstract: A method is described for protecting a silver surface against tarnishing. This involves depositing a layer of a silver-copper alloy on a substrate, which may be a silver substrate. The alloy comprises between 0.1 wt % and 10 wt % of copper relative to the total weight of the alloy. At least one layer of a metal oxide or a nitride having a thickness in a range of 1 nm to 200 nm is deposited on the alloy to protect against tarnishing. The presence of copper in the silver-copper alloy enhances the alloy's adhesion without altering the silver color.

Abstract: An item including a substrate and a coating having a colour with an interference effect for the decoration and/or the protection of the item, the coating including: a first opaque layer covering at least partially at least one surface of the substrate; a stack of at least two semi-transparent layers deposited by an ALD method covering the first layer; the stack having a thickness depending on the colour with an interference phenomenon of the coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decorating a timepiece component comprising: a) a step of preparation of the timepiece component optionally comprising a first step of depositing a first material on the timepiece component to form a first sub-layer, b) a second step of depositing a second material on the timepiece component obtained in step a) to form a second sub-layer, c) a colouring step comprising the deposition of a third coloured material on the timepiece component obtained in step b) to form a coloured external decorative layer, According to the invention, at least step b) and step c) are achieved by a physical vapour deposition method.

Abstract: A substrate includes a final silver-plated surface protected against silver tarnishing by a protective coat having a thickness between 1 nm and 200 nm, the protective coat includes a first coat of Al2O3 deposited on said final silver-plated surface and having a thickness between 0.5 nm and 100 nm, and on the first coat of Al2O3, a second coat of TiO2 having a thickness between 0.5 nm and 100 nm, the substrate including a coat of a silver and copper alloy comprising between 0.1% and 10% by weight of copper with respect to the total weight of the alloy, forming said final silver-plated surface, said coat of a silver and copper alloy having a thickness between 1000 nm and 3000 nm. Embodiments also relate to a method for manufacturing such a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article (1), the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, characterized in that the method includes the steps consisting in: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article inside a chamber (10) in which a gaseous mixture is arranged, this gaseous mixture including at least a first hydrogen and carbon based gas compound in a first concentration (C1) and a second hydrogen and nitrogen based gas compound in a second concentration (C2); heating the gaseous mixture until the molecules of the first and second compounds dissociate and keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thereby created to obtain diffusion of the carbon and nitrogen atoms in the external surface (2) of said article and to form stoichiometric carbonitride (ZrCx—Ny) at the surface, and prior to the step of heating the process gases

Abstract: The present invention relates to a covering element for a portable object made of a first material, the first material being a ceramic material having a first color, characterized in that the surface of said covering element is at least partially treated so as to exhibit at least one conversion having a different color from the first color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a covering element for a portable object made of a first material, the first material being a ceramic material having a first color, characterized in that the surface of said covering element is at least partially treated so as to exhibit at least one conversion having a different color from the first color.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the adhesion of a layer for the protection of silver against tarnishing on a substrate including a final silver surface, the method including the following steps of: a) obtaining a substrate that may or may not have an initial silver surface, b) depositing on the substrate of step a) a layer of a silver-copper alloy including between 0.1 wt % and 10 wt % of copper relative to the total weight of the alloy in order to obtain the final silver surface, c) depositing on at least one part of the final silver surface obtained in step b) at least one layer for the protection of silver against tarnishing having a thickness that lies in the range 1 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article (1), the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, characterized in that the method includes the steps consisting in: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article inside a chamber (10) in which a gaseous mixture is arranged, this gaseous mixture including at least a first hydrogen and carbon based gas compound in a first concentration (C1) and a second hydrogen and nitrogen based gas compound in a second concentration (C2); heating the gaseous mixture until the molecules of the first and second compounds dissociate and keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thereby created to obtain diffusion of the carbon and nitrogen atoms in the external surface (2) of said article and to form stoichiometric carbonitride (ZrCx—Ny) at the surface, and prior to the step of heating the process gases

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a finished or semi-finished zirconia-based article, the surface of the article having a metallic external appearance and non-zero surface electrical conductivity, wherein the method includes the steps of: taking at least one zirconia article, pre-shaped in its finished or semi-finished form; placing said article in a chamber in which a hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen gas mixture is heated; heating said article and the gas mixture using at least one resistive element traversed by an electric current to obtain dissociation of the hydrogen and carbon/nitrogen based gas molecules and an increase in the temperature of said article; keeping said article in the reactive atmosphere thus created to obtain diffusion of the carbon/nitrogen atoms in the external surface of said article.

Abstract: A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decorating a timepiece component comprising: a) a step of preparation of the timepiece component optionally comprising a first step of depositing a first material on the timepiece component to form a first sub-layer, b) a second step of depositing a second material on the timepiece component obtained in step a) to form a second sub-layer, c) a colouring step comprising the deposition of a third coloured material on the timepiece component obtained in step b) to form a coloured external decorative layer, According to the invention, at least step b) and step c) are achieved by a physical vapour deposition method.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism including a pair of components with a first component including a material taken from a first group including solid monocrystalline, natural diamond, micro- or nano-crystalline CVD diamond, solid monocrystalline diamond, and amorphous carbon “DLC”, and having a first friction surface arranged to cooperate with a second friction surface included in a second opposing component and the second component includes, at least in its second friction surface, a material with a high concentration of boron, greater than 10 atomic percent, and, in a particular embodiment, this second opposing component includes at least one ceramic containing boron. Method for manufacturing such a mechanism. Method for transforming such a mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a diamond coating characterized in that it includes at least one stack of a first nanocrystalline diamond layer and a second microcrystalline diamond layer.

Abstract: A race start assistance method for a boat participating in a regatta including a pre-race having a duration before the crossing of the start line, the method including a first step intended to permit the creation and storage of the start line in virtual form, and the determination of the instantaneous speed of the boat and its position with respect to the start line, in order to provide at least one indication on how to proceed in the pre-race.

Abstract: Set of luminous display hands for a portable object which houses an electrical energy supply source, the set of luminous display hands including first and second superposed luminous display hands each provided with a hole for the passage of a drive arbour, the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand being arranged concentrically inside the drive arbour of the first hand with insertion of an insulating layer between the two drive arbours, the first and second luminous display hands respectively carrying a first and a second light source, the first pole of the first light source being electrically connected to a first terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the first luminous display hand, the second pole of the first light source being connected to the first pole of the second light source via a contact piece, and the second pole of the second light source being connected to the second terminal of the power supply source via the drive arbour of the second luminous display hand.