CH717093B1 - Watchmaking component and method of manufacturing such a watchmaking component. - Google Patents

Abstract

A horological component - for example a plate (10) for a horological movement - is described having an essentially planar face (10.1), at least one flank (10F) bordering said essentially planar face (10.1), and at least one chamfered edge ( 10C) disposed at the junction between said essentially planar face (10.1) and said flank (10F). The chamfered edge (10C) comprises a coating (50) comprising at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51a, 51b) giving said chamfered edge (10C) a texture and / or a color which is visually differentiable from a texture and /. or a shade of the essentially flat face (10.1) and / or of said sidewall (10F). This coating (50) can advantageously consist of a photoluminescent material or include a photoluminescent component. According to a variant, the coating comprises an under-layer (51a) consisting of a colored varnish or a colored lacquer giving said coating (50) a coloring that is visually differentiable from the color of the essentially flat face (10.1) and / or of said sidewall (10F), the coating (50) further comprising a surface layer of substantially transparent varnish (51b), which surface layer (51b) consists of a photoluminescent material or comprises a photoluminescent component. The photoluminescent material or component is preferably a phosphorescent material or component. A manufacturing process is also described which makes it possible to obtain such a watch component.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates generally to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly to a watch component and its manufacture.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Swiss patent No. CH 703229B1 and European patent application No. EP 1930792A2 describe a clockwork movement member and its manufacturing process, which member has at least two intersecting faces, in particular a flat face and a lateral face , connected to each other by means of a chamfer. The chamfer has a surface made of a first material and the faces of the member, on either side of the chamfer, have a surface made of at least a second material different from the first material. The first and second materials are inert materials, in this case metal materials resistant to oxidation, for example gold and rhodium.

This solution is not completely satisfactory in practice insofar as it requires the implementation of galvanic deposition or PVD ("Physical Vapor Deposition") deposition processes to apply or form the first and second materials, which requires specific and potentially expensive equipment. Moreover, by their nature, these deposition methods only allow the application of a limited range of materials, in particular metallic, which greatly restricts the freedom of design from both a technical and aesthetic point of view and limits the 'range of textures and / or colors likely to be produced.

Techniques are also known which consist in applying varnishes or lacquers in previously etched areas of a watch component. These techniques are applied in particular for the production of decorative elements on, in particular, the plates or oscillating masses of watch movements. These techniques require the prior production of an engraving delimiting the contours of the decorative element to be produced, as well as, where appropriate, the performance of a finishing or machining step after the application of the varnish or lacquer in order to remove any excess varnish or lacquer.

Techniques are also known which consist in applying or printing decorative elements directly on the watch component, in particular by a so-called pad printing process (or "pad printing" in English terminology), namely a process of indirect printing using a flexible transfer pad which is selectively applied to the area of the watch component to be decorated, which however requires that the surface of the watch component where the printing is performed is easily accessible to allow good interaction with the transfer pad . This technique is however unsuitable for the formation of decorative elements on fine surfaces and / or surfaces which are not directly accessible to the action of the transfer pad, in particular surfaces disposed back.

[0006] There therefore remains a real need to provide a solution which is more suitable for enabling the production of watch components exhibiting greater latitude and greater freedom in terms of design and aesthetics, in particular watch components exhibiting marked and immediately recognizable features, without however requiring the use of excessive means to achieve them.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A general aim of the present invention is therefore to respond to the aforementioned limitations of the state of the art.

[0008] More particularly, an aim of the present invention is to provide a watch component as well as a method for manufacturing such a watch component which allows the production of a wide range of variations both from a technical point of view and from a technical point of view. aesthetic, and this without requiring substantial modifications or significant adaptations of the watch component as such, or the use of complex means to manufacture said watch component.

Another object of the present invention is to allow the production of watch components which offer a marked and immediately recognizable aesthetic, even in low light illumination conditions.

[0010] The present invention responds to these aims by providing a timepiece component whose characteristics are listed in claim 1. More specifically, such a timepiece component having: a substantially planar face; at least one flank bordering said essentially planar face; and at least one chamfered edge disposed at the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank.

[0011] According to the invention, the chamfered edge comprises a coating comprising at least one layer of varnish or lacquer giving said chamfered edge a texture and / or a shade that is visually differentiable from a texture and / or a shade of the essentially planar face and / or of said sidewall.

Said chamfered edge preferably comprises a bevelled surface formed by chamfering (in particular at 45 °) of the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank, the coating being affixed directly and selectively on said bevelled surface. Alternatively, said chamfered edge may include a recess, preferably in the form of a shoulder, formed at the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank, the coating being affixed directly and selectively to said recess in order to fill the space formed by the hollow and give the appearance of a chamfered zone at the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank.

According to an alternative embodiment, the coating consists of a layer of colored varnish or colored lacquer or comprises a layer or sub-layer consisting of a colored varnish or of a colored lacquer giving said coating a coloring. visually differentiable from the color of the essentially flat face and / or of said sidewall.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the coating consists of a photoluminescent material or comprises a photoluminescent component.

Preferably, according to a particularly advantageous variant embodiment, the coating comprises an underlayer consisting of a colored varnish or of a colored lacquer giving said coating a coloring that is visually differentiable from the color of the essentially flat face and / or of said flank. According to this variant embodiment, the coating furthermore comprises a surface layer of substantially transparent varnish, which surface layer consists of a photoluminescent material or comprises a photoluminescent component.

Said photoluminescent material or component may in particular be a phosphorescent material or component, in particular a substance based on strontium aluminate.

In addition to the above, a PVD coating can be formed on said essentially planar face and / or said at least one side.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the watch component has an openwork, honeycomb or skeleton structure with a plurality of flanks and chamfered edges each having a coating giving it a texture and / or a color that is visually differentiable from the texture and / or the color of the essentially planar face and / or of said sidewalls.

[0019] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the watch component comprises at least two chamfered edges each having a coating giving them textures or colors that are visually different from one another.

The watch component according to the invention can in particular be a plate, a bridge or a mobile of a watch movement.

A watch movement is also claimed comprising at least one watch component according to the invention, in particular a skeleton watch movement or a tourbillon watch movement. The invention is however applicable to any other type of watch movements, in particular mechanical, for example a self-winding movement, a chronograph movement, etc.

A timepiece comprising at least one watch component according to the invention or a watch movement according to the invention, in particular a wristwatch provided with a transparent case back, is also claimed.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a watch component, the characteristics of which are listed in independent claim 14, namely such a manufacturing process comprising the following steps: a) machining of the watch component so as to forming a substantially planar face and at least one flank bordering said essentially planar face; b) machining an edge zone at the junction between said essentially planar face and said sidewall, which edge zone is intended to form a chamfered edge at the junction between said essentially planar face and said sidewall; c) selective application of a coating on the surface of the edge zone so as to form said chamfered edge, which coating comprises at least one layer of varnish or lacquer giving said chamfered edge a texture and / or a color that is visually differentiable from a texture and / or a shade of the essentially planar face and / or of the said sidewall; and d) drying or curing the coating applied to the border area.

According to a first variant of this method, the application of the coating in step c) is preceded by the application of a masking material on the essentially flat face and said side around the edge zone, which masking material is removed after application of the coating.

[0025] According to another variant of the method, the application of the coating in step c) is preceded by the arrangement of the watch component in a fitting configured so as to hide the essentially planar face and said flank on the outskirts of the zone of border, the watch component being removed from said fitting after application of the coating. Although this variant requires specific fitting adapted to the shapes of the component, it is particularly advantageous in the context of repeated production in small, medium or large series, and does not require the use of a material. masking, a use which typically requires further processing of the timepiece component for the removal of the masking material.

[0026] The machining step b) of the edge zone preferably includes chamfering of the junction (in particular at 45 °) so as to form a bevelled surface, the application step c) of the coating including applying the coating directly to said beveled surface.

[0027] According to another variant, the machining step b) of the edge zone includes the machining of a recess, preferably in the form of a shoulder, at the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank. , the application step c) of the coating including the application of the coating directly on said recess in order to fill the space formed by the recess and give the appearance of a chamfered zone at the junction between said essentially planar face and said flank.

[0028] The application step c) of the coating may in particular include the application of a layer or under-layer of colored varnish or of colored lacquer giving said coating a coloring visually differentiable from the color of the face essentially plane and / or of said sidewall. In this context, the application step c) of the coating preferably includes the application of an undercoat consisting of the colored varnish or of the colored lacquer giving said coating its visually differentiable coloring and the application of at least a second layer superimposed on the underlayer. Even more preferably, the coating application step c) further includes the application of a surface layer of substantially transparent varnish, which surface layer consists of a photoluminescent material or has a photoluminescent component.

More generally, the application step c) of the coating can advantageously include the application of a photoluminescent material or one comprising a photoluminescent component, and this independently of the number of layers constituting the coating.

Said photoluminescent material or component may once again be a phosphorescent material or component, in particular a substance based on strontium aluminate.

[0031] There can also still be provided an additional step consisting in forming a PVD coating on said essentially planar face and / or said at least one sidewall, which additional step is carried out before the application step c) of the coating in surface of the border area.

The method according to the invention can in particular be implemented so that the watch component has an openwork, honeycomb or skeleton structure with a plurality of flanks and chamfered edges each having a coating giving it a texture and / or a visually differentiable hue from the texture and / or from the hue of the essentially flat face and / or of said flanks.

The method according to the invention can also be implemented so that the horological component comprises at least two chamfered edges each having a coating giving them textures or colors that are visually different from one another.

Particularly preferred, the application of said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer in step c) is carried out by spraying varnish or lacquer on the border zone.

Said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer applied during step c) may in particular consist of a varnish or a UV-hardening lacquer, in which case the drying or curing step d ) of the coating includes the application of UV radiation causing instant or almost instantaneous curing of said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer.

The invention also relates to the use of the watch component obtained according to the manufacturing method of the invention as a component of a watch movement, in particular of a skeleton watch movement or of a tourbillon watch movement. , or as a component of a timepiece, in particular of a wristwatch provided with a transparent case back.

These aspects of the invention, as well as others, are explained in the remainder of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are presented only by way of non-limiting examples and are illustrated by the accompanying drawings. or: Figures 1A to 1E are perspective views, schematic, of a watch movement, in this case a skeleton movement comprising in particular a tourbillon and various watch components produced according to the invention, in this case a plate, a rear axle , as well as a tourbillon bridge; Figure 2 is a photographic illustration of the plate of the watch movement shown in Figures 1A to 1E, viewed in isolation; Figure 3 is a photographic illustration of the rear axle of the watch movement shown in Figures 1A to 1E, seen in isolation; Figure 4 is a photographic illustration of the tourbillon bridge of the watch movement shown in Figures 1A to 1E, seen in isolation Figure 5 is an illustration of part of the watch movement shown in Figures 1A to 1E, under low light illumination conditions, revealing by phosphorescence chamfered edges of certain components of the movement; FIG. 6A is a schematic sectional view of a portion of a timepiece component having a bevelled edge zone at the junction between an essentially planar face and a side of the timepiece component; FIG. 6B is a view of the portion of the watch component shown in FIG. 6A, according to a first variant embodiment, after application of a coating on the border zone, which coating comprises a layer of varnish or lacquer; Figure 6C is a view of the portion of the timepiece component shown in Figure 6A, according to a second variant embodiment, after application of a coating on the border area, which coating comprises an undercoat of varnish or lacquer on which is applied a surface layer of varnish or lacquer; FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic illustrations, in photorealistic three-dimensional rendering, of a wristwatch, seen from the front and back, respectively, equipped with a watch movement in accordance with the illustrations of FIGS. 1A to 1E; Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of the wristwatch of Figure 7A, under low light illumination conditions, phosphorescent revealing the chamfered edges of the watch movement, as well as other decorative elements highlighting the lines of the wristwatch ; and Figures 9A and 9B are schematic sectional views of a portion of a timepiece component having a recess-shaped edge region, before and after application of a coating, at the junction between a substantially planar face and a sidewall of the watch component according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described with reference to various preferred embodiments as illustrated in particular by Figures 1A-E to 8. The invention will be described in the particular context of a skeleton type watch movement, namely a watch movement where, in particular, the mainplate is perforated (or "skeletonized") in order to give it a particular and marked aesthetic. The watch movement illustrated in the Figures is moreover of the tourbillon type. In the present case, it is a tourbillon, the configuration of which is relatively conventional and usually comprises a rotating cage, placed at six o'clock, carrying the organ regulating the rate of the watch movement. Once again, however, the invention is applicable to any other type of watch movement, in particular mechanical, for example a self-winding movement, a chronograph movement, etc.

Figures 1A to 1E are perspective views, schematic, of a watch movement, generally designated by the numeral 1, in this case a skeleton movement comprising in particular a tourbillon T and various watch components made according to the invention, namely in particular a plate 10, a rear bridge 15, as well as a tourbillon bridge 20, the tourbillon T being supported between the rear bridge 15 and the tourbillon bridge 20 inside a housing made at six o'clock in plate 10. More precisely, Figures 1A and 1B show the movement 1 seen from the front and Figures 1C to 1E show the movement 1 seen from the back. The cogs and other moving parts of the watch movement are shown schematically in Figures 1A to 1E, it being further understood that the watch movement 1 also typically comprises indicator members, for example hour and minute hands, not shown.

In Figures 1A to 1E, we can already immediately note that the plate 10, the rear bridge 15 and the tourbillon bridge 20 have chamfered edges which are highlighted by a light coloring in these illustrations . This light coloring makes it possible to underline the strong structural and aesthetic characteristics of these watch components compared to the other surfaces of the components, in particular the essentially planar face of said components (namely the face parallel to the main plane of the movement) and the sides of said components ( namely the faces substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the movement), which surfaces here present a darker tint. It is obviously understood that the coloring of the chamfered edges could alternatively be darker than the color of the other surfaces of the watch components, or present similar colors but with differentiable colorations. In the context of the present invention, it is also possible to envisage creating not a difference in colors, but a difference in textures, for example by an appropriate treatment of the surfaces bordering the chamfered edges. It is obviously also possible to play on both a difference in color and a difference in texture in order to create a visual distinction between the chamfered edges and the other surfaces of the watch components.

According to an alternative embodiment, the watch components of the movement 1, including the components 10, 15 and 20, can advantageously have a PVD coating (or "Physical Vapor Deposition" in English terminology) in order to give them a tint and / or texture that contrasts with the tint or texture of the chamfered edges. Other surface treatments or finishes are obviously possible.

[0043] Figure 2is a photographic illustration of the plate 10du watch movement 1represented in Figures 1A to 1E, seen in isolation, and which makes it possible to better highlight the chamfered edges, designated by the reference 10C, of this first watch component. In Figure 2, the reference 10.1 denotes an essentially planar face of the plate 10 (which is substantially parallel to the main plane of the movement) and the reference 10F designates the flanks bordering the essentially planar face 10.1 of the plate 10. As already mentioned, the plate 10est machined so as to present a skeletonized structure with a plurality of flanks 10F and chamfered edges 10C.

Figure 3is a photographic illustration of the rear axle 15du watch movement 1represented in Figures 1A to 1E, seen in isolation, and which likewise makes it possible to better highlight the chamfered edges, designated here by the reference 15C, of this other watch component. In Figure 3, the reference 15.1 denotes, by analogy, an essentially flat face of the rear axle 15 (which is substantially parallel to the main plane of the movement) and the reference 15F designates the flanks bordering the essentially flat face 15.1 of the rear axle 15. Like the plate 10, the rear axle 15 is machined so as to present a skeletonized structure with a plurality of sidewalls 15F and chamfered edges 15C.

Figure 4 is a photographic illustration of the tourbillon bridge 20du watch movement 1represented in Figures 1A to 1E, seen in isolation, and which also makes it possible to better highlight the chamfered edges, designated here by the reference 20C, of this third watch component. In Figure 4, the reference 20.1 denotes, likewise, an essentially flat face of the tourbillon bridge 20 (which is substantially parallel to the main plane of the movement) and the reference 20F designates the flanks bordering the essentially flat face 20.1 of the tourbillon bridge 20. Like the plate 10 and the rear axle 15, the tourbillon bridge 20 is machined so as to present a skeletonized structure with a plurality of flanks 20F and chamfered edges 20C.

It will therefore be understood that, in the particular context of the watch movement 1 represented by Figures 1A-E to 3, at least three watch components of said movement 1, namely the plate 10, the rear bridge 15 and the bridge tourbillon 20, have a structure with chamfered edges 10C, 15C, resp. 20C according to the invention, chamfered edges of which the color and / or the texture differs / differ from the color and / or the texture of the essentially flat faces 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and flanks 10F, 15F, resp. 20F.

According to the invention, each chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C in fact comprises a coating (designated by the reference numeral 50 in Figures 6B and 6C and by the reference numeral 50 * in Figure 9B) comprising at least one layer of varnish or lacquer imparting to the chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C its visually differentiable texture and / or tint.

Preferably, as illustrated schematically in Figures 6A to 6C, each chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C has a beveled surface S formed by chamfering the junction between the essentially planar face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and the flank concerned 10F, 15F, resp. 20F. This chamfering is advantageously carried out at 45 °, that is to say so that the beveled surface S has an angle substantially equal to 45 ° relative to the main plane of the movement. This angle is particularly preferred in that it offers optimum rendering and effectively emphasizes the lines of each watch component. That said, it could be envisaged to produce the bevelling at other more or less pronounced angles, or even to vary the bevelling from one component to another.

The beveled surface S constitutes a particularly simple embodiment, but one could optionally consider structuring this surface in an S bevel or to produce a slightly curved surface (concave or convex) at the junction between the face. essentially plane 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and the flank concerned 10F, 15F, resp. 20F, or even to produce a hollow instead of the beveled surface S as illustrated in the variant embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B.

According to the invention, the rough surface of the border zone is configured so as to be able to receive the aforementioned coating 50 or 50 *. In fact, the aforementioned beveled surface S turns out to be perfectly suited for this purpose and the invention will be described in this particular and preferred context, but not limited to it.

According to a first variant, shown in Figure 6B, the coating 50 essentially comprises a single layer of varnish or lacquer 51 which is affixed directly and selectively to the beveled surface S. This layer of varnish or lacquer can in particular consist of a colored varnish or of a colored lacquer giving the coating 50 a visually differentiable coloring from the color of the essentially flat face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and / or the sidewall 10F, 15F, resp. 20F, for example a light coloring contrasting with a darker shade, as illustrated in Figures 1A-E through 4. The varnish or lacquer layer 51 may also exhibit a texture (particularly smooth and / or glossy) which contrasts with a texture (in particular brushed and / or matt) of the other surfaces of the watch component 10, 15, resp. 20.

The invention is however not limited to the application of a coating consisting of a single layer of varnish or lacquer, and it will be understood that the coating 50 can alternatively comprise at least a second layer of varnish or lacquer superimposed on the first coat. By way of example, according to a second variant, represented by FIG. 6C, the coating 50 comprises two superimposed layers, in this case an undercoat of varnish or lacquer 51a on which is applied a surface layer of varnish or lacquer. 51b. The usefulness of such a variant will appear even more clearly on reading the following description of a particularly preferred embodiment. In general, it will be understood in particular that the sub-layer 51a may in particular have the function of ensuring good adhesion of the coating 50 on the border zone, and / or of imparting a basic coloring to said coating 50. The surface layer 51b may for its part in particular have the function of imparting a texture to the surface of the coating 50, in addition to the coloring conferred by the sub-layer 51a, or even of allowing the addition or the incorporation of others. elements or components making it possible to influence the overall aesthetics of the watch component. The surface layer 51b may also have the function of providing protection for the sub-layer 51a.

It is of course understood that the invention is not limited to the application of a coating consisting of one or two layers only, and that it is perfectly possible to envisage the application of coatings multilayers with more than two superimposed layers.

In general, the coating 50 (or 50 *) can advantageously consist of a photoluminescent material or include a photoluminescent component. In this context, it will be noted in particular that the photoluminescent material or component is preferably a phosphorescent material or component, namely a material or component which naturally generates a photoluminescence (or phosphoresence) which becomes particularly visible in low illumination conditions. brightness, especially in the dark or at night. It is thus possible to use phosphorescent substances, in particular a substance based on strontium aluminate, as available on the market, in particular in the form of pigments which can be incorporated and mixed directly with a varnish or a lacquer. In this regard, it is preferable that such phosphorescent pigments are incorporated into a substantially transparent (and if possible colorless) varnish so as not to compromise the desired phosphorescence effect.

To illustrate the above, Figure 5 shows part of the watch movement 1 shown in Figures 1A to 1E, in low light illumination conditions, revealing by phosphorescence chamfered edges of certain components of the movement, in this case tourbillon bridge 20 and plate 10.

The variant embodiment of Figure 6C here takes on its full meaning. In fact, the phosphorescent pigments can in particular be incorporated into a substantially transparent varnish applied as a surface layer 51b on a sub-layer 51a consisting of a varnish or a colored lacquer giving the coating 50 its basic coloration, visible under white light. . In the dark, the surface layer 51b is thus capable of producing its phosphorescence effect without being hampered or affected by the pigments in the coloring of the sub-layer 51a.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated by Figures 9A and 9B, each chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C comprises a recess C formed at the junction between the essentially planar face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and the flank concerned 10F, 15F, resp. 20F, which hollow C here preferably takes the form of a shoulder formed in the border zone concerned. As illustrated in Figure 9B, the recess C is provided with a coating 50 *, which coating 50 * is applied so as to fill the space formed by the recess C and give the appearance of a chamfered area at the junction. between the essentially flat face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and the flank concerned 10F, 15F, resp. 20F. Unlike the variant embodiments illustrated by Figures 6A to 6C, it will be understood that the coating 50 * here comprises a greater quantity of material, which is advantageous with a view to producing a well marked coloration of the border. chamfered 10C, 15C, resp. 20C which results.

In the illustration of Figure 9B, the coating 50 * consists of a single layer of varnish or lacquer 51 *, but it will also be understood that several layers of varnish or lacquer could be applied. In particular, like the variant embodiment of FIG. 6C, an undercoat consisting of a colored varnish or a colored lacquer could thus be applied to the surface of the recess C in order to give the coating 50 * a visually differentiable basic coloration (in particular under white light) from the shade of the essentially flat face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and the flank concerned 10F, 15F, resp. 20F, before applying an additional, superficial layer of varnish or lacquer (for example substantially transparent and photoluminescent) in order to fill most of the space formed by the recess C.

As already mentioned, a PVD coating can be formed on the essentially planar face 10.1, 15.1, resp. 20.1 and / or on the side 10F, 15F, resp. 20F of the watch component. In such a case, this PVD coating is carried out before application of the coating 50 or 50 *.

In addition to the fact that the watch component according to the invention can advantageously have an openwork, honeycomb or skeleton structure with a plurality of flanks and chamfered edges each having a coating giving it a texture and / or a color that is visually differentiable from the texture and / or color of the essentially flat face and / or of said flanks, it would also be possible to envisage applying different coatings to at least two chamfered edges of the same watch component, so that these coatings confer to these two chamfered edges textures or colors that can be visually differentiated from one another.

In general, the watch component according to the invention can be manufactured according to the following steps: a) machining of the watch component so as to form an essentially flat face and at least one flank bordering said essentially flat face; b) machining an edge zone at the junction between said essentially planar face and said sidewall, which edge zone is intended to form a chamfered edge at the junction between said essentially planar face and said sidewall; c) selective application of a coating on the surface of the edge zone so as to form said chamfered edge, which coating comprises at least one layer of varnish or lacquer giving said chamfered edge a texture and / or a color that is visually differentiable from a texture and / or a shade of the essentially planar face and / or of the said sidewall; and d) drying or curing the coating applied to the border area.

The coating according to the invention can be applied in various ways. For prototyping or very small series, one could possibly consider a direct application by hand on the border areas concerned, but this way of proceeding necessarily involves great dexterity and precision in the application of the varnish or lacquer. , and is difficult to repeat for larger series of parts.

According to a first variant of this method, it is more desirable that the application of the coating in step c) is preceded by the application of a masking material on the essentially planar face and said flank in the vicinity of the border area, which masking material is removed after application of the coating.

According to another variant of the method, it is even more preferable that the application of the coating in step c) is preceded by the arrangement of the watch component in a fitting configured so as to hide the essentially flat face and said side. in the vicinity of the border zone, the watch component being removed from said fitting after application of the coating. Although this variant requires a specific fitting adapted and conforming to the shapes of the watch component, this variant proves to be particularly advantageous from the perspective of repeated production in small, medium or large series, and does not make any use of the watchmaking component. use of masking material. The use of a masking material in fact typically requires subsequent treatment of the timepiece component with a view to eliminating the masking material, a subsequent treatment which it is preferable to avoid as far as possible.

Furthermore, in particular in the context of the two aforementioned variants, it is possible to apply said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer in step c) (in particular the layer or layers 51, 51a, 51b illustrated in Figures 6B and 6C or the layer 51 * illustrated in Figure 9B) by simple spraying of varnish or lacquer on the border zone, it being understood that this spraying can be carried out successively for each layer.

Preferably, each layer of varnish or lacquer consists of an ultraviolet (UV) curing varnish or lacquer, in which case the drying or curing step d) of the coating includes the application UV radiation causing instantaneous or almost instantaneous hardening of said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer. This is particularly desirable since the varnish or lacquer is applied to an inclined surface and too long a drying or curing time could lead to imperfections due to the flow of the freshly applied varnish or lacquer.

The considerations which have previously been presented in relation to the discussion of Figures 1A-E to 6A-C are obviously transposable by analogy to the implementation of the aforementioned manufacturing process, as reflected in the appended claims.

Figures 7A and 7B are schematic illustrations, in photorealistic three-dimensional rendering, of a timepiece, namely a wristwatch 100, respectively front and back view, equipped with a watch movement in accordance with illustrations of Figures 1A to 1E. These are once again schematic views in which all the elements of the wristwatch 100 are not shown. The time indicating members in particular, as well as certain control members, are not illustrated for the sake of simplicity.

That said, Figures 7A and 7B show a watch case 110 inside which is housed the tourbillon movement 1, and on which is mounted a bezel 120, conventionally carrying a glass (for example a sapphire crystal), as well as a back 110a comprising a transparent case back 110b, also carrying a glass (likewise, for example a sapphire crystal). In this way, the chamfered edges made on the plate, the rear bridge as well as the tourbillon bridge of movement 1 are visible both from the front and from the back through the two glasses with which the wristwatch 100 is fitted. A crown of winder 150 is also visible at three o'clock, as is conventionally the case.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of the wristwatch 100 of Figure 7A, front view, in low light illumination conditions, revealing by phosphorescence the chamfered edges of the watch movement 1, as well as other decorative elements . It may in fact be noted that part of the internal circumference of the bezel 120, the right side of the case 110 where the winding crown 150 is located, part of said winding crown 150, as well as a circumference of the back transparent case 110b are also treated, in the example illustrated, in order to produce a phosphorescence effect in the dark, further reinforcing the distinct and marked aesthetic of the wristwatch 100 and thereby emphasizing its lines. The additional decorative elements produced on the right side of the case 110, the winding crown 150, as well as the circumference of the transparent case back 110b can be produced conventionally by affixing one or more layers of varnish or lacquer in corresponding areas. previously engraved or otherwise machined on the parts concerned. The part of the internal circumference of the bezel 120 can for its part be produced according to the same principles as those set out above in relation to the production of the plate 10, the rear bridge 15 and the tourbillon bridge 20.

It will generally be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the embodiments described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

In particular, the invention is applicable to any type of watch component, including a plate, a bridge or a mobile of a watch movement, for example a cog or an oscillating weight.

In addition, as already mentioned, it is perfectly conceivable to structure the beveled surface or the recess forming the border zone (for example by practicing engravings therein) or to produce a slightly curved surface (concave or convex) to the junction between the essentially planar face and the relevant side of the watch component.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE PRESENT DESCRIPTION AND IN THE DRAWINGS

1 watch movement 10 plate of the watch movement 1 (perforated / skeleton plate) 10.1 essentially flat main face of the plate 10 10F sides of the plate 10oriented essentially perpendicular to the plane of the main face 10.1 10C chamfered edges at the junction between the main face 10.1 and the sides 10F 15 rear bridge of the watch movement 1 (openwork / skeletonized bridge) 15.1 essentially flat main face of the rear bridge 15 15F sides of the rear bridge 15 oriented essentially perpendicular to the plane of the main face 15.1 15C chamfered edges at the junction between the main face 15.1 and the sides 15F 20 tourbillon bridge of watch movement 1 (openwork / skeletonized bridge) 20.1 essentially flat main face of the tourbillon bridge 20 20F sides of the tourbillon bridge 20 oriented essentially perpendicular to the plane of the main face 20.1 20C chamfered edges at the junction between the main face 20.1 and the flas ncs 20F 50 coating applied to the beveled surface S so as to form the chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C 51 layer of varnish or lacquer (layer of varnish or colored lacquer) 51a undercoat of varnish or lacquer (undercoat of varnish or colored lacquer) 51b surface layer of varnish or lacquer (substantially transparent surface layer ) 50 * coating applied to the recess C so as to form the chamfered edge 10C, 15C, resp. 20C 51 * layer of varnish or lacquer 100 timepiece comprising movement 1 (wristwatch) 110 watch case 110a case back 110b transparent case back bearing a glass, for example a sapphire crystal 120 bezel bearing a glass , for example a sapphire crystal 150 winding crown S beveled surface C hollow T tourbillon

Claims (29)

1. Watch component (10; 15; 20) having: - an essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1); - at least one sidewall (10F; 15F; 20F) bordering said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1); and - at least one chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) arranged at the junction between said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F), characterized in that the chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) comprises a coating (50; 50 *) comprising at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51; 51a, 51b; 51 *) imparting to said chamfered edge (10C ; 15C; 20C) a texture and / or a shade which is visually differentiable from a texture and / or a shade of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or of the said side (10F; 15F; 20F). 2. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) comprises a bevelled surface (S) formed by bevelling, preferably at 45 °, of the junction between said essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F), and in that the coating (50) is affixed directly and selectively to said bevelled surface (S). 3. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) comprises a recess (C), preferably in the form of a shoulder, formed at the junction between said essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F), and in that the coating (50 *) is affixed directly and selectively to said recess (C) in order to fill the space formed by the recess (C) and give the appearance of a chamfered area at the junction between said face essentially flat (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F). 4. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating (50; 50 *) consists of a layer of colored varnish or colored lacquer or comprises a layer or under -layer (51; 51a; 51 *) consisting of a colored varnish or of a colored lacquer giving said coating (50; 50 *) a coloring visually differentiable from the color of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1 ) and / or of said flank (10F; 15F; 20F). 5. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coating (50; 50 *) consists of a photoluminescent material or comprises a photoluminescent component. 6. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said coating (50; 50 *) comprises an under-layer (51a) consisting of a colored varnish or of a colored lacquer conferring on said coating (50; 50 *) a color which can be visually differentiated from the color of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or of said side (10F; 15F; 20F), and in that said coating (50; 50 *) further comprises a surface layer of substantially transparent varnish (51b), which surface layer (51b) is made of a photoluminescent material or has a photoluminescent component. 7. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the photoluminescent material or component is a phosphorescent material or component, in particular a substance based on strontium aluminate. 8. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a PVD coating is formed on said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or said at least one side ( 10F; 15F; 20F). 9. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an openwork, honeycomb or skeleton structure with a plurality of flanks (10F; 15F; 20F) and chamfered edges ( 10C; 15C; 20C) each having a coating (50; 50 *) giving it a texture and / or a color that is visually differentiable from the texture and / or the color of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or said flanks (10F; 15F; 20F). 10. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two chamfered edges (10C; 15C; 20C) each having a coating (50; 50 *) giving them textures or colors that are visually different from each other. 11. Watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch component (10; 15; 20) is a plate (10), a bridge (15, 20) or a mobile. of a watch movement (1). 12. Watch movement (1) comprising at least one watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of claims 1 to 11; in particular skeleton watch movement or tourbillon watch movement. 13. Timepiece (100) comprising at least one watch component (10; 15; 20) according to one of claims 1 to 11 or a watch movement (1) according to claim 12, in particular wristwatch provided with a transparent case back (110b). 14. A method of manufacturing a watch component (10; 15; 20) comprising the following steps: a) machining of the watch component (10; 15; 20) so as to form an essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and at least one flank (10F; 15F; 20F) bordering said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1); b) machining of an edge zone (S; C) at the junction between said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F), which edge zone (S; C) is intended to form a chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) at the junction between said substantially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F); c) selective application of a coating (50; 50 *) on the surface of the edge zone (S; C) so as to form said chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C), which coating (50; 50 *) comprises at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51; 51a, 51b; 51 *) conferring on said chamfered edge (10C; 15C; 20C) a texture and / or a color which can be visually differentiated from a texture and / or a tint of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or of said side (10F; 15F; 20F); and d) drying or hardening of the coating (50; 50 *) applied to the border area (S; C). 15. The manufacturing method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: - before the application of the coating (50; 50 *) in step c), application of a masking material on the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said sidewall (10F; 15F; 20F) to the approaches to the border zone (S; C); and - after the application of the coating (50; 50 *) in step c), removal of the masking material. 16. The manufacturing method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: - before the application of the coating (50; 50 *) in step c), arrangement of the watch component (10; 15; 20) in a fitting configured so as to hide the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F) on the edge of the border zone (S; C); and - after the application of the coating (50; 50 *) in step c), removal of the watch component (10; 15; 20) from said fitting. 17. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the machining step b) of the edge zone includes bevelling of the junction, preferably at 45 °, so as to form a surface in bevel (S), and in that the step of applying the coating (50) c) includes applying the coating (50) directly to said bevelled surface (S). 18. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the step of machining b) of the edge zone includes the machining of a recess (C), preferably in the form of a hollow. shoulder, at the junction between said essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F), and in that the step of applying c) of the coating (50 *) includes applying the coating (50 *) directly to said recess (C) in order to fill the space formed by the recess (C) and to give the appearance of a chamfered area at the junction between said substantially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and said flank (10F; 15F; 20F). 19. Manufacturing process according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the application step c) of the coating (50; 50 *) includes the application of a layer or sub-layer of colored varnish or colored lacquer (51; 51a; 51 *) conferring on said coating (50; 50 *) a coloration visually differentiable from the color of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or of said side (10F; 15F; 20F). 20. The manufacturing method according to claim 19, characterized in that the step of applying c) of the coating (50; 50 *) includes the application of an undercoat (51a) consisting of the colored varnish or of the coating. colored lacquer giving said coating (50; 50 *) its visually differentiable coloring and the application of at least a second layer (51b) superimposed on the underlayer (51a). 21. The manufacturing method according to claim 20, characterized in that the step of applying c) of the coating (50; 50 *) includes the application of a surface layer of substantially transparent varnish (51b), which surface layer (51b) consists of a photoluminescent material or has a photoluminescent component. 22. Manufacturing process according to one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that the step of applying c) of the coating (50; 50 *) includes the application of a photoluminescent material or comprising a photoluminescent component. 23. The manufacturing method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the photoluminescent material or component is a phosphorescent material or component, in particular a substance based on strontium aluminate. 24. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that it further comprises a step of forming a PVD coating on said essentially planar face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or said at least one. sidewall (10F; 15F; 20F), before application step c) of the coating (50; 50 *) on the surface of the border zone (S; C). 25. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 24, characterized in that the method is implemented so that the watch component (10; 15; 20) has an openwork, honeycomb or skeleton structure with a plurality of sides. (10F; 15F; 20F) and chamfered edges (10C; 15C; 20C) each having a coating (50; 50 *) giving it a texture and / or a hue visually differentiable from the texture and / or the hue of the essentially flat face (10.1; 15.1; 20.1) and / or of said flanks (10F; 15F; 20F). 26. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 25, characterized in that the method is implemented so that the watch component (10; 15; 20) comprises at least two chamfered edges (10C; 15C; 20C) each having a coating (50; 50 *) giving them textures or colors that can be visually differentiated from one another. 27. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 26, characterized in that the application of said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51; 51a, 51b) in step c) is carried out by spraying the varnish or lacquer on the border area (S; C). 28. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 14 to 27, characterized in that said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51; 51a, 51b; 51 *) consists of a varnish or a lacquer. UV curing and in that the drying or curing step d) of the coating (50; 50 *) includes the application of UV radiation causing instant or near instantaneous curing of said at least one layer of varnish or lacquer (51; 51a, 51b; 51 *). 29. Use of the watch component (10; 15; 20) obtained according to the manufacturing method of one of claims 14 to 28 as a component of a watch movement (1), in particular of a skeleton watch movement or of a movement. tourbillon watchmaker, or as a component of a timepiece (100), in particular a wristwatch provided with a transparent case back (110b).