Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spiral spring may include: (a) providing a blank with an Nb—Ti core; (b) beta-quenching the blank; (c) deforming the blank in several sequences; (d) winding to form the spiral spring; (e) final heat treatment on the spiral spring. The blank in (a) may include a layer of X including Cu, Sn, Fe, Pt, Pd, Rh, Al, Au, Ni, Ag, Co and Cr or an alloy of one of these elements around the Nb—Ti core. The method may include heat treating to partially transform the layer of X into a layer of X, Ti intermetals around the Nb—Ti core, and may be carried out between (b) and (c) or between two sequences of (c). The method may include removing the part of the layer of X, which may be carried out between (b) and (c), between two sequences of (c) or between (c) and (d).

Abstract: A tool for separating a plate of balance springs after winding in, including substantially parallel lower and upper rolling surfaces which are movable relative to one another, vertically or longitudinally, in order to deform the plate by ovalisation, and to subject it to a rolling movement between the rolling surfaces, and further relates to a method for separating balance springs from a plate using this tool in order to mechanically crush it in the elastic range and initiate sequences of compressing and rolling the plate.

Abstract: A balance spring intended to be fitted to a timepiece balance having fixed inertia, the balance spring being formed of a core having lateral faces connecting an upper face to a lower face, the balance spring including on one of the lateral faces in one portion of the outer coil, a coating formed of one or more layers, the coating including two layers with a first electrically conductive layer coated with a second outer layer made of a ceramic, or a combined layer, made of an electrically conductive ceramic. Also a method of manufacturing this balance spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bonding timepiece components, comprising applying an adhesive to a first and/or second timepiece component to be bonded to one another, and depositing an adhesion layer onto at least one of the first and second components to be bonded by spraying a primer composition in a localised joining area followed by the solidification of the primer composition. The adhesion layer is deposited prior to the application of the adhesive if the adhesive is applied to the one or more same components as the adhesion layer.

Abstract: A method for treating at least one balance spring intended to equip a horological movement, said balance spring being made from an Nb—Ti alloy, the method comprising a step of steaming, called climatic steaming, in a temperature range comprised between 30 and 100°° C. in an atmosphere having a relative humidity comprised between 60 and 99%.

Abstract: A balance spring (1) intended to be fitted to a timepiece balance having fixed inertia, the balance spring (1) being formed of a core (10) having lateral faces (10c) connecting an upper face (10a) to a lower face (10b), the balance spring (1) including on one of the lateral faces (10) in one portion of the outer coil (5), a coating formed of one or more layers, the coating including two layers with a first electrically conductive layer (12) coated with a second outer layer (13) made of a ceramic, or a combined layer (13), made of an electrically conductive ceramic. Also a method of manufacturing this balance spring.

Abstract: A balance spring (1) intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the balance spring (1) is made of a niobium and titanium alloy containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %; titanium with a weight percentage that is greater than or equal to 1 wt % and less than 40 wt %; traces of other elements chosen from among O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu and Al, each of said elements being in the range 0 to 1,600 ppm of the total weight, and the sum of said trace elements being less than or equal to 0.3 wt %.

Abstract: A spiral spring is configured to equip a balance of a horological movement. The spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of: Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from V and Ta, optionally at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a total content of Nb, V and Ta comprised between 40 and 85%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 15 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of the elements selected from O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of the traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight.

Abstract: A spiral spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a content of Nb comprised between 40 and 84%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 16 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of said elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al comprised between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of said traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight. The method for manufacturing the spiral spring is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon timepiece component (1) with a functional external profile.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an escapement wheel (10) including steps of creating an escapement wheel ébauche having a hub (11) connected to a felloe (12) by radial arms (13), and teeth (14) regularly distributed around the periphery of the felloe (12), and simultaneously machining a reduction of cross-section of the free end of each tooth (14), by a cutting tool (20) aligned coaxially with the escapement wheel ébauche.

Abstract: A balance for a horological movement includes rigid portions consisting of a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a felloe, four arms connecting the felloe to the hub, and including four slots for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, each slot being delimited by an arm and by an elastic arm including a first end integral with the arm, and a second distal end free in relation to the hub, to the arm, and to the felloe sector. The balance includes two pairs of inertia-blocks, each pair of inertia-blocks having different masses to ensure different adjusting powers, a first pair of inertia-blocks for a basic adjustment, and second pair of inertia-blocks for a precise adjustment.

Abstract: A component intended to be in friction contact with another component, the component being coated with an electrically conductive layer in one piece, at least partially covering every surface of the component, the friction occurring on at least one of these surfaces, called the functional surface, the functional surface being surrounded by a plurality of side surfaces, the component having on its functional surface a texture formed of a succession of troughs coated with the electrically conductive layer, the troughs each extending between two side surfaces such that the electrically conductive layer remains in one piece over the component despite the wear caused by friction on the functional surface. The invention also relates to the method for manufacturing the component by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sides machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an escapement wheel (10) including steps of creating an escapement wheel ébauche having a hub (11) connected to a felloe (12) by radial arms (13), and teeth (14) regularly distributed around the periphery of the felloe (12), and simultaneously machining a reduction of cross-section of the free end of each tooth (14), by a cutting tool (20) aligned coaxially with the escapement wheel ébauche.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spiral spring may include: (a) providing a blank with an Nb—Ti core; (b) beta-quenching the blank; (c) deforming the blank in several sequences; (d) winding to form the spiral spring; (e) final heat treatment on the spiral spring. The blank in (a) may include a layer of X including Cu, Sn, Fe, Pt, Pd, Rh, Al, Au, Ni, Ag, Co and Cr or an alloy of one of these elements around the Nb—Ti core. The method may include heat treating to partially transform the layer of X into a layer of X, Ti intermetals around the Nb—Ti core, and may be carried out between (b) and (c) or between two sequences of (c). The method may include removing the part of the layer of X, which may be carried out between (b) and (c), between two sequences of (c) or between (c) and (d).

Abstract: A spiral spring is configured to equip a balance of a horological movement. The spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of: Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from V and Ta, optionally at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a total content of Nb, V and Ta comprised between 40 and 85%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 15 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of the elements selected from 0, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of the traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight.

Abstract: A spiral spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a content of Nb comprised between 40 and 84%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 16 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of said elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al comprised between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of said traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight. The method for manufacturing the spiral spring is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bonding timepiece components, comprising applying an adhesive to a first and/or second timepiece component to be bonded to one another, and depositing an adhesion layer onto at least one of the first and second components to be bonded by spraying a primer composition in a localised joining area followed by the solidification of the primer composition. The adhesion layer is deposited prior to the application of the adhesive if the adhesive is applied to the one or more same components as the adhesion layer.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a hairspring having a final stiffness includes the steps of fabricating a hairspring to thickened dimensions, and determining the initial stiffness of the hairspring formed in order to remove the volume of material to obtain the hairspring having the dimensions required for said final stiffness.

Abstract: A pivot arbor for a timepiece movement includes a pivot made of a first non-magnetic metal material at at least one end in order to limit the sensitivity to magnetic fields. An outer surface of the pivot is coated with a first layer of a second material such as Ni, NiB, and/or NiP. The first layer of the second material is partially coated with a second layer of a third material selected from gold, silver, copper, platinum, rhodium, palladium and their alloys.