EP2934221B1 - Decorative part made by crimping - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a decorative piece. This decorative piece comprises a support in which at least one aesthetic element is crimped.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

It is known in the prior art decorative pieces intended to be reported on a portable object such as a watch or a jewel and consisting in the crimping of aesthetic element on the parts of said portable object acting as a support.

For this, the part is made of metal alloy and is machined for housing to appear. During this machining, fastening means in the form of hooks are made. Generally, these hooks are made with the material forming the object, the object that is to say one-piece with the object. When an aesthetic element, such as a gemstone, is to be crimped, the latter is placed in a housing and the attachment means are folded so as to maintain said aesthetic element in the housing. This method of crimping is widely used to crimp gemstones on metal supports because the metal has an advantageous plastic deformation capacity. This ability is even more advantageous with precious metals such as gold because these precious metals are ductile and can be easily shaped. The cold plastic deformation of the crystalline metals is possible thanks to the movements of the dislocations present in the crystalline lattices. The elastic limit, that is to say the stress beyond which a material starts to deform plastically, a crystalline alloy depends on the components of the latter as well as the thermomechanical history of the alloy. For traditional crimping, alloys having relatively low elastic limits are generally chosen to facilitate the work of the crimper. In addition to a relatively low elastic limit, it is necessary that the alloy has sufficient elongation before rupture to be able to fold the attachment means without breaking. As for the elastic limit, this elongation is the consequence of both the elements present in the alloy and the thermomechanical history of the latter. For example, the gold alloys used in watchmaking have an elastic limit of the order of 200-400 MPa and an elongation at break of 20-40%. Type 1.4435 stainless steels have a yield strength of 200-300 MPa and an elongation at break of 25-45%.

Nevertheless, a disadvantage of this method is that it is confined to supports made of ductile metals or metal alloys. However, more and more timepieces are made in materials that do not exhibit plastic deformation, often hard and / or fragile, such as for example ceramic, silicon, composites or intermetallic alloys.

Therefore, it is no longer possible to use the current method to crimp aesthetic elements such as precious stones.

This crimping operation is therefore replaced by a gluing operation. Bonding has the disadvantage of not ensuring a 100% stone resistance because unlike crimping, this technique does not involve mechanical retention of stones. Indeed, the glued areas being in most cases exposed to the external environment (moisture, sweat, UV, air pollution, ...), the holding of the bonding in the long term is made difficult. Therefore, the holding of the stones is not assured which is not acceptable for quality products. The document GB 2,079,140 discloses a decorative piece comprising a support (14) made of a material not comprising exploitable plastic deformation in which at least one recess (20) is provided, said recess being filled with a first material forming a substrate (10) shaped in which at least one housing (see figure 1 ) is arranged, said at least one housing being arranged so that at least one aesthetic element (12) can be housed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a decorative piece that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a decorative piece and its manufacturing method for crimping aesthetic element on a piece of material that does not exhibit sufficient plastic deformation.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a decorative piece according to claim 1.

In a second advantageous embodiment, said at least one recess comprises vertical flanks in order to improve the maintenance of each aesthetic element in the support.

In a third advantageous embodiment, said at least one recess comprises flanks arranged so that the surface of the recess increases with the depth of the recess.

In a fourth advantageous embodiment, said at least one recess comprises flanks arranged so that the surface of the recess decreases with the depth of the recess.

In another advantageous embodiment, said at least one recess comprises holding means extending from one of the walls of the recess for holding the first material in said recess.

In another advantageous embodiment, the holding means are in the form of at least one recess.

In another advantageous embodiment, the holding means are in the form of at least one through recess.

In another advantageous embodiment, the holding means are in the form of at least one protrusion.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first material is a totally amorphous metallic material.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first material comprises at least one element which is of the precious type, included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

In another advantageous embodiment, the distance between the aesthetic element and an edge of the recess is at least 0.01 mm.

In another advantageous embodiment, the height of the housing is at least equal to the height of the yoke of the aesthetic element.

The invention also relates to a crimping method according to claim 13.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first material is a totally amorphous metallic material.

In another advantageous embodiment, the first material comprises at least one element which is of the precious type, included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

In another advantageous embodiment, step c) of filling comprises depositing said first material by electroforming.

In another advantageous embodiment, the filling step c) consists in filling the hollow by casting.

In another advantageous embodiment, the filling step c) consists in filling the hollow by hot forming.

In another advantageous embodiment, the filling step c) consists in filling the hollow by driving a substrate into a metal element.

In another advantageous embodiment, step c) for filling the recess by heating comprises heating the support to thermally expand and increase the dimensions of the recess then place the substrate in the recess and finally cool to contract the support.

In another advantageous embodiment, the filling step c) consists in filling the hollow by densification of powder.

In another advantageous embodiment, the plastic deformation is performed by heating the pads or the grains at a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature of the first at least partially amorphous metal material.

The present invention then offers the possibility of using a known crimping method and thus not to complicate the process.

Another advantage of this solution is that it can crimp any type of material. Indeed, the principle used is a principle of the material that is to say that a substrate in a deformable material is introduced into a plastically deformable material so as to allow crimping and to give the illusion that it is this non-plastically deformable material which is crimped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent de manière schématique exemple de pièce décorative utilisant la présente invention ;
• les figures 3 à 11 illustrent schématiquement les étapes du procédé de réalisation selon un exemple de l'invention;
• les figures 12 et 13 représentent une vue de haut des éléments esthétiques sertis et non sertis selon l'invention.
• la figures 14 représente une vue en coupe des moyens de maintien selon l'invention.
• les figures 15 et 16 représentent une alternative du procédé selon l'invention.
• les figures 17 et 18 représentent une autre alternative du procédé selon l'invention.

The objects, advantages and characteristics of the decorative piece and its method according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 show schematically example of decorative piece using the present invention;
• the Figures 3 to 11 schematically illustrate the steps of the production method according to an example of the invention;
• the Figures 12 and 13 represent a top view of the aesthetic elements crimped and not set according to the invention.
• the figures 14 represents a sectional view of the holding means according to the invention.
• the Figures 15 and 16 represent an alternative of the process according to the invention.
• the Figures 17 and 18 represent another alternative of the process according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, all parts of the decorative part which are well known to those skilled in this technical field will be explained in a simplified manner.

As visible to Figures 1 and 2 the present invention is a decorative piece 1. It consists of a first part 2 and a second part 3. The two parts 2, 3 are arranged to become integral with each other. More particularly, the second part 3 is intended to be crimped in the first part 2. For example, the first part may be a support 2 and the second part 3, one or more aesthetic elements. This or these aesthetic elements 3 can be precious stones such as diamonds or rubies or non precious like zircons or any other possible aesthetic element.

On the Figures 1 and 2 exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The decorative piece 1 may be, for example, a watch bezel 10 inlaid with indicia as visible in FIG. figure 1 or a watch glass 11 as visible in the figure 2 or a dial 22 or any external parts of a watch. In the example of a dial, the latter comprises a discoidal body forming the support 2 in which are crimped aesthetic elements 3. This dial can be, for example, made of ceramic. It will be understood that ceramics are not the only material that can be used. Thus, any material not exhibiting plastic deformation sufficient, or whose elastic limit is too high to allow crimping, can be used such as for example sapphire, silicon, glass or hardened steel. In the case of a sapphire crystal, the interest is to crimp the said ice allowing a visual effect in three dimensions such as a time lapse or a logo above the needles. It will be understood that the decorative piece 1 may be a pen or a cufflink or a jewelery item such as a ring or an earring. The surface of the support 2 which will be crimped may then be plane or curved, that is to say concave or convex.

Advantageously according to the invention, this support 2 comprises at least one recess 4, represented on the figure 4 , arranged on said support 2 to allow the crimping of at least one aesthetic element 3. Each recess 4 is then in the form of a pattern and has flanks 7, preferably substantially perpendicular to the visible surface. These recesses 4 are used to allow the use of a substrate 6 for crimping. Indeed, the invention proposes to fill said hollow 4 with a first material more easily plastically deformable so as to crimp said at least one aesthetic element 3, which is not possible with a ceramic or silicon support. Thus to fill said recesses 4, it is envisaged to use in the present invention a first material which is metallic.

The first step, visible at figure 3 is to provide the support 2 in a material that does not deform plastically.

The second step, visible at figure 4 , This consists of making the recess 4 in the support 2. This recess 4 can be made for example by machining, by laser ablation, see directly during the molding of the support or by any other technique.

The third step is to fill said recess with a first material. This first material is then used to serve as a substrate 6. The third step makes it possible to obtain the support 2 visible at the figure 6 .

The first material used is a metal or metal alloy, partially amorphous or not. The term partially indicates that for a block of material, the percentage of material amount of said block having the amorphous state is sufficient for the block itself to have the specific characteristics of amorphous metals and metal alloys. The amorphous materials have the advantage of being easily shaped. Similarly, it may be possible to use a precious metal or one of these alloys to give a noble character to said decorative piece. Thus, the precious metal or one of these alloys is included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

One of the methods for filling the hollow 4 is to use electroforming. The principle used for carrying out this filling consists, for non-conductive electrical materials, in depositing a first so-called conductive coupling layer by known techniques such as, for example: physical vapor deposition (PVD), deposition chemical vapor phase (CVD), electroless deposit or others. For electrically conductive materials, the bonding layer is not necessarily necessary. Once the bonding layer deposited, the recesses 4 are filled with metal by electroforming. The part to be marked is immersed in a bath containing metal ions which through an electric current are deposited on the said part. The recesses 4 are then filled with metal allowing the realization of said markings.

A second method to fill the hollow is to use a method of assembly by driving. This method consists in producing a block of metal alloy whose dimensions and shape are slightly larger than those of the recess 4 and forcing this block to enter said recess 4. Advantageously, it may be provided to perform this step of assembly using thermal expansion. To do this, the Support 2 is heated so that, under the effect of heat, it expands thermally. The support 2 sees its dimensions increased. This increase in dimensions is also applicable to the recess 4. Consequently, the difference between the dimensions of the recess 4 and the dimensions of the block is modified so that the dimensions of the recess 4 become larger than those of the block. It is then easy to insert the block in the hollow 4. When the support 2 is cooled, it resumes its initial dimensions and the block is stuck in said recess 4.

A third method of filling the recess is to use hot forming. The Figures 5 and 6 represent in a simplified manner the steps of filling the hollow 4. In the first place, it is necessary, on the one hand, to make the support 2 visible to the figure 3 and, on the other hand, to produce a preform 6a of amorphous metal alloy. This preform 6a may be made by various techniques such as, for example, injection into a form mold, hot forming above Tg, stamping of the strip, or by machining. Once this preform 6 has been made, it is placed above the support 2, as visible in FIG. figure 5 on the face where said digs 4 open to perform the filling of said recesses by hot forming. The assembly is then heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg, thus allowing a decrease in the viscosity of the preform, and then a pressure is exerted. Once these conditions are met, the pressure exerted on the viscous preform allows the viscous amorphous metal alloy to fill the recess 4 as visible in FIG. figure 6 . Then, when the recesses 4 are filled as visible in the figure 6 the whole is cooled in order to maintain the amorphous state of the alloy.

This type of material is well suited to the fact that they can easily fill the entire volume of the hollow 4. After cooling, the vertical flanks 7 retain the amorphous material by friction. Of course, the flanks 7 may be inclined to shrink the surface of the horizontal plane at the bottom of the recess 4 or on the contrary so as to enlarge. The most advantageous case is when the surface of the bottom of the hollow 4 is the largest since it allows to naturally retain the amorphous metal alloy in the recess 4. Conversely, when the inclination generates a larger section at the bottom of the surface of the support 2, the maintenance of the amorphous material in the recess 4 is no longer optimal. Another advantage is that this decreasing viscosity causes a decrease in the stress to be applied to fill the recesses 4 with the amorphous metal alloy. Therefore, the support 2 of fragile materials is not likely to break although a pressing operation is performed.

Of course, other types of shaping are possible, such as, for example, the casting or injection process, which consists of heating a metal preform above its melting point and then casting or injecting the liquid metal thus obtained into the hollow 4 of support 2.

The powder densification process can also be used and consists in introducing a metal powder into the recess 4 of the support 2 and consolidating it by a supply of energy such as an oven, a laser beam, an ion beam or any other means. Once the hollow 4 filled, a cooling step to a temperature below Tg is performed to prevent the crystallization of the alloy to obtain a hollow 4 filled with amorphous or semi-amorphous metal alloy.

Once the hollow is filled, a fourth preparation step is performed. This step consists of manufacturing the housings or crimping holes 8 in which the aesthetic elements 3 are placed, and to manufacture the hooking means. This step can be carried out either conventionally such as machining, milling, drilling, or in a less conventional manner, by hot deformation, or by a combination of two ways. The hot deformation method consists of using a tool having the negative geometry of the hole and the crimping element and applying this tool, with a certain force and at a temperature higher than the Tg of the amorphous metal, on the alloy amorphous metal filling the hollow 4. It is thus possible to avoid the machining steps that can be difficult depending on the amorphous metal alloys used.

The attachment means 5 is in the form of at least one crimping element 9. This crimping element 9, in the case for example of a grain crimping, consists of studs or grains arranged around the periphery of each crimping hole 8. These studs 9, visible at figures 8 and 10 are made by machining and are made before or after the drilling of the crimping holes 8. In fact, during the machining of the holes, the material of the substrate 6, that is to say of the first material, is removed so to form these crimping grains 9. Preferably, in the case of a crimping grain, it is expected to ideally have four crimping grains 9 near each crimping hole 8 as visible in FIG. figure 10 .

It will be understood that other types of crimping can be envisaged. Therefore, closed crimping, crimping stick, crimping rail or invisible crimping are possible. For example, the closed crimping consists of a single crimping element 9 extending on the periphery of the aesthetic element 3. The crimping rod is used to crimp the aesthetic elements 3 cut into rods. This crimping consists in providing crimping elements 9 extending parallel to each side of the aesthetic element 3 coming down on the latter. For invisible crimping, it is provided that the crimping elements 9 are projecting portions arranged in the crimping hole 8. These projecting portions cooperate with at least one groove made on said aesthetic element 3 so that the crimping is done by inserting the aesthetic element 3 in the hole 8 until the projecting portions fit into said at least one groove.

Preferably, in the case of a crimping grain, it is expected to ideally have four crimping grains 9 near each crimping hole 8 as visible in FIG. figure 10 .

In a particular example of embodiment visible in the figure 10 , the aesthetic element 3 is in the form of a diamond comprising a yoke 3b in which are cut several facets and a crown 3c also faceted surmounted by a 3d table as visible in the figure 15 . This aesthetic element has, seen from above, a substantially circular shape. For the illusion of crimping in the material of the support 2 is intact, it is expected that the width of the recess 4 is ideally equal to that of the aesthetic element 3. Preferably, it will be understood that the distance between the aesthetic element 3 and the edge of the recess 4 must be at least 0.01 mm so that the visual effect of the aesthetic element 3 in the support 2 is optimal, that is to say to have the impression that the aesthetic element 3 remains embedded in the ceramic support 2 and not in a metal. For the maximum distance between the aesthetic element 3 and the edge of the recess 4, this will depend on the dimensions and shapes of the aesthetic elements 3. For example, for an aesthetic element 3 with a diameter of 1 mm, the distance between the aesthetic element 3 and the edge of the recess 4 will be 0.45 mm.

In another example, it is defined that the distance between the aesthetic element 3 and the edge of the recess 4 is composed of a so-called worked area, that is to say an area in which the crimping grains are made, this hollow zone, and a so-called non-worked zone which is an aesthetic and visual zone. In this case, this non-worked area will be at least 0.01 mm and at most 0.20mm. Preferably, it will be 0.10 mm.

Similarly, it will be understood that the height of the hole 8 is at least equal to the height of the yoke of the aesthetic element 3. This allows, when the aesthetic element 3 is crimped, to see as little as possible the first constituent material of the substrate 6. In this case, the crimping grains 9, four in number, are made so as to have a shape of a right triangle whose hypotenuse is convex. Preferably, the convex shape of the hypotenuse is similar to the curvature to that of the aesthetic element 3 when it is seen from above.

Once the fourth stage of preparation is completed, we obtain the support 2 visible to the figure 7 the fifth crimping step can then take place.

The conventional crimping step consists of deformation. This technique consists in placing the aesthetic element 3 in the hole 8 and in deforming the substrate and / or the crimping elements 5 to press them on said aesthetic element 3 as visible to the Figures 9 to 13 . As a result, the latter is held in the crimping hole 8.

The deformation may also be elastic or obtained by thermal expansion. In the case of elastic deformation, the crimping is obtained by clipping the aesthetic element in the attachment means 5. It is obvious that in this case, a slight plastic deformation of the attachment means 5 could take place. In the case of deformation by thermal expansion, the crimping is obtained by heating the support 2 to a sufficiently high temperature to allow the encrustation of the aesthetic element 3 in its hole 8 without effort. The cooling will then make it possible to contract the material thus making it possible to maintain the aesthetic element 3 by the attachment means 5.

1. a) se munir d'un support dans un matériau fragile (2) avec au moins une creusure (4);
2. b) se munir d'au moins un élément esthétique (3);
3. c) remplir ladite creusure avec un premier matériau;
4. d) réaliser au moins un trou de sertissage (8) et au moins un élément de sertissage dans le premier matériau;
5. e) sertir ledit au moins un élément esthétique en le plaçant dans ledit au moins un trou et en déformant plastiquement l'élément de sertissage de sorte à le maintenir.

The method therefore consists of:

1. a) providing a support in a brittle material (2) with at least one recess (4);
2. b) providing at least one aesthetic element (3);
3. c) filling said hollow with a first material;
4. d) providing at least one crimping hole (8) and at least one crimping element in the first material;
5. e) crimping said at least one aesthetic element by placing it in said at least one hole and plastically deforming the crimping element so as to maintain it.

However, unlike crystalline metals, amorphous metals have no dislocations and can not plastically deform by the movement of the latter. They therefore generally have a fragile behavior, that is to say that they suddenly break once the elastic limit exceeded. It has been found, however, that some amorphous alloys can accommodate macroscopic permanent deformation by generation of slip bands at the microscopic scale. In addition to being dependent on the type of amorphous alloy, the ability to accommodate permanent deformation in amorphous metals is highly dependent on the dimensions of the part. Thus, the smaller the dimensions of the area requested, the greater the permanent deformation. For example, it is possible to permanently bend a 100 μm thick strip of amorphous Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.5 alloy to an angle greater than 90 ° without breaking, while a strip of the same dimension in diameter amorphous Fe56Co7Ni7Zr8Ta8B20 alloy will not accommodate any permanent deformation.

Therefore, different crimping methods have been devised.

A first crimping method used is plastic deformation. The latter is done with a tool called perloir 100 used to deform each crimping element 9, it allows to obtain the aesthetic element 3 set with the figure 13 .

For amorphous alloys, plastic deformation is possible for amorphous alloys accommodating permanent deformation and having not too high elastic limits, typically less than 1500 MPa,

A second method of crimping is used for alloys with elastic limits that are too high for manual cold-working deformation, such as, for example, amorphous metal alloys having a yield strength greater than 1500 MPa: The crimping method consists in heating the grains 9 to a temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg of the amorphous metal alloy in order to greatly reduce the viscosity and therefore the force required for their deformation. The grains may be heated using a heated crimping tool, passing an electric current between the crimping tool and the grain, a grain-focused laser beam or any other method. Once the grains 9 at the right temperature, they are deformed so that crimping can take place. Cooling below Tg then allows the grains to become solid and thus to make crimping effective. This solution has the advantage of allowing intimate contact between the amorphous metal alloy and the aesthetic element 3, which improves the resistance of the latter. Indeed, in the case of cold plastic deformation, for both crystalline and amorphous metals, a springback occurs during the relaxation of the force applied to the grain 9. This return inevitably implies a slight separation between the grain 9 and the aesthetic element 3, which can cause problems of holding. However, the hot deformation used does not involve elastic return and release is not therefore performed.

A third method of crimping is used when the alloys are difficult to crimpable by plastic deformation cold or hot. This mode consists in using the large elastic deformation of amorphous alloys, typically 2% or that of crystalline alloys, typically 0.5%. The method consists of pressing the aesthetic element 3 into the crimping hole 8 of the substrate 6. Under the pressure, the metal alloy of the substrate 6 deforms elastically allowing the aesthetic element 3 to be inserted. When the attachment means 5, in the form of a crimping recess, and the rondiste or the end or the edge 3a of the aesthetic elements 3 are opposite one another, a springback takes place. The elastic return of the attachment means 5 on the aesthetic element 3 makes it possible to definitively maintain it as visible to Figures 15 and 16 .

A fourth method of crimping is envisaged. In this mode, the support 2 is heated thermally so that all the support expands, that is to say the support 2 and the substrate 6 amorphous alloy. As a result, the crimping hole 8 also expands. Therefore, the aesthetic element 3 can be placed in the crimping hole 8. The aesthetic element 3 is then held in the hole 8 by the hooking means 5 after cooling the support 2 as visible to the Figures 17 and 18 . These attachment means 5 is in the form of a crimping recess in which the girdle or the end or the edge 3a of the aesthetic element 3 is inserted.

A fifth method of crimping can be envisaged specifically for amorphous materials in which the fourth step d) and the fifth step e) are simultaneous. This mode consists of heating the aesthetic element to a temperature above the glass transition temperature Tg of the first material and then pressing it therein, that is to say the amorphous metal alloy. The heat released by said aesthetic element locally heats the substrate 6 to a temperature above Tg which allows the amorphous metal alloy to greatly reduce its viscosity thus facilitating insertion. Then, once the aesthetic element inserted, the substrate 6 is cooled to keep the amorphous state of the alloy and is deburred from any surplus material. This step thus allows a better grip of the aesthetic element 3 in the substrate 6 thanks to the ability of the amorphous metal alloy to marry the contours.

A sixth crimping method in which the third (c), fourth (d) and fifth (e) are simultaneous is contemplated. This variant consists in providing that the aesthetic element 3 is directly placed in the recess 4 before the step of filling said recess 4 with the first material. The filling of the recess 4 is then done by casting, hot forming, electroforming or densification whose details have been explained previously. This technique makes it possible to have a faster crimping process while ensuring a good maintenance of the aesthetic elements 3.

An advantage of the invention is that it can crimp any type of material. Indeed, the principle used is an insert principle that is to say that a substrate material capable of accepting a deformation is reported in a material that is not plastically deformable so as to allow crimping and to give the illusion that it is this non-plastically deformable material that is crimped.

In a first variant visible to the figure 14 , the maintenance of the first material is improved by using holding means 50. These holding means 50 comprise at least one recess 51 and / or at least one protrusion 52. These holding means 50 are made prior to the filling of the recess 4. Thus, during the filling of said recess, the first material filled the recesses 5a or 5b protuberances become trapped in said first material. Consequently, when the first material fills the recess 4 and is solidified, it is perfectly maintained in said recess 4.

In the case where the first material is an amorphous metal alloy, the low viscosity of the amorphous material makes it possible to fill the hollow 4 well. By analogy, this low viscosity of the amorphous material makes it possible to fill the hollow. also to better fill the recesses 51 or to better wrap the growths 52.

These recesses 51 or protuberances 52 may be located on the vertical flanks 7 of the recess 4 or at the bottom 7a of the recess 4. Similarly, the recesses 51 may or may not be through.

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

Claims (22)

1. Decorative piece including a support (2) made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow (4) is arranged, characterized in that said hollow is filled with a first at least partially amorphous metal material forming a substrate (6) in which at least one housing (8) is arranged, said at least one housing being arranged so that at least one aesthetic element (3) can be housed therein, said substrate further including gripping means (5) deforming to retain said at least one aesthetic element inside said at least one housing, said gripping means (5) including at least one setting element (9) taking the form of a stud or of a bead.
2. Decorative piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one hollow includes vertical flanks (7) to improve the retention of each aesthetic element in the support.
3. Decorative piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one hollow includes flanks (7) arranged so that the surface area of the hollow increases with the depth of the hollow.
4. Decorative piece according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one hollow includes flanks arranged so that the surface area of the hollow decreases with the depth of the hollow.
5. Decorative piece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one hollow includes retaining means (50) extending from one of the walls of the hollow to retain the first material inside said hollow.
6. Decorative piece according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means take the form of at least one recess (51).
7. Decorative piece according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means take the form of at least one through recess (51).
8. Decorative piece according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means take the form of at least one protuberance (52).
9. Decorative piece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first material is a completely amorphous metal material.
10. Decorative piece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first material includes at least one element which is of the precious type, comprised in the list including gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.
11. Decorative piece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the aesthetic element (3) and one edge of the hollow (4) is at least 0.01 mm.
12. Decorative piece according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the housing (8) is at least equal to the height of the culet of the aesthetic element.
13. Method for setting at least one aesthetic element on a support including the steps of:

    a) taking a support (2) provided with at least one hollow (4);

    b) taking at least one aesthetic element (3);

    c) filling said hollow with a first at least partially amorphous metal material;

    d) making at least one setting hole (8) and gripping means (5) in the first material, the gripping means (5) including at least one setting element (9) taking the form of a stud or of a bead;

    e) setting said at least one aesthetic element by placing it in said at least one hole and plastically deforming the gripping means (5) to retain said aesthetic element.
14. Setting method according to claim 13, characterized in that the first material includes at least one element which is of the precious type, comprised in the list including gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.
15. Setting method according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the first material is completely amorphous.
16. Setting method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that step c) consists in depositing said first material by electroforming.
17. Setting method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that step c) consists in filling the hollow by casting.
18. Setting method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that step c) consists in filling the hollow by hot forming.
19. Setting method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that step c) consists in filling the hollow by pressing in a substrate.
20. Setting method according to claim 19, characterized in that step c) intended to fill the hollow by pressing in consists in heating the support (2) in order to expand it thermally and increasing the dimensions of the hollow, then placing the substrate (6) inside the hollow and finally cooling to contract the support (2).
21. Setting method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that step c) consists in filling the hollow by powder densification.
22. Method according to any of claims 13 to 21, wherein plastic deformation is achieved by heating the studs or the beads to a temperature higher than the vitreous transition temperature of the first at least partially amorphous metal material.

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