Abstract: A drive axle shaft and method for making the same are provided. A tubular blank is inserted in a first die including an orifice. The tubular blank is extruded through the orifice to form an elongate tubular body with a longitudinal axis. A first longitudinal end of the tubular body is heated. The tubular body is inserted into a bore in a support apparatus. The support apparatus defines a second die at one end surrounding the bore, and the first longitudinal end of the tubular body projects outwardly from the bore. A third die comprises a mandrel configured to be received within the tubular body. A wheel flange is formed by moving at least one of the support apparatus and the third die toward the other of the support apparatus and the third die to deform the first longitudinal end of the tubular body between the second and third dies.

Abstract: Device for securing a first element of a watch 1 having a first threaded portion 11 to a second watch element 2 including a second threaded portion 22, including an intermediate element 3 for the angular orientation of the first element 1 relative to the second element 2. The intermediate element 3 includes a third threaded portion 31, arranged for cooperating with the first threaded portion 11 of the first element 1, and a fourth threaded portion 32, arranged to cooperate with the second threaded portion 22 of the second element 2. The thread pitches of the third threaded portion 31 and fourth threaded portion 32 are different.

Abstract: Method for the modular assembly of a pusher to a watch case (100) including a preliminary step of assembling a sealed functional module (10), including a tube (7), a stem (8), at least one sealing gasket (5) and a return spring (3) arranged between a first fixed stop member and a second moveable stop member, and then a first step (E1) of assembling the sealed functional module (10) to the case (100), and finally a second step (E2) of assembling a pusher head (1) to the sealed functional module (10).

Abstract: Crown including a cap formed of a cover integral with a lateral skirt, wherein the crown includes a removable deck ring.

Abstract: A method for producing a watch case middle having reduced weight is disclosed. A 3-D data set is generated for the case middle, the model comprising at least one internal cavity within the case middle. The 3-D data set is converted into a plurality of layers, each layer representing a cross-sectional layer of the middle, and then the case middle is formed layer-by-layer from powdered material using an additive manufacturing process such as DMLS in order to provide the case middle with a unitary construction. Loose powder is removed from each cavity via one or more powder evacuation holes formed between the cavity and an external surface of the case middle, and a through hole formed through the middle is machined to a desired finish and/or precision, the through hole being designed to receive a control member stem when a watch movement is mounted inside the middle.

Abstract: A crown includes a crown shaft, a crown head, a screw ring, and a spring for urging the head in a direction of being separated from a case band. The crown shaft cooperatively moving a hand setting stem is provided with a rotational force receiving portion of a deformed shape. The receiving portion is arranged at outside of a pipe fixed to the case band and is provided with a diameter larger than that of a male screw portion formed at the pipe. A head main body of the crown head includes a rotational force transmitting portion of a deformed shape fitted attachably and detachably to the receiving portion, a ring mounting face in a circular shape formed on one end side of the main body from the transmitting portion, and an inner peripheral face in a circular shape formed on other end side of the main body from the transmitting portion at an inner periphery thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing and mounting electric contacts for control members of small dimensions, particularly for control members used in the horological field.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of setting a plurality of stones each having a culasse, a crown and a girdle in a metal support element including the steps of: milling a groove on a first face of the support element; piercing from a second face of the support element, opposite to said first face, a plurality of holes each having a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the girdle of the stone that it will receive, such that each hole opens into said groove and the bottom of each hole forms a support wall for the crown of the stone; forming grains in the second face of the support element in proximity to the support walls; setting the stones in place in the holes such that the crown of each stone abuts against the support wall of the hole thereof; and pushing the grains against the culasse of each stone in order to fix the stones in said support element.

Abstract: One wristwatch case, wherein a pipe is fixedly connected thereto and a connection interface between the wristwatch case and the pipe is not present substantially; the method of fixing the wristwatch, comprising the steps of providing a through-hole in the wristwatch case, press fitting the pipe of 0 mm or larger in press fitting tolerance (pipe outer diameter—through-hole diameter) between the through-hole and the pipe, and heating the wristwatch case after the press fitting step; the other wristwatch case, wherein a pipe is fixedly connected thereto through a diffusion layer; the method of fixing the pipe of the wristwatch case, comprising the steps of forming a through-hole in the wristwatch case, press fitting the pipe of 0 mm or larger in press fitting tolerance (outer diameter of pipe having a metal film formed on the surface thereof—diameter of through-hole) between the through-hole and the pipe having a metal film formed on the surface thereof, and heating the wristwatch case in vacuum or reducing gas