Abstract: A spiral spring for a horological resonator mechanism, including a flexible strip (2) coiled on itself into several turns The spring (1) including an element for adjusting its stiffness, which includes a first elongate flexible element (5), and a second elongate flexible element (15) arranged in series with the strip (2), each elongate flexible element (5) connecting the same end (4) of the strip (2) to a fixed support (11), so as to add an additional stiffness to the strip (2), each elongate flexible element (5) preferably having a stiffness higher than that of the strip (2). A prestressing element (6) applies at least two different adjustable efforts, the two efforts being applied on the first elongate flexible element (5) so as to make the stiffness of the first elongate flexible element (5) vary according to the prestress level.

Abstract: A spiral spring for a horological resonator mechanism, including a flexible strip (2) coiled on itself into several turns, the strip (2) having a predefined stiffness. The spring (1) include an element for adjusting its stiffness, including a unique elongate flexible element (5) arranged in series with the strip (2), and connecting one end (4) of said strip (2) to a fixed support (11), to add additional stiffness. The flexible element (5) has a stiffness higher than that of the strip (2). A prestressing element (6) applies two different efforts on the element (5), and includes a first lever (8) attached to the end (4) of the strip (2) to allow adjusting a first effort, and a second lever (8) also attached to the end (4) of the strip (2) to adjust a second effort independently of the first effort.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for fixing a timepiece component (2) on a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connection areas (9) contributing to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5) each rigid arm (6) being provided with two flat contact areas (8) of the retaining member (1) able to cooperate with corresponding convex contact portions (10) of the support element (3).

Abstract: An elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on a support element includes an opening into which the support element can be inserted, and rigid arms and elastic arms defined between connection areas of the member. The rigid arms and the elastic arms are configured to ensure elastic clamping of the support element in the opening, each of the rigid arms being provided with a single flat contact area and configured to cooperate with a corresponding convex contact portion of the support element.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabrication of a one-piece, metal-based component of simple shape offering the illusion of faceting and/or chamfering for forming all or part of the exterior part of a timepiece.

Abstract: A timepiece resilient hand with drive pipes at the ends thereof, including a display index which is at a variable distance from the pipes, and including flexible segments between each pipe and the index each with a web having a substantially constant section, at least one flexible segment thereof includes discontinuous elements projecting from the web thereof in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pipes and defining, along this web, an alternation of sections, the stiffnesses thereof per unit of length are different from one another, and/or at least one web includes a succession of areas of opposite concavities, projecting on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pipes.

Abstract: A one-piece silicon device with flexible blades (2, 3), in particular for timepieces, for example a pivot with crossed blades, and to a method for manufacturing the device (1). The method includes: forming (21) a one-piece silicon device (1) blank from a wafer of the SOI type, the device (1) including two flexible blades (2, 3), each formed in a different layer of the SOI wafer, the blades (2, 3) being arranged in two different substantially parallel planes, the blades (2, 3) being separated by a clearance (7); growing a first silicon oxide layer on the surface of at least one of the blades (2, 3) bordering the clearance, the first silicon oxide layer being formed from a first sub-layer of silicon of the one or more blades (2, 3); and removing the first silicon oxide layer to increase the clearance (7) between the two blades (2, 3).

Abstract: A barrel (1) for self-winding timepiece including a drum (11) provided with an inner lateral wall (12) and a mainspring (2) forming a winding including an outer coil (21) the end (22) of which is friction coupled with the inner lateral wall and free to slip against the inner lateral wall in the event of overtension of the mainspring (2). The end of the outer coil includes an external face (23) having two friction surfaces (24, 25) disposed in the top and bottom portion of the outer coil and arranged to be in contact with the inner lateral wall in such a way that the portion between the friction surfaces, referred to as central portion (26), is not in contact with the inner lateral wall, the central portion forming a reservoir (27) for a lubricant between the two friction surfaces.

Abstract: A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts including a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the felloe sector to the hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping an inertia-block in position, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm has a hook-shaped body, the free distal end of the hook being parallel to a part of the balance having a rigidity greater than or equal to that of the elastic arm.

Abstract: An elastic holding organ for fastening a timepiece component on a support element, including a rigid portion provided with an inner face including at least three deformable arms provided with free ends defining an opening into which the support element can be inserted, the arms being configured to perform a coupling with the support element by an elastic clamping in compression of this support element in the opening.

Abstract: A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, at least one felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the at least one felloe sector to said hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm can have a body of a non-constant section, a part of the body having a greater thickness than the rest of the elastic arm so as to have a larger volume of material under stress and store a maximum of elastic energy.

Abstract: A method for making a flexure bearing for an oscillator with an inertial element oscillating in a plane supported by flexible strips fixed to a stationary support returning it to a rest position includes: forming the bearing with basic strips in superposed levels, each having an aspect ratio of less than 10; breaking down the number of basic levels into a plurality of sub-units, each including one or two strips joining a basic support and a basic inertial element, which are made by etching substrates; assembling the sub-units by joining their basic inertial elements; and fixing the basic supports to the support, directly or via translational tables along one or two in-plane translational degrees of freedom, of lower translational stiffness than that of the sub-unit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metallic horological components includes the steps of forming a LIGA-UV type method a multi-level photosensitive resin mould and of galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal using at least two conductive layers to form a block substantially reaching the top surface of the photosensitive resin.

Abstract: A method produces an assembly of an elastic holding member-timepiece component assembly with a support element. The elastic holding member is made of an electrically insulating material and the support element is made of an electrically conductive material. The method includes mounting the assembly with the support element aiming to define at least one zone for receiving at least one element for blocking a movement of the holding member relative to the support element, and producing by galvanic metal growth the at least one blocking element on at least one of the reception zones.

Abstract: A spiral spring for a timepiece resonator mechanism, the spiral spring extending substantially in a plane and including a flexible blade wound on itself in several turns and a setting device for modifying the effective length of the wound blade, the setting device including a clamp movable along at least one ending portion of the spiral spring, the clamp extending substantially in the plane of the spiral spring, the clamp including two bearing faces arranged on either side of the wound blade in a multiplicity of positions so as to define a variable effective length of the spiral spring, the clamp and the wound blade being linked to each other by a flexible element allowing the clamp and the bearing faces to be displaced along the wound blade.

Abstract: A holding member for fixing a timepiece component on support elements of different cross section includes an opening into which each support element can be inserted, the holding member having structural elements together forming a body configured to ensure mounting of each support element in the opening. Each of the structural elements includes a first structural sub-element and a second structural sub-element, the first structural sub-element including a volume of material greater than a volume of material constituting the second structural sub-element. The holding member includes a connecting portion ensuring the mounting of each of the support elements in the holding member, the portion being defined on an inner face of the first structural sub-element.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermocompensated and coloured coil spring including the steps of forming a first layer of silicon oxide on at least one face of the core and on at least one other face of the core, the first layer having a thickness equal to a fraction of the thickness required for achieving thermal compensation, removing the first layer from at least one face of the core, forming a second layer of silicon oxide on at least one face of the core and on at least one other face of the core, the second layer having a thickness equal to the remaining fraction of the thickness required for achieving thermal compensation which is lower than or equal to 1 ?m for giving at least one face of the core a colour as a result of the interference effect.

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: An elastic retaining member for attaching a timepiece component to a support element, includes an opening into which the support element is likely to be inserted, the retaining member includes rigid arms and elastic arms defined between connecting zones helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element in the opening the rigid arms being provided with the only contact zones of the retaining member with the support element and in that, the rigid or elastic arms each extend longitudinally between connecting zones, the rigid arms and the elastic arms being arranged in the retaining member successively and alternately and each rigid arm has a volume of material greater than the volume of material constituting each elastic arm.