CH713370B1 - Watch part including an anti-counterfeiting component. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch part comprising an anti-counterfeiting component, said anti-counterfeiting component comprising a tracer, said tracer having an absorption spectrum located outside visible light and an emission spectrum in light. visible, said emission spectrum serving as an authenticity identifier of the part or timepiece in which it is integrated.

Description

Field of the invention

This invention relates to anti-counterfeiting means for watches.

State of the art

[0002] The global watch industry, and more particularly Swiss brands, have long suffered from counterfeiting. Each year the number of counterfeit watches sold exceeds the number of genuine watches.

[0003] There are various means of avoiding counterfeiting.

In general, a distinction is made in security devices between visible security devices and hidden security devices. A combination of the two is usually used.

Visible safety devices are designed to be easily accessible to an inexperienced person so that they can easily verify the authenticity of the product themselves with reference to certain known visible signs. Visible safety devices are therefore those that can be detected without help tools or by using only simple help tools.

[0006] For the qualified identification of the security elements, hidden security devices are used which are invisible without assistance tools and which are only visible to qualified persons, such as, for example, dealers or certified inspectors, customs or other authorities.

[0007] The use of hidden security devices is for example disclosed in documents US 5,599,578 and WO 2015/137995.

[0008] Document US Pat. No. 5,599,578 discloses a method for marking an object with a view to identification which comprises applying a mark to said object using a visible ink which contains: (a) a first component that is visible to the naked eye; and (b) a second component which is invisible to the naked eye and which is one or more of a dye visible only in the presence of ultraviolet radiation, a dye only visible in the presence of infrared radiation, an ink which exhibits a measurable electrical resistivity or of a biological marker selected from one or more of a protein, an amino acid, a DNA, a polypeptide, a hormone or an antibody.

[0009] Document WO 2015/137995 discloses a system for printing patterns on a substrate comprising an ink making it possible to convert infrared radiation into visible radiation, said ink comprising β-NaYF4 comprising nanocrystals which contain at least two metals belonging to the group of lanthanides. The inks are useful for producing high resolution patterns for, among other things, security applications.

In the specific field of luxury products such as watches, several means have been considered to prove their authenticity, such as the use of optically variable pigments, holograms, bar codes, QR codes, etc. . However, counterfeiters still find it relatively easy to circumvent them, since they can easily identify the material to be copied.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to provide anti-counterfeiting means for watches that cannot be easily circumvented by counterfeiters.

[0012] To this end, a watch part comprising an anti-counterfeiting component, a method of producing said component and the use of the watch part in a method of detecting a counterfeit product are provided in the appended claims.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to the marking of watches in order to verify their authenticity and more particularly relates to the use of selectively perceptible marks intended for the marking of watches in order to protect them from any counterfeiting.

The present invention provides hidden anti-counterfeiting means forming part of a watch, namely the watch strap, or being integrated into any part of the watch strap and / or the watch case.

By the term "hidden" the present invention indicates that the anti-counterfeiting means are not visible when the watch is worn on the wrist or that the anti-counterfeiting means are part of the aesthetic elements of the watch.

The inventors have discovered that the anti-counterfeiting means for watches are provided by an elastomer comprising one or more tracer (s) absorbing electromagnetic radiation in a region of wavelengths which is bathochromic (between 700 and 5,000 nm ) or hypsochromic (between 100 and 380 nm) with respect to the visible light spectrum, and emitting light in the region of visible wavelengths, said emitted light being detected by a specific reader.

Preferably, the tracer absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the infrared wavelength range between 700 and 5000 nm, preferably between 700 and 3000 nm.

The elastomer of the anti-counterfeiting component can be of various nature, such as natural rubber, silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, but it is preferably a fluoroelastomer. The latter polymer is preferably characterized by a fluorine content of between 55 and 75% by weight, preferably between 60 and 70% by weight.

Representative fluoropolymer elastomers include copolymers of one or more fluorine-containing monomers, such as vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, pentafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, and perfluoroalkylvinyl ether, preferably perfluoromethylvinyl ether as well as monomers not containing fluorine, such as ethylene and / or propylene.

Preferably, the elastomer comprises components (tracers) absorbing electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range outside the visible light spectrum (<350 nm or> 700 nm), serving as anti components. -counterfeiting, and optionally pigments, reflecting or absorbing electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range between 350 and 700 nm, serving as coloring components.

The tracer, following the absorption of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength less than 350 nm, or greater than 700 nm, is preferably characterized by an emission spectrum at least partially different, namely at less partially not overlapping the absorption spectrum of the coloring components.

The tracer of the present invention comprises one or more compounds (A), selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a halide, a chalcogenide, an oxyhalide, an oxysulfide, a fluoroarsenate and a fluoroindate of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of the elements Li, Na, K, Mg, Ge, Ga, Al, Pb, Cd, Ba, Mn, Nb, Ta, Cs, Y , Nd, Gd, Lu, Rb, Se, Bi, Zr and W, doped with at least one transition metal ion, one lanthanide ion and / or one actinide ion, or a mixture of two or more of these, the doping ions being chosen from the group consisting of ions of Ti <2+>, Cr <3+>, Ni <2+>, Mo <3+>, Re <4+>, Os <4+ >, Pr <3+>, Nd <3+>, Gd <3+>, Dy <3+>, Ho <3+>, Er <3+>, Tm <2+>, U <3+> and of U <4+>; and optionally a transparent matrix (B) comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, hydrated silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, hydrated aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium dioxide and hydrated titanium dioxide; the weight ratio of the transparent inorganic matrix (B) to the components (A) is between 0.2 and 60, preferably between 0.5 and 30, more preferably between 1 and 10 and the tracer is characterized by a flake shape with a length and a width of between 1 and 300 µm and a thickness of between 0.05 and 15 µm.

Preferable tracers are mixtures of oxyhalides, oxysulfides or multidoped compounds.

Mixtures which comprise yttrium oxysulfide and one or more compounds selected from gadolinium oxysulfide, ytterbium oxysulfide, erbium oxysulfide and thulium oxysulfide are preferred.

Preferred tracers comprise a mixture of yttrium oxysulfide and gadolinium oxysulfide or a mixture of yttrium oxysulfide and erbium oxysulfide.

Particularly preferred tracers for the absorption of ultraviolet radiation and the emission of electromagnetic radiation in the visible light spectrum are the oxides of doped metals, the sulfides of doped metals, the oxysulfides of metals from the lanthanide group or a mixture such as for example ZnS / Cu, Gd oxysulphide, Y oxysulphide or mixed oxides, such as for example Ba / Mg aluminates. As mentioned above, these tracers can also include a transparent matrix.

[0027] The tracers can also be in an encapsulated form, the capsule being made of an inorganic material or of organic polymers used to protect the core material.

[0028] The tracers can further comprise a coating completely encapsulating them. The additional coating is preferably made from one or more inorganic dielectric materials such as metal oxides, hydrated metal oxides or mixtures thereof, mixed metal oxides, sub-oxides, oxynitrides or mixtures. metal fluorides.

Particularly suitable tracers are oxides of colorless metals, such as TiO2, SnO2, SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, B2O3 and ZnO, and the hydrated oxides thereof.

The material used for the coating may correspond to the material of the matrix (B) or be different from it.

Coatings which consist of a plurality of layers are also possible. The additional coating (s) will be used to modify the surface of the plotter.

If a colored elastomer is necessary, the elastomer further comprises pigments including organic and inorganic, natural and synthetic pigments, well known to those skilled in the art in the field of coloring polymers.

The elastomer of the present invention comprises between 0.0001 and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.001 and 5% by weight, more preferably between 0.01 and 1% by weight of one or more tracer (s ).

Elastomers are further typically formulated with pigments, fillers and other additives such as for example processing aids and antioxidants usually used in the processing of polymers, which is followed by their shaping or shaping in the desired configuration. Crosslinking agents can be added to build a three dimensional structure providing strength and shape stability.

The tracer (s) and coloring pigments, fillers, crosslinking agents and optional additives are first of all dry mixed with the elastomer granules, which is followed by mixing in the molten state, preferably in a high shear mixing device such as an extruder at moderately high temperatures, for example in the range of 80-140 ° C, preferably 90-130 ° C, whereby the intimate mixture is formed or shaped into the desired configuration, preferably by molding, compression or injection or a combination thereof.

The tracers are preferably added in the form of one or more masterbatches, each of said masterbatches comprising an intimate mixture comprising between 50 and 70% by weight, preferably between 55 and 65% by weight of a support of polymer and from 30 to 50% by weight, preferably 35 to 45% by weight of one or more tracer (s). For example, the polymer support can be an elastomer and preferably a fluoroelastomer or an olefinic (co) polymer.

In the case of compression molding, a preform of the intimate mixture is created by compressing the mixture under a pressure of 1 to 100 MPa and preferably 5 to 30 MPa at a temperature below the curing temperature of the constituent element of the polymer. The preform is heated to a high temperature for a period of between 1 and 45 minutes. Then, the preform is placed between mold plates heated to a temperature in the range of 140 to 250 ° C. The mold plates are tightened to a clamping pressure of between 1 and 15 MPa and the gas trapped in the mold is evacuated using a degassing step in which a vacuum is applied. The degassing step lasts about 1 minute. After degassing, the mold clamping pressure is increased to a pressure between 5 and 75 MPa. Then, the mold is cooled to a temperature in the range of 80 to 150 ° C, and the part is removed from the mold.

In the case of injection molding, the intimate mixture is injected into the mold at a temperature between 140 and 250 ° C. The injection pressure is between 10 and 500 MPa. The injection step lasts approximately 1 to 60 seconds. After injection, the part can be retained in the mold before being ejected.

In some cases, it may be desirable to employ a combination of injection / compression molding processes in which the injection molded structure is subjected to a compression step.

[0040] The elastomer comprising one or more tracer (s) can be converted into the rubber formulation for a watch strap, or, for the particular case in which an authentic strap made of leather or of metal or of polymer is required, a piece of elastomer comprising tracers can be integrated, hidden or placed in an area of the bracelet not visible from the outside.

[0041] As a variant, a piece of elastomer comprising anti-counterfeiting components can be incorporated or hidden on the watch case or inside the watch case on any component of the watch as long as these components can be exposed to irradiation by reading light.

In yet another embodiment, the piece of elastomer comprising the tracer (s) can be incorporated or hidden both in the watch strap and the watch case.

The piece of elastomer intended to be incorporated on the case and / or the watch strap may have any geometric shape and have a thickness located in the range of 10 μm to 5,000 μm and dimensions located in the range of 1 mm to 50 mm.

To authenticate a watch, a specific part of the watch, comprising the elastomer, is subjected to irradiation by the reader, preferably infrared irradiation, while its emission / reflection is analyzed.

Each tracer, following the absorption of radiation from a specific irradiation source emitting electromagnetic radiation according to a specific emission spectrum, exhibits a typical emission / reflection spectrum in the range of lengths of wave between 350 and 700 nm.

Each combination of two or more tracers will produce a characteristic emission / reflection spectrum under the effect of irradiation.

A type of authentic watch (make / model) comprising a specific combination of tracers will produce a typical emission spectrum under the effect of irradiation by a specific irradiation source.

The emission spectrum is therefore an imprint of an authentic type of watch (brand / model). The same type of watch that does not produce an emission spectrum or a different emission / reflection spectrum (therefore not detected by the reader) will be considered to be a counterfeit product.

Preferably, the illumination source and the detector for determining and analyzing the emission spectrum (spectrometer) are combined into a device, preferably a portable device.

The characteristic emission spectrum, determining either a counterfeit watch or an authentic watch, is preferably converted into an electrical signal which is translated into a visual and / or sound signal indicating "yes" or "no", characterizing either the counterfeit product or the original / genuine product.

Preferably, the portable device comprising an irradiation source having a specific emission spectrum is equipped with a view to analyzing the emission spectra of one or more combinations of tracer, which makes it possible to verify the authenticity of a model or several models of a specific brand.

As a variant, in a more complete and more sophisticated version, the portable device, comprising an irradiation source having a specific emission spectrum, makes it possible to verify the authenticity of a complete range of models of a brand of watches or the full range of models from different brands.

Claims (16)

1. Watch part comprising an anti-counterfeiting component, said anti-counterfeiting component comprising a tracer characterized by an absorption spectrum located outside the spectrum of visible light and an emission spectrum in the spectrum of visible light, said emission spectrum being an imprint of an authentic type of watch. 2. Watch part according to claim 1, in which the anti-counterfeiting component comprises one or more polymers, preferably an elastomer, containing the tracer. 3. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tracer is characterized by an absorption spectrum in the infrared wavelength range between 700 and 5,000 nm and an emission in the infrared. wavelength range between 350 and 700 nm. 4. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anti-counterfeiting component consists of a fluoroelastomer comprising one or more polymerized monomers selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, pentafluoropropylene, hexafluoropropylene, perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, chlorotrifluoroethylene and non-fluorinated C2 to C8 olefins. 5. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-counterfeiting component comprises between 0.0001 and 10% by weight, preferably between 0.001 and 5% by weight, more preferably between 0.01 and 1. % by weight of tracer. 6. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anti-counterfeiting component comprises one or more pigments having one or more absorptions in the wavelength range between 350 and 700 nm. 7. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anti-counterfeiting component is the watch strap or is part of the watch strap. 8. Watch part according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the anti-counterfeiting component is part of the watch case or any part inside the watch case. 9. Watch part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tracer comprises one or more chemical compounds selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a halide, a chalcogenide, an oxyhalide, d 'an oxysulfide, a fluoroarsenate and a fluoroindate of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of the elements Li, Na, K, Mg, Ge, Ga, Al, Pb, Cd, Ba, Mn, Nb , Ta, Cs, Y, Nd, Gd, Lu, Rb, Se, Bi, Zr and de W, doped with at least one transition metal ion, a lanthanide ion and / or an actinide ion, or a mixture of two or more thereof, said doping ions being selected from the group consisting of Ti2 +, Cr3 +, Ni2 +, Mo3 +, Re4 +, Os4 +, Pr3 +, Nd3 +, Gd3 +, Dy3 +, Ho3 +, Er3 +, Tm2 +, U3 + and of U4 +. 10. Watch part according to claim 9, wherein said tracer comprises a transparent inorganic matrix. 11. Watch part according to claim 10, in which the weight ratio of the transparent inorganic matrix to the chemical compounds is between 0.2 and 60, preferably between 0.5 and 30, more preferably between 1 and 10. 12. Watch part according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the transparent inorganic matrix consists of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, hydrated silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, hydrated aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium dioxide and hydrated titanium dioxide. 13. Watch comprising the watch part according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. A method of producing a watch part with an anti-counterfeiting component, according to one of claims 2 to 12, comprising, for the production of the anti-counterfeiting component, submitting a mixture comprising one or more polymers and a or more plotters to injection molding or compression molding. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mixture of polymers and tracers is obtained from the mixture of a masterbatch of one or more polymer tracers, said masterbatch comprising an intimate mixture comprising between 50 and 70% by weight, preferably between 55 and 65% by weight of polymer, preferably elastomer, more preferably fluoroelastomer, or olefinic copolymer and 30 to 50% by weight, preferably 35 to 45% by weight of one or more tracers. 16. A method of authenticating a watch, said method comprising: a) exposing the watch part, assumed to include a watch part according to one of claims 1 to 12, to irradiation, preferably to infrared irradiation; b) the collection and analysis of the emitted or reflected irradiation; and c) converting the collected and analyzed irradiation into a “Yes” - “No” signal, thus determining the authenticity of the watch.