Ceramic-based timepiece or jewelry component with structured decoration

Abstract

The invention relates to a ceramic-based timepiece or jewelry component with a structured decoration. Method for manufacturing a timepiece or jewelry part with a structured decoration, comprising: manufacturing a ceramic base (1); mirror polishing is carried out; laser and / or machining the surface relief (20); the relief (20) is coated with a first layer (2) of a first metal decorative treatment and / or colored decorative treatment material; performing, before or after said coating, a deep etching to produce a first hollow decoration (3) having a depth greater than the thickness of the first layer (2), penetrating the base (1) below its apparent surface (10) and below the valleys (2) of the relief (20); performing laser ablation on the first layer (2) in a pit (4) at the bottom of which the ceramic is exposed; all visible surfaces of the component are coated with a second layer (5) of a second material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a ceramic-based timepiece or jewellery component having a structured decoration.

[0002] The invention also relates to a watch comprising an exterior element and / or a dial manufactured by this method.

[0003] The invention relates to the field of exterior or display parts for timepieces and to the field of jewellery. Background Art

[0004] For the manufacture of decorative parts, it is difficult to achieve the optical effect properly, especially when the decoration is attached tone-on-tone, and the mechanical structuring of the decoration changes the light diffraction and the appearance of the decoration.

[0005] European patent application 3067220 in the name of ROLEX discloses a method for decorating a timepiece component comprising the steps of deep etching the surface of the component to be decorated using a femtosecond laser and surface structuring the surface of the timepiece component to be decorated, the two decorations at least partially overlapping each other.

[0006] CH Patent 713871 under the name of RICHEMONT discloses a component for a timepiece having multiple graphic elements and a method for manufacturing the same, the component including a substrate, at least a portion of which is coated with a coating having multiple layers, the multiple layers including an outer layer and at least one intermediate layer formed between the substrate and the outer layer, the intermediate layer having an appearance different from that of the outer layer; the coating including at least a first opening defining a first graphic element, the first opening having a first depth exposing the intermediate layer; and a second opening defining a second graphic element, the second opening having a second depth different from the first depth; so that the component has at least two graphic elements, which have appearances different from each other. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention proposes to develop a method for producing decorative and tonal or holographic effects, in particular for tone-on-tone color matching.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a method for producing a ceramic-based timepiece or jewellery part having a structured decoration according to claim 1 .

[0009] The invention also relates to a watch comprising an exterior element and / or a dial manufactured by this method.

[0010] The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery comprising at least one jewellery component manufactured by the method according to the invention.

[0011] The proposed mode of operation makes it possible to obtain high-definition decoration on substrates such as ceramics, but also sapphire, glass, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] - Figures 1 to 11 Schematic cross-sectional view showing the sequence of operations of the method according to the invention:

[0014] - Figure 1 The manufacture of the base is shown;

[0015] - Figure 2 showing a mirror finish for each apparent surface of the base intended to be seen by a user;

[0016] - Figure 3 A first machining operation is shown in which laser machining and / or machining using a diamond tool and / or grinding machining is performed to produce a first fine pattern etching of at least some structured surface, the structured surface comprising a surface relief extending between peaks and valleys;

[0017] - Figure 4 showing a first transfer operation of attaching and bonding at least one decorative element to a first exterior surface of the first layer;

[0018] - Figure 5 A first coating operation is shown, wherein at least a portion of the surface relief is coated with a first thickness of at least a first layer of a first metallic decorative treatment and / or a pigmented decorative treatment material, and then Figure 6 a second machining operation in which a deep etching is performed to produce a first hollow decoration having a depth greater than the first thickness and penetrating into the base below the apparent surface and below the valleys of the surface relief;

[0019] - Figure 6 and 7 Shows execution in reverse order Figure 4 and 5 Operation: Figure 6 A second machining operation is shown during which a deep etching is performed to produce a first hollow decoration having a depth greater than the first thickness and penetrating into the base below the apparent surface and below the valleys of the surface relief, and this second machining operation is followed by Figure 7 an operation wherein at least a portion of the surface relief is coated with a first thickness of at least a first layer of a first metallic decorative treatment and / or a pigmented decorative treatment material;

[0020] - Figure 8 Shown in the application Figure 4 and 5 a third machining operation of the blank produced in the step of: and wherein laser ablation is performed on the first layer in recesses exposing ceramic material of the base at the bottom of said recesses;

[0021] - Fig. 9 With Figure 8 A similar approach is shown for Figure 6 and Figure 7 The third machining operation of the blank produced in the process;

[0022] - Fig.10 Shown applied to Figure 8 a second coating operation of the blank and wherein all visible surfaces of the part are coated with a deposit of a second layer of a second treatment material;

[0023] - Fig.11 With Fig.10 A similar approach is shown to apply to Fig. 9 A second coating operation of the blank; and

[0024] - Fig.12 A watch comprising a dial produced and decorated by the method of the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ceramic-based timepiece or jewellery part having a structured decoration, wherein a basic cycle is carried out at least once, comprising the following steps in the following order:

[0026] - in an initial operation 100 , the base 1 is manufactured from a substrate made of ceramic material;

[0027] - in a first polishing operation 200 , mirror-polishing the base 1 at least on the apparent surface 10 intended to be seen by the user;

[0028] - in a second machining operation 300, laser machining and / or machining using a diamond tool and / or grinding machining are performed to produce a first fine pattern etching of at least some structured surface having a surface relief 20 extending between peaks 21 and valleys 22, or guilloché, or sunray, or engraving, or engraving, or enamelling, or twisted wire, or circular graining, or satin, or satin, or drawing, or concave edge finishing, or Geneva graining, or Paris nail pattern;

[0029] - in a first preparation operation 400, a first coating operation 500 is performed, in which at least a portion of the surface relief 20 is coated with a first thickness E of at least a first layer 2 of a first metallic decorative treatment and / or a pigmented decorative treatment material, and a second machining operation 600 is performed before or after the first coating operation 500, during which a deep etching is performed to produce a first hollow decoration 3 having a depth P greater than the first thickness E and penetrating into the base 1 below the apparent surface 10 and below the valleys 22 of the surface relief;

[0030] - In a third machining operation 700, laser ablation is performed on the first layer 2 in the recesses 4, at the bottom of which the ceramic material of the base 1 is exposed. In fact, laser machining makes it possible to remove the surface layer to reach the surface of the base substrate without damaging the surface of the base substrate, no matter how thin it is.

[0031] According to a particular feature, during the first preparation operation 400, the first coating operation 500 is performed before the second processing operation 600, such as Figure 4 and 5 shown.

[0032] According to another specific feature, during the first preparation operation 400, a second processing operation 600 is performed before the first coating operation 500, such as Figure 6 and 7 shown.

[0033] According to one particular feature, during the third machining operation 700 , at least one recess 4 continues to be machined in the ceramic material of the base 1 .

[0034] According to the invention, after the third machining operation 700, a second coating operation 800 is carried out, in which all visible surfaces of the component are coated with a deposit of a second layer 5 of a second treatment material.

[0035] More specifically, after the second coating operation 800 , in a fourth machining operation 900 , laser ablation is performed on the second layer 5 in recesses, exposing the ceramic material of the base 1 and / or the first treatment material of the first layer 2 at their bottoms.

[0036] According to a specific feature, after the fourth machining operation 700, iterations are performed in which each time a coating operation is performed in which all surfaces left visible by the previous operation are coated with a deposit of another layer of another treatment material and then laser ablation is performed on the new layer in recesses at the bottom of which the ceramic material of the base and / or the first treatment material of the first layer, or material of a layer beneath the new layer, is exposed.

[0037] According to a particular feature, after the last machining operation, a last coating operation is performed in which all visible surfaces of the component are coated with a transparent deposit of a transparent treatment material 5 in a dry process or in a PVD or CVD or ALD process, or in a painting or varnishing process.

[0038] According to a particular feature, after the last machining operation, a final operation is performed in which a semi-transparent coloring treatment is performed on the visible surface of the part using a colored transparent deposit in a dry process or in a PVD or CVD or ALD process or in a painting or varnishing process.

[0039] According to a particular feature, the first layer 2 is chosen to have the same colour as the ceramic material of the base.

[0040] According to a particular feature, the first layer 2 is chosen to have a higher coloring pigment density than that of the ceramic material of the base.

[0041] According to a particular feature, all the superimposed layers included in the component are chosen to have the same colour as the ceramic material of the base.

[0042] According to a particular feature, each superimposed layer included in the component is chosen to have a coloring pigment density higher than that of the layer to which they apply and higher than that of the ceramic material of the base.

[0043] In one variation, the opposite is true, where the density of the coloring pigments decreases from the base to the outermost layer.

[0044] Depending on a specific feature, choose black or dark gray.

[0045] According to one particular feature, the timepiece or jewelry part is manufactured so as to form an external element or a dial.

[0046] The invention also relates to a watch 1000 comprising at least one timepiece or jewellery component manufactured by the method according to the invention.

[0047] The invention also relates to a piece of jewellery comprising at least one jewellery component manufactured by the method according to the invention.

[0048] Of course, the invention is advantageous not only for parts of timepiece components, but also for jewellery or jewellery parts, or spectacles or fashion items.

[0049] In fact, the invention makes it possible to modify and significantly enhance the appearance of parts directly visible to the user with innovative decorations and contributes to the promotion of brands and products. More particularly, the invention can be used for identification marks and / or anti-counterfeiting marks.

Claims

1. A method for producing a ceramic-based timepiece or jewelry component with a structured decoration, characterized in that The basic cycle is executed at least once, and the basic cycle includes the following steps in the following order: - in an initial operation (100), the base (1) is manufactured from a substrate made of ceramic material; - in a first polishing operation (200), mirror-polishing the base (1) at least on the apparent surface (10) intended to be seen by a user; - in a second machining operation (300), laser machining and / or machining using a diamond tool and / or grinding machining are performed to produce a first fine pattern etching of at least some of the structured surface, the structured surface having a surface relief (20) extending between peaks (21) and valleys (22), or guilloché, or sunray, or engraving, or engraving, or enamelling, or twisted wire, or circular graining, or satin, or drawing, or concave edge finishing, or Geneva graining, or Paris nail pattern; - in a first preparation operation (400), a first coating operation (500) is performed, wherein at least a portion of the surface relief (20) is coated with a first thickness (E) of at least a first layer (2) of a first metallic decorative treatment and / or a pigmented decorative treatment material, and before or after said first coating operation (500), a second machining operation (600) is performed, during which deep etching is performed to produce a first hollow decoration (3) having a depth (P) greater than said first thickness (E) and penetrating said base (1) below said apparent surface (10) and below said valleys (22) of said surface relief; - in a third machining operation (700), laser ablation is performed on the first layer (2) in recesses (4), at the bottom of which the ceramic material of the base (1) is exposed, wherein during the third machining operation (700), at least one of the recesses (4) is further machined in the ceramic material of the base (1); After the third machining operation (700), a second coating operation (800) is performed, in which all visible surfaces of the component, including the first hollow decoration (3) and the recesses (4), are coated with a deposit of a second layer (5) of a second treatment material.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that During the first preparation operation (400), the first coating operation (500) is performed before the second processing operation (600).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that During the first preparation operation (400), the second processing operation (600) is performed before the second coating operation (500).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After said second coating operation (800), in a fourth machining operation (900), laser ablation is performed on said second layer (5) in recesses exposing the ceramic material of said base (1) or the first processing material of said first layer (2) at the bottom of said recesses.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that After the fourth machining operation (700), iterations are performed in which each time a coating operation is performed, in which all surfaces left visible by the previous operation are coated with a deposit of another layer of another treatment material, and then laser ablation is performed in pits on the new layer, at the bottom of which the ceramic material of the base, or the first treatment material of the first layer, or the material of a layer below the new layer is exposed.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After the final machining operation, a final coating operation is performed, in which all visible surfaces of the component are coated with a transparent deposit of a transparent treatment material (5) in a dry process or in a PVD or CVD or ALD process or in a painting or clear varnishing process.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After the last machining operation, a final operation is performed in which a semi-transparent coloring treatment is performed on the visible surface of the component using a colored transparent deposit in a dry process or in a PVD or CVD or ALD process or a painting or clear varnishing process.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first layer (2) is chosen to have the same colour as the ceramic material of the base.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The first layer (2) is selected to have a higher color pigment density than the color pigment density of the ceramic material of the base.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that All superimposed layers comprised in the component are chosen to have the same colour as the ceramic material of the base.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Each superimposed layer comprised in the component is selected to have a coloring pigment density higher than that of the layer it coats and higher than that of the ceramic material of the base.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The color is selected to be black or dark gray.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The color is selected to be black or dark gray.

14. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The timepiece or jewellery component is manufactured to form an exterior element or dial.

15. A watch (1000) comprising at least one component of a timepiece or jewelry manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

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