EP2643736A2

EP2643736A2 - Watch with a rigid casing-up, and casing-up method

Info

Publication number: EP2643736A2
Application number: EP11794397.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julien Cattaneo; Marco La China
Original assignee: Rolex SA
Current assignee: Rolex SA
Priority date: 2010-11-25
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-24
Also published as: US9342051B2; CN103348293A; JP5992914B2; US20130286798A1; EP2458456A1; CN103348293B; EP2458456B1; JP2013543983A; WO2012068696A2; WO2012068696A3; EP2643736B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch with a rigid casing-up: comprising: a middle (1); a bottom (2); a movement (3, 3bis, 3ter, 3quater, 41); and a casing-up ring (4, 4bis, 4ter, 42) in contact with the middle (1). The casing-up ring (4, 4bis, 4ter, 42 ) has an inner peripheral face (8, 17) and the movement (3, 3bis, 3ter, 3quater, 41) is secured to an outer peripheral face (7, 13, 18, 18bis), said inner (8,17) and outer (7, 13, 1, 18bis) peripheral faces being in contact with each other in the Z and Z' regions thereof. Said watch is characterised in that it also comprises a tightening element (5, 5bis) provided for exerting pressure on the casing-up ring (4, 4bis, 4ter, 42) or the movement (3quater). The invention also relates to a method for casing-up such a watch.

Description

RIGID LEAD WATCH AND METHOD OF FITTING

The invention relates to a watch with rigid casing and a method of fitting such a watch.

Background of the invention

The casing of a movement, that is to say the fixation of the movement in the case of a watch, is generally achieved by means of flanges screwed on the movement and which are inserted in a groove provided on the inner circumference of the box, or using a casing ring.

It has been proposed in European Patent Application No. EP 1 970 779 to perform the casing using two superposed casing rings between which the movement is maintained. These circles are themselves compressed between part of the middle part of the watch and the bottom of this watch. One of the circles is provided with a passage for the passage of a winding stem. An annular seal is provided to maintain axially and radially this second circle, and therefore the movement.

Various works, including those of the plaintiff, have shown that these casing solutions do not only transmit a shock of the box to the movement, but amplify it. Thus, a movement fitted into a watch that receives a shock of 10,000 g suffered a shock of 25,000 g, that is to say, amplified by a factor of 2.5.

One solution could be to insert a damper such as an elastomeric ring between the box and the movement, but this requires having a large volume available in the box. Summary of the invention

The main object of the invention is to provide a watch having improved impact resistance.

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that rather than softening the casing by resorting to a damper, quite satisfactory results could be obtained by stiffening it.

Thus, the subject of the invention is a watch with a rigid casing comprising:

- a middle part;

- a fund ;

- a movement ; and

- A casing ring in contact with the middle part; in which :

the casing ring has an inner circumferential face whose profile comprises at least one zone Z, the tangent T at which an angle α is non-zero and less than 90 degrees with the axis X passing through the center of the movement and perpendicular to the plan formed by the latter;

the movement is secured to an outer circumferential face whose profile comprises at least one zone Z ', the tangent' to which forms an angle a 'non-zero and less than 90 degrees with said axis X;

said inner and outer circumferential faces being in contact with each other at their zones Z and Z ';

this watch being characterized in that it further comprises a clamping member provided for exerting pressure on the casing ring or the movement. Such a casing has the particularity of exerting both a radial pressure and an axial pressure on the movement, that is to say that it combines an axial clamping (in a direction parallel to the axis passing through the center movement, perpendicular to the latter and connecting the bottom to the ice) with a radial clamping.

Thus, it increases the rigidity of the casing, which brings in particular the following advantages:

- a dramatic decrease, that is to say,

60% compared to a conventional flanged casing, the acceleration experienced by the movement, for example during a shock on a hard surface;

- elimination of the risk of collision between movement and middle part during an impact; elimination of the casing elements that break due to severe impacts (screws, screw flanges, flanges); and

- greater reliability of the casing.

Such a solution is quite unexpected because the current attempts to increase the shock resistance of watches are moving towards diametrically opposed concepts, namely, to make elasticity of the middle-motion connection and to use polymers to absorb the energy of the body. shock.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of fitting a watch according to the invention.

This process comprises the following steps:

a) introduction of movement into the middle part;

a ') if necessary, setting up an auxiliary casing ring around the movement; b) setting up the casing ring around the movement; and

c) where applicable, installation of a clamping element.

Other features and advantages of the invention will now be described in detail below in the disclosure of various embodiments so the features may be combined except, of course, in case of technical incompatibility.

These embodiments refer to the appended figures which schematically represent:

Figure 1: a first embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 2: the detail of a split casing ring used in the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3: a second embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 4: a third embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 5: a more complete drawing of the embodiment of Figure 4, in section;

Figure 5a: an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5;

Figures 6 to 10: respectively, a fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth embodiments of the invention, in section;

Figure 11: a variant without clamping element of the embodiment of Figure 10, in section;

Figure 12: a variant of the embodiment of Figure 1, in section;

Figure 13: a variant of the embodiment of Figure 4, in section; Figures 14, 14a and 14b: other variants of the embodiment of Figure 1, in section;

Figure 15: a ninth embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 16: a detail of the ninth embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 17: a tenth embodiment of the invention, in section;

Figure 18: an auxiliary split casing ring used in the tenth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 19: a variant of the embodiment of Figure 1, in section; and

Figure 20: another variant of the embodiment of Figure 1, in section.

Detailed exposition of the invention

In Figure 1 is shown partially a first embodiment of a watch with rigid casing according to the invention.

This watch comprises a caseband 1, a removable bottom 2, a movement 3, a casing ring 4 and a clamping element 5.

The movement casing ring 4 is generally made of a rigid and non-elastomeric material usually having a Young's modulus greater than 0.1 GPa and preferably greater than 50 GPa.

It is shown in more detail in Figure 2. It preferably comprises a slot 6 interrupting its circumference. The slot 6 improves the elastic deformation of the ring, the free ends bordering the slot 6 can be closer to each other. to reduce the inside diameter of the ring. In addition, the slot 6 allows the passage of a watch component such as a winding stem. The casing ring 4 also has an internal frustoconical circumferential face 8.

By "internal face" means in this presentation a face facing the center of the ring, so the movement.

The movement 3, a part of which can be seen in FIG. 1, comprises an outer circumferential face 7 intended to be in contact with the internal frustoconical circumferential face 8 of the split casing ring 4.

By "external face" is meant in this presentation, a face opposite to the center of the ring, and therefore opposite to the center of the watch.

In FIG. 1, the clamping element 5 is in the form of a ring bearing against the split casing ring 4 and provided on its outer circumference with a thread cooperating with an appropriate tapping provided on an internal face. axial 11 of the middle part 1.

The middle 1 has a portion 9 projecting radially towards the center. The movement 3 is in contact with an inner face 10 of the part 9, which serves as a stop.

The sectional view of FIG. 1 shows that the tangent T to the rectilinear profile (or generatrix) of the inner circumferential face 8 of the casing ring 4 forms a non-zero angle α with the general axis of the watch, namely, the longitudinal axis X passing through the center of the movement 3 and perpendicular to the plane formed by the latter.

In FIG. 1, the opening of the angle a lies on the opposite side to the bottom 2 of the watch, that is to say that its top is located on the bottom side 2 of the watch and not on the side of a cover or dial (not shown in the figure) which would be close to the part 9 of the middle part 1.

The movement 3 is secured to an outer circumferential face 7. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the outer circumferential face 7 is formed directly on the movement 3 itself, for example on the plate.

The tangent T 'to the rectilinear profile of this outer circumferential face 7 forms with the axis X an angle a'.

To ensure the proper functioning of the system, the inner circumferential faces 8 and outer 7 are in contact with each other forming with the X axis angles a and a 'substantially identical. It follows that the tangents T and T 'merge substantially.

As can be seen in FIG. 19, it is possible, in a variant, to invert the inclination of the outer and outer circumferential faces 7 and 7, the angles a and a 'then open towards the bottom 2. The assembly / casing can then be by the dial side, the flange can serve as a clamping element 5. In this case, a stop 9 'must be provided on the opposite side of the movement of the clamping element, this stop can also be formed by the bottom.

Another alternative shown in Figure 20 is to cooperate the clamping member 5 with the movement 3quater, the displacement of the clamping element then being directly applied to the movement. An additional variant is to secure the casing ring directly to the middle part, for example by producing an inner circumferential face of middle part having a frustoconical profile.

The angles a and a 'are generally at least 5 degrees, otherwise it is difficult to extract the movement during disassembly due to friction and adhesion. They are at most 45 degrees, otherwise the effectiveness of the axial clamping decreases because it requires a large vertical displacement to cause a low radial clamping.

Preferably, the angles a and a 'are between 15 and 25 degrees.

Thus, as can be readily understood by looking at Figure 1, by rotating the threaded ring 5 in the appropriate direction, it causes the displacement of the latter upwards in the figure, that is to say towards the ring 4. The latter then moves in turn upwards and approaches the inner face 10 of the middle part 9.

This tightening of the ring 4 has two effects, thanks to the cooperation of the conical frustoconical profiles of the casing ring 4 and the movement 3. It produces, on the one hand, a radial compression of the movement 3, facilitated by the existence of the slot 6 of the ring, and, on the other hand, an axial compression of the movement 3 which plates it against the projecting or abutting portion 9 of the caseband 1.

In Figure 3 is shown a second embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the movement 3bis is always integral with an outer frustoconical circumferential face 13. However, this solidarity is no longer expressed by the presence of the outer frustoconical circumferential face 13 on the movement 3bis itself, but by the interposition of an auxiliary casing ring 12 which is itself secured to the movement 3a.

This auxiliary movement casing ring 12 is generally made of a rigid and non-elastomeric material usually having a Young's modulus greater than 0.1 GPa and preferably greater than 50 GPa. The circumference of the auxiliary casing ring 12 is preferably interrupted by a slot (not visible in Figure 3 but visible in Figure 18).

Preferably, the slot of the casing auxiliary ring 12 is oriented so as to be aligned with the slot 6 of the casing ring 4, so that the two slots form a passage for a winding stem.

In addition, in this embodiment, the movement 3bis has on its periphery a shoulder 15 intended to abut against a shoulder 14 provided on an inner circumferential face of the auxiliary casing ring 12.

Thus, when the threaded ring 5 is screwed, it presses on the casing ring 4, which pushes the casing auxiliary ring 12 towards the center of the watch. Due to the axial contact between the auxiliary casing ring 12, and the periphery of the movement 3bis, it is compressed towards the center, over its entire periphery.

In addition, the screwing of the threaded ring 5 causes the casing rings 4 and 12 to move upwards in the figure and, thanks to the contact between the shoulder 14 of the casing auxiliary ring 12 and the shoulder 15. 3bis movement, it is compressed against the inner face 10 of the part 9 of the middle part 1 which acts as a stop.

In Figure 4 is shown a third embodiment of the invention. The only difference between this embodiment and the second is that a cover 16 is interposed between the movement 3bis and the part 9 of the middle part 1. The cover 16 then forms a stop for the movement.

This cover 16 preferably comprises a stud (not shown) which engages in a notch provided in the middle part 1 to prevent rotation of the cover 16. The movement 3bis being screwed onto the cover, the stud also ensures the orientation of this movement relative to the middle part 1.

Figure 5 is a more complete representation of the watch according to Figure 4. The cover 16 may be, for example, a dial, a screen to decrease the effect of the magnetic field on the movement, or a calendar circle. Figure 5 further shows an annular seal 33 disposed between the bottom 2 and the threaded ring 5, which avoids the unscrewing of the threaded ring.

FIG. 5a is an exploded perspective view of a watch according to FIG. 5.

Figure 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention.

The concept of the invention is materialized here in another form, namely that the cooperation between the two conical conjugate head-to-tail patterns of the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 is replaced by a cooperation between two rounded portions. which are turned towards each other and in contact with each other.

These rounded portions constitute inner and outer circumferential faces. They may be in the shape of an arc of an arc, an elliptical arc, or any other curve judged suitable by those skilled in the art.

Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the casing ring 4bis has an axial section formed of two substantially disk-shaped portions 17, only one of which is visible in the figure, the other being imageable by symmetry with respect to the X axis.

An auxiliary casing ring 12bis, which may have substantially the same shape as the ring casing 4a, is in contact with the rounded portion 17 of the latter by its rounded portion 18.

The rings 4a and 12a are split in this embodiment. Although it is conceivable that they have the same inside diameter, which would not prevent them from cooperating because they are slit, preferably the inside diameter of the ring 4a is greater than that of the ring 12bis. .

The ring 4a is disposed in a corner formed by the threaded ring 5 and the axial inner face 11 of the middle part 1. The two non-rounded faces 22 and 23 of the ring 4a bear respectively on the threaded ring 5 and on the inner face axial 11 of the middle part 1.

The ring 12a is disposed in a corner of the movement 3ter, this wedge being formed by a shoulder 15a and an outer axial circumferential face 21. The two non-rounded faces 19 and 20 of the ring 12a respectively bear on the shoulder 15a of the movement 3ter and on the axial circumferential face 21 of the movement 3ter.

The rings 4bis and 12bis are offset relative to each other along the axis X. When tightening the threaded ring 5, it moves along the arrow F and pushes the ring 4bis also in the direction of the arrow F. The rounded portion 17 of the ring 4bis then slides on the rounded portion 18 of the ring 12a, forcing the latter to move both towards its center and towards the part 9 of the middle part 1. The part rounded of the auxiliary ring can also be directly integrated in the movement plate, similar to the embodiment of Figure 1.

In Figure 7 is shown a fifth embodiment which is a simple variant of the embodiment of Figure 6. Here, the rings 4ter and 12ter play respectively the same role as the rings 4bis and 12bis in Figure 6, but they are completely rounded, that is to say they have a toric shape.

In Figure 8 is shown a sixth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment has two major differences with respect to that of Figure 3: the auxiliary casing ring 12ter has an axial extension whose outer circumferential face 24 is threaded. The clamping element is still a threaded ring 5a but its thread is now inside. It is therefore a tapping cooperating with the thread of the ring 12ter. The inner face 11 of the middle part 1 thus no longer needs to be threaded.

A cover 16 (for example a dial or screen) is interposed between the movement 3bis and the projecting portion 9 of the caseband 1.

The threaded ring 5a must here be screwed so that the ring 4 moves in the direction of the arrow F. It provides a radial clamping, the axial clamping being achieved by friction between the movement and the ring.

In Figure 9 is shown a seventh embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment has a major difference compared to that of Figure 4. The clamping element is here an elastic element 5ter, such as a spring, bearing on the bottom 2 of the watch case.

In Figure 10 is shown an eighth embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, which is close to that of FIG. 3, the slotted casing auxiliary ring 12quater comprises, in addition to the shoulder 14 similar to that of the ring 12 of FIG. 3, an auxiliary shoulder 25. The shoulder 14 and the auxiliary shoulder 25 thus form a groove in which is received the portion 26 of the movement 3bis which has the largest diameter. The portion 26 is inserted into this groove with a tight fit so that when the threaded ring 5 is screwed, the ring 12quater integrally drives the movement 3bis in the axial direction and compresses it integrally in the radial direction. The axial clamping is achieved by the friction between the ring 12quater and the portion 26. The movement can be inserted into the groove of the ring either by deforming the split ring, or by providing a bayonet insertion system.

In Figure 11 is shown a variant without clamping ring of the embodiment of Figure 10 in which the bottom 2 serves as a clamping member. In a similar configuration, the outer ring 4 could be threaded on its outer periphery and serve as a clamping element.

In Figure 12 is shown a variant of the embodiment of Figure 1 wherein the movement 41 has a curved outer circumferential face 18a and the casing ring 4ter has a toric shape.

In Figure 13 is shown a variant of the embodiment of Figure 4 with a casing ring 4ter having a toric shape.

FIG. 14 shows another variant of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the movement 41 has a curved outer circumferential face.

Figure 14bis shows another variant of the embodiment of Figure 1 in which the casing ring 42 has a curved inner circumferential face. In Figure 14ter is shown another variant of the embodiment of Figure 1 wherein the movement 41 and the casing ring 42 have, respectively, an outer circumferential face and a curved inner circumferential face.

As can be seen from FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 14a and 14b, the following common characteristics are always found:

the casing ring has an inner circumferential face whose profile, as seen in longitudinal section along the X axis, comprises at least one zone Z (not designated), the tangent T to which form with the axis X a non-zero angle;

- The movement is integral with an outer circumferential face which is located either on the movement itself, or on an auxiliary casing ring itself integral with the movement, the profile of this outer circumferential face, as it is in longitudinal section along the axis X, comprises at least one zone Z '(not designated), the tangent Ί "to which forms with the axis X a non-zero angle a';

the inner and outer circumferential faces are in contact with one another via their zones Z and Z ', the tangents T and T' to these zones being merging, that is to say that the The respective angles a and a 'that they form with the axis X are in the ideal case identical, or at least close.

As can be seen in FIGS. 12, 14, 14a and 14b, zones Z and Z 'can be reduced substantially to a point, whereas in the embodiment of Figure 1, in particular, they extend over the set of respective profiles of the inner and outer circumferential faces.

In other words, in the case of FIGS. 12, 14, 14a and 14b, the angles a and a 'vary as a function of the clamping and the position of the zones Z and Z'. In addition, the contact surfaces may be provided before assembly with tangents forming an angle α different from a ', so as to take into account any possible deformation assembly.

In a variant, it is also possible for the clamping element to act not on the casing ring, but on the movement. In this case, the orientation of the angle a, a 'must be reversed so that the pressure exerted by the ring induces radial and axial clamping of the movement. The different variants can of course be combined with each other, to the extent that they are compatible.

The preferred solution is that the clamping member comes into action and exerting pressure on the casing ring, with a stop disposed on the side of the movement opposite the clamping member, to generate radial and axial clamping of the movement.

In Figures 15 and 16 is shown a ninth embodiment, which is similar to that of Figure 4.

The auxiliary casing ring 27 has an axial extension 28 located in this case on the opposite side axially to the dial and provided, over the entire circumference of its inner axial face, with a groove 29.

The threaded ring 5 here has an inside diameter sufficiently large to accommodate the axial extension 28.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 16, the function of the groove 29 is to receive the outer lip 32 of an automatic winding module mass and to limit the amount thereof. displacement during a shock. The radial end faces 30 and 31 of the groove 29 serve as stops to the outer lip 32 of the mass. This has the advantage of preventing the plastic deformation of the mass support and eliminates the risk of marking bridges, plate and bottom 2.

Preferably, an anti-loosening joint 33 (also visible in FIG. 5) is provided to prevent unscrewing of the threaded ring 5.

In FIG. 17 is shown a tenth embodiment which is a variant of the one without the lid of FIG.

In order to reduce the number of parts of the watch, there is provided a split casing auxiliary ring 35 incorporating the various functions of the cover (interface with the middle part, indexing of the movement and axial stop).

The split casing auxiliary ring 35 is visible in FIG. 18 where it has been turned over with respect to its position in FIG. 17.

Legs 36 are provided around slot 37 to index the movement. Alternatively, they can be replaced by a pin driven into the middle part and which cooperates at least with the split casing auxiliary ring 35.

A bore 38 visible in Figure 17 has been formed on the opposite side to the threaded ring 5 to receive a dial.

The maintenance of this ring during assembly is guaranteed by the fixing screws 39 received in a groove 40 and which no longer have an active function of maintaining the movement once the casing has been made.

The casing thus comprises the split casing ring 4, the split casing auxiliary ring 35, the threaded ring 5 and optionally an anti-unscrewing seal 33. The axial retention of the movement is ensured by axial clamping and friction.

This variant eliminates the lid, which is a bulky piece and subject to severe aesthetic constraints, as well as the anti-rotation stud to be welded to the lid.

Casing process

The casing of the movement of a watch according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises in particular the following successive steps:

a) introduction of movement into the middle part;

b) setting up the casing ring possibly split around the movement; and

c) where applicable, placing the clamping element.

Alternatively, steps a) and b) can be reversed.

The casing of the movement of a watch according to the other embodiments further comprises between steps a) and b), a step a ') of establishment of the auxiliary casing ring possibly split around the movement.

In the case of the embodiment of Figures 15 and 16, wherein the groove 29 provides stops for the oscillating mass, the method may further comprise a step of insertion thereof into the groove 29 and a step where it is secured to the movement in a known manner.

Claims

claims

1.- Rigid casing watch comprising:

- a middle part (1);

- a bottom (2);

a movement (3, 3a, 3b, 3quater, 41); and

- A casing ring (4a, 4b, 42) in contact with the middle part (1);

in which :

the casing ring (4, 4a, 4b, 42) has an inner circumferential face (8, 17) whose profile comprises at least one zone Z, the tangent (T) at which a non-zero angle (a) forms and less than 90 degrees with the axis (X) passing through the center of the motion

(3, 3bis, 3ter, 3quater, 41) and perpendicular to the plane formed by the latter;

the movement (3, 3bis, 3ter, 3quater, 41) is integral with an outer circumferential face (7, 13, 18, 18bis) whose profile comprises at least one zone Z ', the tangent (T') to which form an angle (α ') not zero and less than 90 degrees with said axis (X);

said inner (8,17) and outer (7,13,18,18a) circumferential faces being in contact with each other at their zones Z and Z ';

characterized in that it further comprises a clamping member (5,5a) provided for exerting pressure on the casing ring (4, 4a, 4b, 2) or the movement (3quater).

2. - Watch according to claim 1, wherein the angles (a) and (a ') are substantially identical.

3. - Watch according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the angles (a) and (a ') are between 5 and

45 degrees.

4. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the casing ring (4, 4a, 4b, 42) has a slot (6).

5. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an auxiliary casing ring (12, 12a, 12b, 27, 35) integral with the movement (3a, 3b) and on which is located said circumferential face external (13, 18).

6. - Watch according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary casing ring (12, 12a, 12b, 27, 35) is slotted.

7. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner circumferential face (8) of the casing ring (4) is frustoconical.

8. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner circumferential face (17) of the casing ring (4a, 4b, 42) is rounded or curved.

9. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outer circumferential face (7,13) integral with the movement (3,3bis) is frustoconical.

10. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outer circumferential face (18,18a) integral with the movement (3ter, 41) is rounded or curved.

11. Watch according to one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the casing ring (4ter) and the auxiliary casing ring (12ter) have a toric shape.

12. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the clamping element (5,5bis) is in the form of a threaded ring or threaded.

13. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising an anti-unscrewing gasket (33) in contact with the clamping element (5,5a).

14. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 13, without cover and wherein the movement (3, 3bis, 3ter, 41) is in contact with the middle part (1).

15. - Watch according to one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a cover (16), the movement (3a) being in contact with the cover (16).

16. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the clamping element (5,5a) is provided to exert pressure on the casing ring (4,4a, 4b, 42).

17. Watch according to claim 16, wherein the apices of the angles a and a 'are located on the bottom side (2) of the watch.

18. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a stop (9 ') on the side of the movement (3quater) opposite the clamping ring (5).

19. Watch according to claim 18, wherein the corners of the angles (a) and (a ') are located on the opposite side to the bottom (2) of the watch.

20. - Watch according to claim 5 or one of claims 6 and 11, when they refer to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary casing ring (27) has a groove (29) whose radial faces (30,11) are able to serve as a stop, in particular to an outer lip (32) of an automatic winding module mass.

21. - Method of fitting a watch movement according to one of claims 1 to 20 in a case (1), comprising the following steps:

a) introducing the movement (3, 3bis, 3ter, 3quater, 41) in the middle part (1);

a ') if necessary, setting up an auxiliary casing ring (12, 12a, 12b, 27, 35) around the movement (3a, 3b);

b) placing the casing ring (4, 4a, 4b, 42) around the movement (3, 3a, 3b, 41, 3quater); and

characterized in that it further comprises placing a clamping element (5,5a, 5b) intended to exert pressure on the casing ring (4, 4a, 4b, 42) or the movement ( 3quater).