Abstract: The mechanical movement includes a checking device which is a passive indicator element. The passive element is fixed to a fixed support portion of the mechanical movement. The passive element may be a strip or a plate fixed to the fixed support portion of a regulating member and configured to vibrate according to one or more clearly defined vibration frequency components following the vibration of the mechanical movement. The vibration frequency components of the strip or plate define an acoustic signature specific to the timepiece to allow the authenticity of the timepiece to be determined by a measurement of the acoustic signature using an acoustic measuring system.

Abstract: The striking mechanism (1) particularly for a watch, includes at least one gong (3) fixed to a gong-carrier (2), at least one hammer for striking the gong at predetermined times, and a means of selecting at least one mode of vibration of the gong. The selection means includes at least one selector element (4) arranged in contact on a part of the gong and held on a vibration node of a mode of vibration of the gong to be selected so as to block other modes of vibration. The selector element can be moved on the gong by a mechanical or magnetic means of movement.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane is made with at least one area of asymmetrical shape, formed in the material of the membrane or with at least one area of asymmetrical shape having a different thickness from the general thickness of the membrane. It preferably includes two asymmetrical areas of elliptical shape (2, 3) which are partly superposed and have a different thickness from each other. The two ellipses (2, 3), preferably hollowed out of the membrane, are off-centre in relation to each other.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane includes a first sheet (2) having a certain number of cells (5), which is secured to a first face of a second sheet (3) which has no cells. The membrane may also include a third sheet (4) having a certain number of cells (6) which is fixed to a second face of the second sheet (3). The shape and dimension of the cells are adapted according to the type of material and the note or notes to be radiated by the membrane with uniform amplification within the audible frequency band. The cells (5, 6) of the first and third sheets are configured in a honeycomb arrangement to occupy most of the surface of the membrane, for the uniform amplification and efficient radiation of the note or notes produced.

Abstract: The pin-barrel (1) is provided for a musical box in the form of a wristwatch. The pin-barrel is formed of a set of parallel pairs of strips (3, 3?), which are connected at one end thereof to a heel (2). Each pair of strips forms a tuning fork, wherein one of the strips (3?) of the pair can be set in vibration by at least one pin of a musical module wherein the vibration propagates to the other strip (3) of the pair by a longitudinal wave.

Abstract: A timepiece wheel governor for regulating the pivoting speed (?) of a wheel set, about a pivot axis, including a pivoting inertia-block. It includes a spring to return this block towards this axis, and, when the wheel set pivots at a lower speed than a reference speed (?c), this block remains confined within a first volume of revolution, and, when the wheel set pivots at a higher speed than the reference speed (?c), this block is engaged, in one peripheral portion thereof, in a second volume contiguous with and external to the first one, this peripheral portion cooperating in this second volume with a regulator arranged to brake the wheel set and return the pivoting speed (?) thereof to the reference speed (?c), and to dissipate the surplus energy.

Abstract: The hammer (2) forms part of a striking mechanism (1) of a mechanical watch, which includes at least one gong (11) that can be struck by said hammer. The hammer includes two metal parts (2?, 2?), which are secured to each other by welding or soldering. A first part is made of hard metal to form an impact part (2?) of the hammer against a gong (11) of the striking mechanism. A second part is a metal heel (2?), particularly made of steel, via which the hammer can be mounted on a plate of the striking mechanism.

Abstract: The watch striking mechanism (1) includes a gong, which is fixed via one end thereof to a gong-carrier integral with a plate, a hammer rotatably mounted on the plate to strike the gong at determined times, a damper counter-spring (5) for keeping the hammer away from the gong in an idle mode, and a drive spring (3) for the hammer. The drive spring includes an end (3b) fixed to the plate and an end (3a) that is free to move. The spring can be wound so that the free end (3a) of the spring drives the hammer (2) against the gong (21) in a strike mode to produce an acoustic sound. The striking mechanism includes means (10) for actuating the damper counter-spring (5) in a strike mode with a time lag after the hammer (2) strikes the gong, so that after the hammer strikes the gong, the counter-spring pushes said hammer towards an idle position. The actuating means includes a stop member mounted on the damper counter-spring to be actuated via the drive spring when in action just after the hammer strikes the gong.

Abstract: The striking watch (1) includes at least one gong (3) fixed to a gong-carrier (2) and at least one hammer (4) for striking the gong. The watch further includes a magnetic gong insulator arrangement (20) for preventing any inadvertent contact between the gong and a neighboring part (5, 6) of the watch. This magnetic insulator arrangement (20) includes at least one moving permanent magnet (21) arranged on one part of the gong (3) at a distance from the gong-carrier (2) and at least one fixed permanent magnet (22, 23) arranged on a watch part (5, 6) close to the gong. This fixed permanent magnet is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the moving permanent magnet facing the fixed permanent magnet.

Abstract: The strike mechanism of a watch includes a gong secured by one end thereof to a gong-carrier integral with a plate, a hammer rotatably mounted on the plate for striking the gong at predetermined times, a damping counterspring for keeping the hammer at a distance from the gong in an idle mode, and a drive spring for driving the hammer. The drive spring includes one end secured to the plate and one end that is free to move. The spring is windable so that the free end of the drive spring drives the hammer against the gong in a strike mode to generate an acoustic sound. The strike mechanism further includes a stop member on the path of the hammer drive spring in the direction of the gong for increasing the rotational strike speed following contact of an intermediate part of the drive spring acting against the stop member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for assembly of a crystal and a bezel for use of the crystal as vibrating and radiating element, according to which unconnected junction zones are determined and form the only mechanical link for transmission of vibrations of the bezel to the crystal, on which zones the crystal is secured on the bezel to transmit to the crystal any vibration communicated to the bezel. Outside these zones the crystal is held without direct contact with the bezel. The invention also relates to a crystal-bezel assembly unit for a timepiece comprising junction zones that form the only mechanical link for transmission of vibrations from the bezel to the crystal to cause the crystal to resonate under the action of the vibrations, and outside said junction zones the crystal has no direct contact with the bezel. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a unit.

Abstract: The striking work device of a timepiece (1) includes a gong (2) surrounding a movement and extending in approximately one plane (x, y), and a gong-carrier (3) secured to a watch plate (8). The gong is fixed to the gong-carrier. At least one hammer (5) strikes the gong (2) to cause the gong to vibrate. The hammer (5) strikes the gong at an inclined incidence relative to the plane.

Abstract: The striking work device of a timepiece includes a gong (4) surrounding a movement and extending in approximately one plane, and a gong-carrier secured to a watch plate of the timepiece. The gong is fixed to the gong-carrier. At least one hammer (6) of the striking work device strikes an impact surface (8) of the gong (4) to cause the gong to vibrate. The surface (8) of the gong, which the hammer strikes, is inclined relative to the normal to the one plane.

Abstract: The striking watch (1) includes a watch case, which is formed of a middle part (4) and a back cover (5) removably secured to the middle part, and a crystal (2) that closes the case in a sealed manner. A watch movement (20) is held inside the watch case on a plate (14). The watch movement is provided with a striking mechanism able to be actuated at determined times to produce a sound. At least one acoustic membrane (10) is arranged between the back cover (5) which includes at least one lateral aperture (6) and the plate (14) of the watch movement. This acoustic membrane is made of amorphous metal or metallic glass to radiate the sound produced by the striking mechanism towards the exterior of the case.

Abstract: Timepiece wheel governor (1) for regulating the pivoting speed (?) of a wheel set (3), about a pivot axis (D1), including a pivoting inertia-block (4). It includes a means (7) of returning said block (4) towards said axis (D1), and, when said wheel set (3) pivots at a lower speed than a reference speed (?c), said block (4) remains confined within a first volume of revolution (VI), and, when said wheel set (3) pivots at a higher speed than said reference speed (?c), said block (4) is engaged, in one peripheral portion (30) thereof, in a second volume (VE) contiguous with and external to said first one (VI), said peripheral portion (30) cooperating in said second volume (VE) with a regulating means arranged to brake said wheel set (3) and return the pivoting speed (?) thereof to said reference speed (?c), and to dissipate the surplus energy.

Abstract: The pin-barrel (1) is provided for a musical box in the form of a wristwatch. The pin-barrel is formed of a set of parallel pairs of strips (3, 3?), which are connected at one end thereof to a heel (2). Each pair of strips forms a tuning fork, wherein one of the strips (3?) of the pair can be set in vibration by at least one pin of a musical module wherein the vibration propagates to the other strip (3) of the pair by a longitudinal wave.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane is made with at least one area of asymmetrical shape, formed in the material of the membrane or with at least one area of asymmetrical shape having a different thickness from the general thickness of the membrane. It preferably includes two asymmetrical areas of elliptical shape (2, 3) which are partly superposed and have a different thickness from each other. The two ellipses (2, 3), preferably hollowed out of the membrane, are off-centre in relation to each other.

Abstract: The acoustic radiating membrane (1) is for assembly in a music box or a striking watch. The membrane includes a first sheet (2) having a certain number of cells (5), which is secured to a first face of a second sheet (3) which has no cells. The membrane may also include a third sheet (4) having a certain number of cells (6) which is fixed to a second face of the second sheet (3). The shape and dimension of the cells are adapted according to the type of material and the note or notes to be radiated by the membrane with uniform amplification within the audible frequency band. The cells (5, 6) of the first and third sheets are configured in a honeycomb arrangement to occupy most of the surface of the membrane, for the uniform amplification and efficient radiation of the note or notes produced.

Abstract: The striking watch (1) includes at least one gong (3) fixed to a gong-carrier (2) and at least one hammer (4) for striking the gong. The watch further includes a magnetic gong insulator arrangement (20) for preventing any inadvertent contact between the gong and a neighbouring part (5, 6) of the watch. This magnetic insulator arrangement (20) includes at least one moving permanent magnet (21) arranged on one part of the gong (3) at a distance from the gong-carrier (2) and at least one fixed permanent magnet (22, 23) arranged on a watch part (5, 6) close to the gong. This fixed permanent magnet is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the moving permanent magnet facing the fixed permanent magnet.

Abstract: The gong for the striking work or alarm of a watch is configured to produce a sound within the audible frequency range when it is struck by at least one hammer. This gong is made of a material, wherein the square root of the ratio between the elasticity module of the material divided by the volumic mass of the selected material is less than 3300 m/s, so as to allow the gong to produce a rich sound, comprising a large number of partials, within the audible frequency range. The selected material may be, for example, gold.