Abstract: A method of measuring accuracy of a watch including a visual display device, including: storing a first instant, at which the display is in a first display position corresponding to a first image, with a corresponding time reference source; determining a first display value for the first image and stored in a storage in correlation with the first instant; storing, after a determined time interval, a second instant, at which the display is in a second display position corresponding to a second image, with the corresponding source; determining a second display value for the second image and stored in the storage in correlation with the second instant; and calculating displaying on a viewing device the variation in rate of the display.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a barrel arbor for a timepiece includes wire drawing a bar to form a continuous profile, projecting or re-entrant relative to a support sector having a touching-up axis parallel to the bar axis, and whose section matches that of complementary hooking to be made on the arbor and, in a touching-up operation, machining the complete external contour of the arbor. A drive element includes a determined spiral-coiled mainspring including at an inner end hooking having a defined profile and an arbor produced by this method including the support sector for supporting the first coil, and a complementary hooking having a complementary profile to the profile for pivoting together with the mainspring.

Abstract: A method of improving the pivoting of a wheel set for a scientific instrument, including an arbor pivoting or oscillating about a wheel set axis, is provided. A static balancing of this wheel set is performed to bring the center of gravity onto this axis. A desired value is determined for the resulting unbalance moment of this wheel set about this axis, corresponding to a predetermined desired divergence between a first principal longitudinal axis of inertia of this wheel set, and this axis. This wheel set is set in rotation at a predetermined speed about this wheel set axis, and the resulting unbalance moment is measured with regard to this axis. An adjustment is made to the value of the resulting unbalance moment of this wheel set about this axis within a given determined tolerance with regard to this desired value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system including a pinion (5) and a toothed wheel (7) coaxially mounted relative to a pivoting arbor (3). According to the invention, the gear system (1) includes a securing device (21) between the pinion and the wheel so as to prevent any relative movement of one with respect to the other. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing the toothed wheel (7) and the final assembly of the gear system (1). The invention concerns the field of timepieces.

Abstract: A device for measuring the accuracy of a mechanical watch includes a time reference source, a calculating mechanism, and another data processing unit. The time reference source is formed by an internal time reference source, or by a receiving and processing mechanism arranged to receive and process signals transmitted by an external time source to permanently update a repeater clock internal to the device. The calculating mechanism is arranged to calculate time differences between display values, and/or between time reference points provided by the time reference source, and to calculate a variation in rate. The another data processing unit is arranged to store and process at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism, and/or a viewing mechanism arranged to display at least one variation in rate calculated by the calculating mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring for a resonator of a timepiece including a strip coiled on itself into several coils. According to the invention, the strip is formed by a series of prismatic portions integral with each other wherein one of the two opposite faces is formed by a series of rectangular portions integral with each other so as to form a polygonal spring.

Abstract: The spiral includes turns of rectangular section, whose pitch p and/or thickness e can vary from the inside curve towards the outside curve, or whose winding can deviate from the line of a perfect spiral. The inside curve can also be extended by a self-locking washer for fixing the spiral on the balance arbour with no play. The spiral is manufactured by photolithography and galvanic growth, or by micro-machining an amorphous or crystalline material, such as a silicon wafer.

Abstract: A method of setting inertia of and/or poising a timepiece sprung balance assembly including: manufacturing a balance and a balance spring irreversibly assembled to each other; fixing an outer coil of the balance spring in position in a tamperproof manner to a balance spring stud which is immobilized in a tamperproof manner by irreversible attachment to a balance cock; determining a peripheral surface of the balance, every point of which is remote from the balance spring by a first predefined distance; performing a re-machining operation only on the peripheral area.

Abstract: An assembly of an axially extending member, made of a first material, in an aperture of a part, made of a second material having no plastic domain. The part includes pierced holes forming an elastic deformation mechanism distributed around the aperture thereof. Further, the member includes an elastically and plastically deformed, radially flared portion that radially grips a wall of the part surrounding the aperture by stressing the elastic deformation mechanism, so as to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for the part. The assembly can be used in the field of timepieces.

Abstract: A method of improving pivoting of a wheel set for a scientific instrument, including an arbor pivoting or oscillating about a wheel set axis, the method including: static balancing of the wheel set to bring the center of gravity onto the axis; determining a desired value for the resulting unbalance moment of the wheel set about the axis, corresponding to a predetermined desired divergence between a first principal longitudinal axis of inertia of the wheel set, and the axis; setting the wheel set in rotation at a predetermined speed about the wheel set axis, the resulting unbalance moment is measured with regard to the axis; and adjusting a value of the resulting unbalance moment of the wheel set about the axis within a given determined tolerance with regard to the desired value.

Abstract: A temperature compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, the core of the body including a first material. The body includes at least a first and second coating allowing the resonator to have substantially zero first and second order temperature coefficients. The temperature compensated regulator can be used in the field of time and frequency bases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring for a resonator of a timepiece including a strip coiled on itself into several coils. According to the invention, the strip is formed by a series of prismatic portions integral with each other wherein one of the two opposite faces is formed by a series of rectangular portions integral with each other so as to form a polygonal spring.

Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement cooperating with a display device, the timepiece movement comprising a mechanical energy source and a system of energy transmission from the energy source to at least one resonator including a first distribution device controlled by the at least one resonator. According to the invention, the timepiece also comprises a counting system mounted between the at least one resonator and the display device, and including a second distribution device controlled by the at least one resonator and cooperating with the display device to uncouple the energy transmission means from the counting means.

Abstract: An assembly including a member made of a first material, which is axially driven into a circular aperture of a part made of a second material that is brittle, using an intermediate part made of a third material and mounted between the member and the part is disclosed. The intermediate part is a continuous cylinder including a hole for receiving the member so that the intermediate part absorbs radially and in a uniform manner, at least part of the axial driving force of the member. The part includes pierced holes forming elastic deformation units distributed around the circular aperture thereof for absorbing any of the radial force not absorbed by the intermediate part, so as to secure the assembly in a non-destructive manner for the part.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a first oscillator oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a first gear train to an energy source to display the time. The timepiece also includes a chronograph system including a second gear train connected to the first gear train via a coupling device for selectively measuring a time. The chronograph system further includes a second oscillator, which is connected to the second gear train and oscillates at a second frequency. Moreover, the second gear train is connected to the first gear train by an elastic coupling, in order to synchronize the rate of the two oscillators using the same energy source when the coupling device is in a coupled position.

Abstract: A method of improving pivoting of a wheel set for a scientific instrument, including an arbor pivoting or oscillating about an axis, in which: static balancing of the wheel set is performed to bring the center of gravity onto the axis; a desired value is determined for resulting unbalance moment of the wheel set about the axis, corresponding to a predetermined divergence between a first principal longitudinal axis of inertia of the wheel set, and the axis; at a predetermined speed about the axis, the resulting unbalance moment is measured with regard to the axis; and an adjustment of the resulting unbalance moment is made within a given determined tolerance with regard to the desired value, and performed by machining both sides of a median plane including the two secondary axes of inertia of the wheel set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece movement including a resonator formed by the cooperation of a balance with a balance spring, said resonator being pivotally mounted between a bar and another part such as a bar or a main plate. According to the invention, the timepiece movement further includes a device preventing adhesion of said balance spring against said bar including a surface decreasing means formed on the bar for limiting the contact surface when the faces of said balance spring and of said bar touch each other.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated resonator including a body used in deformation, a core of the body being formed by ceramic. At least one part of the body includes a coating whose Young's modulus variation with temperature is of an opposite sign to that of the ceramic used for the core, so that at least the first order frequency variation with temperature of the resonator is substantially zero frequency.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a first resonator oscillator oscillating at a first frequency and connected by a first gear train to an energy source and a second oscillator oscillating at a second frequency and connected to a second gear train. The second gear train is connected to the first gear train by an elastic coupling device, in order to synchronize the rate of the two oscillators using the same energy source.

Abstract: The timepiece movement includes a shock absorber bearing for a rotating wheel set, formed of an elastic device having a rigid central part and an elastic structure connected to said central part and extending at the periphery thereof, the central part having an aperture in which a pierced jewel is arranged and being materially connected to the timepiece movement via the elastic structure. This bearing further includes an endstone, which forms a top stop member for the pivot of the rotating wheel set and is assembled to said central part so as to move integrally therewith. This endstone extends at least partially above the elastic structure and is secured to the central part by a material connection between said central part and the bottom surface of the endstone.