Abstract: A horology component based on a fragile material, wherein said component comprises at least one surface part of fragile material covered with a coating (10) comprising at least two layers CE of elastic material (11) separated by a layer CR of a material (12) stronger than the elastic material (11).

Abstract: Timepiece component based on a micromachinable material, including at least one micromachinable-material surface portion that is smoothed at least by hydrogen smoothing. The at least one micromachinable-material surface portion includes an oxide layer of thickness larger than 1 micron in order to increase its mechanical strength. In a paticular embodiment the micromachinable material can be silicon and the oxide layer silicon oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a timepiece component, characterised in that it comprises an electrodeposition step consisting in depositing an alloy on a substrate, forming at least one flank of the timepiece component with a thickness greater than or equal to 50 ?m, said electrodeposition step being carried out with an electrolyte solution comprising a nickel-containing compound and a second nickel-free compound at concentrations such that the alloy obtained comprises between 91 and 99.8 wt.-% nickel and between 0.2 and 6 wt.-%, or even between 0.2 and 4 wt.-%, of a second element from the second compound.

Abstract: A method for determining an imbalance characteristic of a hairspring (5) balance (4) oscillator (3) of a timepiece movement (2), the method comprising at least the following steps: —Setting the hairspring balance oscillator in an oscillating motion at at least two amplitudes, —Determining, for each amplitude and for at least two positions of the oscillator, a piece of data representative of the oscillation period of the oscillator, —Using the data from the previous step to calculate the imbalance characteristic of the hairspring balance oscillator.

Abstract: A method for determining an imbalance characteristic of a hairspring (5) balance (4) oscillator (3) of a timepiece movement (2), the method comprising at least the following steps: —Setting the hairspring balance oscillator in an oscillating motion at at least two amplitudes, —Determining, for each amplitude and for at least two positions of the oscillator, a piece of data representative of the oscillation period of the oscillator, —Using the data from the previous step to calculate the imbalance characteristic of the hairspring balance oscillator.

Abstract: The manufacturing process produces a part (10), from a micromachinable material, the part (10) forming a blank of the timepiece component and comprising at least one surface having an initial roughness. It comprises a step of mechanical strengthening treatment of the part in an etching fluid intended to decrease the roughness of said surface. For example, a substrate of said micromachinable material is provided; the substrate is at least partially covered with a protective coating containing at least one aperture; the substrate is etched through the aperture in the protective coating and an etched surface is thus obtained; the mechanical strengthening treatment is applied to said etched surface through the aperture in the protective coating; and then the protective coating is removed. The etching fluid may be a plasma or a liquid chemical etchant.