Abstract: A balance for timepieces includes a rim, a hub, and at least one arm connecting the hub to the rim. At least one portion of the balance is made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The at least partially amorphous metal alloy is based on an element chosen from the group consisting of platinum, zirconium and titanium, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion comprised between 7 ppm/° C. and 12 ppm/° C. The balance can be manufactured by moulding. A resonator can include such a balance and a monocrystalline quartz balance spring.

Abstract: A water-resistant watch case of a diving watch, includes at least one back mounted on a lower side of a middle part, and a crystal mounted on an upper side of the middle part. The crystal includes an annular peripheral surface to be fastened with an amorphous metal gasket on an inner annular surface that is complementary in shape, on the upper side of the middle part. The annular peripheral surface of the crystal is inclined towards the inside of the watch case at a determined angle less than 90° relative to a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the watch case to distribute stresses between the crystal and the middle part due to the water pressure during a dive. The annular peripheral surface and the inner annular surface are conical in shape.

Abstract: The water-resistant watch case includes at least one crystal mounted on an upper side of a middle, a fastening gasket being disposed between an upper annular inner wall of the middle and an upper annular outer wall of the crystal. The crystal includes an annular peripheral surface below the upper annular outer wall inclined at a defined angle smaller than 90° in relation to an axis perpendicular to a plane of the watch case to come into direct contact against an annular inner surface of the middle inclined at an angle similar to the inclination of the annular peripheral surface and below the upper annular inner wall of the middle. The annular peripheral surface and/or the annular inner surface of the middle comprise a domed contact portion for a contact on an annular contact line between the two surfaces.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

Abstract: An oscillating winding mass (1) for a movement of a timepiece, the oscillating winding mass (1) being intended to be rotatably mounted on an axis of the movement. The winding mass includes a main element (2) and a decorative element (10), for example a logo or an acronym, a part of the winding mass (1) forming a heavy part (3) allowing the oscillation of the mass (1) in response to the movement of the timepiece and to the force of gravity, the main element (2) giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass (1), the decorative element (10) being mechanically linked to the main element (2), the decorative element (10) being rotatably mounted on the main element (2).

Abstract: A bearing for an arbor or staff of a rotary wheel set of a timepiece movement, the bearing including a bearing block provided with a housing and an endstone arranged inside the housing, the endstone having a main body provided with a cavity configured to receive a pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the pivot having the shape of a first cone having a first solid angle, the apex of the first cone being rounded with a predefined first radius of curvature in a range from 0.2 ?m to 50 ?m, the cavity having a second cone shape with a second solid angle, greater than the first solid angle, so that the pivot can rotate in the cavity, the apex of the second cone being rounded and having a predefined second radius of curvature. The second radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A water-resistant watch case of a diving watch, includes a back mounted on a lower side of a middle part, and a crystal mounted on an upper side of the middle part. The crystal includes an annular peripheral surface mounted by a first portion of an annular gasket made of amorphous metal on an inner annular surface that is complementary in shape, on the upper side of the middle part. A second portion of the gasket on the first portion of the gasket maintains the crystal against the middle part. The annular peripheral surface of the crystal is inclined towards the inside of the watch case at an angle less than 90° relative to a central axis perpendicular to the plane of the watch case to distribute stresses between the crystal and the middle part due to the water pressure.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding, the process including the following steps: a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel, b) getting hold of a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature, c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel, d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy, e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold.

Abstract: A process for producing a part provided with an external element includes: providing an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a raised pattern with a crest on the upper surface; depositing an electrically insulating layer onto the upper surface around the pattern to a thickness less than or equal to the distance between the crest and the upper surface; depositing a metal layer onto the crest by galvanic growth so that the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer; dissolving the insulating layer; covering an assembly including the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part to form an imprint; separating the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, the mass then exhibiting an external element formed by a recess, the shape of which corresponds to the imprint and the base of which interfaces with the metal layer.

Abstract: A decorative piece includes a support made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged. The housing is arranged so that at least one aesthetic element is housable therein. The substrate further includes a gripper elastically deforming to retain the aesthetic element in the housing. The gripper further includes at least one setting element. A method for setting an aesthetic element on a support includes taking a support provided with at least one hollow, taking at least one aesthetic element, filling the hollow with a first material, making a setting hole and a gripper in the first material, and setting the aesthetic element by placing it in the hole and by deforming the gripper so as to retain the aesthetic element.

Abstract: A device including a first portion made of a first material and a second portion made of a second material, the second part extends from one of faces of the first portion and is made of an amorphous material.

Abstract: A water-resistant watch case of a diving watch, includes at least one back mounted on a lower side of a middle part, and a crystal mounted with a fastening gasket on an upper side of the middle part. The back includes an annular bearing surface for coming into contact with an inner annular surface of the middle part of a shape complementary to the bearing surface during mounting of the back on the middle part. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are inclined towards the inside of the watch case at a determined angle less than 90° relative to a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the watch case so as to distribute stresses between the back and the middle part due to the water pressure during a dive. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are conical in shape.

Abstract: A device including a first part and at least a second part to be assembled to the first part, the first part including a body from which an attachment extends, the attachment defining a housing for the second part, for example as a timepiece hand.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a decoration provided with at least one attachment includes forming an envelope of material, the envelope including an external surface and an internal surface, and the external surface including a visible embossed part of the decoration, forming the at least one attachment, and fastening the at least one attachment directly and permanently against the internal surface of the envelope of the decoration.

Abstract: A balance for timepieces includes a rim, a hub, and at least one arm connecting the hub to the rim. At least one portion of the balance is made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The at least partially amorphous metal alloy is based on an element chosen from the group consisting of platinum, zirconium and titanium, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion comprised between 7 ppm/° C. and 12 ppm/° C. The balance can be manufactured by moulding. A resonator can include such a balance and a monocrystalline quartz balance spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a part provided with an external element comprising the following steps: provide an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a pattern forming a recess in said upper surface deposit an electrically insulating layer into the pattern so that the insulating layer extends as far as the upper surface deposit a metal layer onto the upper surface of the substrate by galvanic growth so that at the end of this step the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer dissolve the insulating layer cover an assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part, wherein the mass forms an imprint of the assembly separate the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, wherein the mass then exhibits an external element with a shape corresponding to the imprint of the pattern.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micromechanical component made of a first material, the first material being a material that can become at least partially amorphous, the method including: a) providing a mold made of a second material, the mold including a cavity forming the negative of the micromechanical component; b) providing the first material and forming the first material in the cavity of the mold, the first material having undergone, at a latest at a time of the forming, treatment allowing the first material to become at least partially amorphous; c) separating the micromechanical component thus formed from the mold.

Abstract: A process for assembling a device including first and second parts made of first and second materials, respectively, and a third part made of a third material that acts as an intermediate part enabling the assembling, the process including: providing a preform made from an at least partially amorphous metal material capable of increasing its volume under temperature and pressure conditions; placing the first and second parts with the preform between two cavity plates having, the negative shape of the device; heating the assembly to a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization temperature of the preform to enable, at latest during the heating, the preform to be in a form of a foam and enable expansion of the preform to fill the negative shape of the device and form the third part; cooling the assembly to solidify the preform and separate the device from the cavity plates.

Abstract: A water-resistant watch case of a diving watch, includes at least one back mounted on a lower side of a middle part, and a crystal mounted with a fastening gasket on an upper side of the middle part. The back includes an annular bearing surface for coming into contact with an inner annular surface of the middle part of a shape complementary to the bearing surface during mounting of the back on the middle part. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are inclined towards the inside of the watch case at a determined angle less than 90° relative to a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the watch case so as to distribute stresses between the back and the middle part due to the water pressure during a dive. The annular bearing surface and the inner annular surface are conical in shape.