Watch comprising trim

Abstract

A watch (1) comprises a locking mechanism configured to detachably interlock together a bezel (2) and a case (9). The locking mechanism comprises a first locking portion on the bezel (2) and a second locking portion associated with the watchcase (9). The second locking portion comprises a locking ring (12) and actuator means (11) configured to actuate a reciprocating rotation of the locking ring (12) relative to the first locking portion about a central axis (X) of the bezel (2) from outside the case (9) to interlock with the first locking portion in an assembled state of the watch (1), and releasing the second locking portion from the first locking portion in the detached state of the watch (1). The watch (1) may comprise a replaceable separate decoration device (3) arranged between the bezel (2) and the case (9), or the bezel may be decorated itself, or a combination thereof.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch or other wearable article or ornamentation assembly including a locking mechanism configured to detachably interlock a bezel and a case of the watch.

[0002] A watch, for example, can be a wristwatch. While its primary function is to serve as a wearable device for telling time, its design and embellishment also make it a decorative, wearable work of art. Today, watches are often used as fashion accessories and statement pieces. They instantly enhance any look, becoming a wearable item synonymous with style. Adding a decorative watch to an outfit can instantly elevate it to elegance. However, a traditional everyday watch, or even a permanently decorative one, cannot instantly enhance every outfit or look.

[0003] Chinese Utility Model No. CN201066441Y discloses a watch with replaceable decorations. A groove along the edge of the upper case is used to connect the case, strap, and decorations together using a rubber band. A U-shaped notch along the edge of the groove facilitates assembly and removal of the decorations from the watch using the rubber band. The elasticity of the rubber band eventually decreases, and as the band ages, the risk of watch components separating during wear increases. Furthermore, the rubber band may be partially visible, disrupting the appearance of the watch.

[0004] Other conventional kinds of decorative devices for watches are provided as simple external accessories to the watch.

[0005] A primary aspect of the present invention is the provision of a novel locking mechanism for connecting the bezel of a watch to the case of said watch.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism for attaching a decorative component to a watch, or to another wearable article or decorative component, such as a pendant or brooch.

[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, a watch is provided having a decorative device that can be replaced without tools.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, a watch is provided having decorative means that can be replaced by the wearer of the watch himself.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, a watch having an integrated or integratable decorative device is provided.

[0010] These and other aspects are achieved in accordance with the present invention in that the novel and unique features of the locking mechanism include:

[0011] - a first locking part on the bezel,

[0012] - a second locking part associated with the watch case, the second locking part comprising:

[0013] --locking ring, and

[0014] an actuator device engaged with the locking ring and configured to actuate, from outside the watch case, reciprocating rotation of the locking ring relative to the first locking portion about the central axis of the bezel to interlock the locking ring with the first locking portion in an assembled state of the watch and to release the second locking portion from the first locking portion in a disassembled state of the watch.

[0015] The present invention thus provides a novel locking mechanism comprising a first locking portion on the bezel and a second locking portion associated with the watch case. The first locking portion can be locked together with the second locking portion in response to rotational movement of the locking ring and released again by reversing the rotational movement of the locking ring. The rotational movement of the locking ring can be conveniently controlled by operating an actuator device from outside the watch case.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the watch may include a decorative device, preferably a replaceable decoration, arranged between the bezel and the watch case, which is detachably fixed between the watch case and the bezel by means of interlocking first and second locking parts of the locking mechanism.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bezel may be formed integrally with the decoration or decorative means, so that for example a replaceable solid bezel becomes the replaceable component responsible for changing the decoration of the watch.

[0018] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a watch according to the present invention may have a bezel configured with a plurality of spaced-apart through-openings, through which the replaceable decorative device is visible. Alternatively, the bezel may be transparent, and the replaceable decorative device may be visible through the transparent bezel. The through-openings may have any contour and shape, be the same or different along the bezel, and be spaced evenly or unevenly. Thus, the arrangement and design of the through-openings may be varied in a variety of configurations.

[0019] It may be preferred that the replaceable decorative device is a decorative ring element sized to match the contour of the bezel. However, in some embodiments, one or both of the inner and outer diameters of the decorative device may be larger or smaller than the corresponding outer and inner diameters of the bezel, for example, having an outer diameter larger than the bezel so as to protrude from the bezel at least at some locations along the circumference of the bezel. The bezel may be configured to facilitate such protrusions. Furthermore, the replaceable decorative device may have a structural pattern or three-dimensional feature protruding through the through-opening, for example, a protruding structure indicating the hours, a constellation of stars, or any other conceivable structural or decorative feature. Within the scope of the present invention, the replaceable decorative device may have any color, structure, and appearance, provided that the configuration of the bezel is configured accordingly and provided that the replaceable decorative device structurally and geometrically matches the bezel.

[0020] The second locking part associated with the watch case may include: the watch case has at least one axially extending first through hole, which is configured to allow a first locking part (for example, a first locking part in the form of at least one guide pin, which protrudes axially from the bezel toward the watch case, optionally two, three or more guide pins) to pass through.

[0021] In the assembled state of the watch, at least one guide pin can pass through at least one axially extending first through hole, whereby the position, in particular the angular position, of the first locking part relative to the watch case becomes fixed and the bezel becomes rotationally fixed relative to the watch case.

[0022] Optionally, the interchangeable decorative device may have at least one recess aligned with the at least one first axially extending through-hole and the at least one guide pin, thereby providing control over the position and orientation of the interchangeable decorative device relative to the bezel and the watch case. This advantageous control can be achieved in a simple manner, as the at least one guide pin is securely positioned in the at least one recess and in the at least one first axially extending through-hole. In an alternative, the at least one recess may be replaced by at least one second axially extending through-hole through the interchangeable decorative device, the at least one second axially extending through-hole being arranged to align with the at least one first axially extending through-hole through the watch case.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the number of axially extending first through-holes, guide pins, and recesses is two, however, any number is within the scope of the present invention, such as three or four. A number greater than one of the axially extending first through-holes, guide pins, and recesses also prevents the bezel and case from rotating relative to one another and provides improved guidance during assembly of the decorative watch compared to a number of only one axially extending first through-hole, guide pin, and recess. However, a number of one is not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0024] The second locking portion may also include a case back cover, which, like conventional watches, is configured to be mounted to the bottom portion of the watch case to close the watch case from below, thereby protecting and sealing the internal components of the watch from water, moisture, and dust. However, the case back cover of the present invention is also modified and differs from conventional case back covers in that it has a peripheral cutout, and thus has not only a recess or similar feature that enables a watchmaker to remove the case back cover using a suitable tool, but also an annularly extending peripheral cutout that extends along a short sector of a circle of the case back cover.

[0025] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the locking ring may have at least one first through-groove for the passage of the first locking portion (preferably for the passage of at least one guide pin), and an annular hole for securely mounting the free end of the actuator device. The annular hole of the locking ring can advantageously be aligned or aligned with a peripheral cutout of the case back in any reciprocating position of the actuator device, so that the actuator device can always be operated from the outside of the watch case via the peripheral cutout to perform the required reciprocating movement of the actuator device for assembling and disassembling the watch, respectively, as the reciprocating movement drives the locking ring. When the at least one guide pin is arranged to pass through the at least one axially extending first through-groove of the watch case, its free end passes through the at least one first through-groove. The length of the peripheral cutout of the case back and the length of the at least one first through-groove limit the maximum angular reciprocating stroke of the locking ring, which is achieved by rotating the actuator device.

[0026] It may be preferred that at least one first through-groove has a locking end and a relative release end, so that when the at least one first through-groove reciprocates by the rotation of the locking ring around the central axis of the bezel, the first locking part (preferably in the form of at least one guide pin) is placed at the locking end of the at least one first through-groove or at the release end of the at least one first through-groove.

[0027] The locking end of the at least one first through-groove can be conveniently sized to removably clamp around the first locking portion, or otherwise configured to remain on the first locking portion when the watch is assembled. The first locking portion can, for example, have an enlarged free end that moves below the locking ring at the locking end of the at least one first through-groove. The opposite release end of the at least one first through-groove can conveniently be wider than the locking end of the at least one first through-groove to facilitate easy release of the first locking portion from the at least one first through-groove without the use of any tools or time-consuming manipulation of the watch.

[0028] The actuator device may include a tubular actuator part and a cooperating actuator peg, the tubular actuator actuator part is mounted to the watch case and protrudes axially from the watch case, the cooperating actuator peg extends through the annular hole of the locking ring and protrudes from the peripheral cutout of the watch case back cover so as to be accessible from the outside of the watch case back cover and actuated, thereby reciprocating along the axially aligned peripheral cutout, and the reciprocating motion may respectively include: in the disassembled state of the watch, moving the actuator peg of the actuator device in a first direction by an arc segment, thereby arranging the first locking part to be unlocked in the release end of the first through-groove, and in the assembled state of the watch, rotating the locking ring by moving the actuator peg of the actuator device in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a suitable arc segment, so as to arrange the first locking part to be locked in the locking end of the first through-groove.

[0029] Preferably, the angular length of the sector of the circle corresponds to the angular length of the first through-cut groove of the locking ring and / or the angular length of the peripheral cutout of the case back. A sufficient axial length of the actuator device for manipulation from outside the case can be provided by the length of the protruding actuator pin.

[0030] In a preferred design of the watch case, the watch case may have an annular lower recess or annular lower cavity configured to accommodate at least the locking ring and optionally to removably secure the case back to the watch case.

[0031] The second locking portion may include an open-ended partially annular spring element disposed between the case back and the locking ring, the open-ended partially annular spring element defining a gap between its opposing free ends. When the case back is mounted to the watch case, the open-ended partially annular spring element applies an axial spring force to the locking ring against the watch case to ensure that the free end of the first locking means is securely retained within the at least one first through-groove, thereby also ensuring that the bezel cannot move therewith when the locking ring rotates about the central axis of the bezel.

[0032] The gap may conveniently be arranged to be at least substantially aligned with the peripheral cutout of the watch case back.

[0033] The locking ring may have at least one second through-going groove for receiving an upstanding protruding locating web of the open-ended partially annular spring element, thereby ensuring that when the locking ring is rotated, the open-ended partially annular spring element does not inadvertently rotate so as to move the gap out of its at least partial axial alignment with the peripheral cutout of the case back.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the opposite blind ends of the peripheral cutout of the case back may have a first engaging member that is configured to engage a mating second engaging member on the actuator device, thereby helping to keep the first locking portion and the second locking portion securely locked together in the assembled state of the watch. The first engaging member may, for example, be a protruding protrusion, groove or notch in the blind end wall of the peripheral cutout, and the second engaging means on the actuator device may be designed to complement it, for example on an actuator peg. The second engaging means may, for example, be a collar, tab, pin or recess that fits to engage the first engaging member. However, any arrangement of mating female and / or male engaging members is within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] The watch case may conveniently have an annular upper recess or annular upper cavity configured to accommodate the decorative device and optionally to at least partially accommodate the bezel. However, it should be noted that for some embodiments of the watch, the decorative device may simply be applied to the top of the watch case below the overlying bezel.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a method for replacing an interchangeable decorative device as described above or replacing an interchangeable bezel of a watch, the method comprising the following steps:

[0037] a) rotating the locking ring in a first direction by operating the actuator device to disengage the first locking portion from the second locking portion,

[0038] b) removal of the replaceable bezel and / or replaceable decorative device,

[0039] c) replacing the replaceable decorative device with another replaceable decorative device and / or replacing the replaceable bezel with another replaceable bezel,

[0040] d) arranging a first locking portion of the interchangeable bezel to engage a second locking portion associated with the watch case, and

[0041] e) rotating the locking ring in a second direction opposite to the first direction by operating the actuator device to interlock the first locking portion with the second locking portion.

[0042] The first direction of step a) may advantageously be towards a release end of the at least one first through-groove, and the second direction of step e) may advantageously be towards a locking end of the at least one first through-groove.

[0043] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the watch viewed from above,

[0045] Figure 2shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the same table viewed from below,

[0046] Figure 3 is an exploded side view of an embodiment of the same table,

[0047] Figure 4 The case is shown in a perspective view slightly from below.

[0048] Figure 5 The same case is shown in a perspective view slightly from above,

[0049] Figure 6 The bezel is shown in a perspective view slightly from below.

[0050] Figure 7 The same bezel is shown in a slightly perspective view,

[0051] Figure 8 The locking ring is shown in an enlarged perspective view from above,

[0052] Figure 9 An enlarged perspective view from above shows a partially open-ended annular spring element,

[0053] Figure 10 The same open-ended partial annular spring element is shown in an enlarged perspective view from below,

[0054] Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking ring superimposed on an open-ended partially annular spring element and the tubular actuator portion of the actuator device, the tubular actuator portion being the portion fixed to the watch case, the tubular actuator portion being shown in the locked state of the locking mechanism,

[0055] Figure 12 shows the locking ring of the actuator arrangement in a partially disassembled state,

[0056] Figure 13 It is along Figure 1 A portion of the cross-sectional view taken along line XIII in FIG.

[0057] Figure 14 It is along Figure 1 A portion of the cross-sectional view taken along line XIV in FIG.

[0058] Figure 15 It is along Figure 2 A portion of the cross-sectional view taken along line XV.

[0059] like Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, the embodiment of a watch 1 according to the invention comprises a bezel 2, decorative means 3, a crystal 4, a crystal gasket 5, an hour hand 6, a minute hand 7, a dial 8, a case 9 configured to receive a crown 10, an actuator device 11, a locking ring 12, an open-ended partly annular spring element 13 and a case back 14, all of which, with the exception of the peripherally arranged crown 10 and actuator device 11, are centered around a common central axis X. The hour hand 6 and the minute hand 7 are only Figure 3 As can be seen in the figure, the decorative device 3 also does not show any pattern, topography or information. Such information and / or decoration has been omitted for illustrative purposes, and the lack of displayed information and / or decoration should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention, nor should the outline and configuration of the through-opening 16 of the bezel 2 shown be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0060] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 Bezel 2, shown in greater detail in FIG, comprises an annular bezel body 15 pierced by a plurality of spaced-apart openings 16. In this embodiment, the first locking portion is provided by two diametrically opposed guide pins 18a, 18b projecting from a lower bezel surface 19. Annular bezel body 15 defines a central bezel opening 20, which, in the assembled state of watch 1, is covered by crystal 4. Crystal gasket 5 acts as a seal between case 9 and crystal 4, preventing the ingress of moisture and dirt and protecting dial 8, hour and minute hands 6, 7, and the like from accidental external influences.

[0061] The decorative device 3 has an annular decorative body 21 delimiting a central decorative opening 22. The inner periphery of the central decorative opening 22 has two diametrically opposite notches 23a, 23b which receive the two diametrically opposite guide pins 18a, 18b of the bezel 2.

[0062] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 Case 9 , seen in more detail in , has an annular case body 24 delimiting a case housing 26 for housing a movement (not shown), the case housing 26 having an upper case opening 25 and an opposite lower case opening 33 .

[0063] In the present embodiment of watch 1, annular case body 24 has an upper case portion 27 provided with an annular upper cavity 28 pierced by diametrically opposed first through-holes 17a, 17b for the passage of diametrically opposed guide pins 18a, 18b situated below decorative device 3. In the assembled state of watch 1, annular upper cavity 28 accommodates decorative device 3 and bezel 2 on top of decorative device 3, so as to visually expose a free upper bezel face 29 and the decoration (not shown) of decorative device 3.

[0064] The upper case portion 27 has two sets of diametrically projecting lugs 30a, 30b for attaching a watch strap (not shown).

[0065] The annular case body 24 has a lower case portion 31 opposite the upper case portion 27. The lower case portion 31 has an annular lower cavity 32 that accommodates the locking ring 12 and the partially annular spring element 13 that is open ended.

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown, a lower case opening 33 is closed and covered by the case back 14 , which provides access to the lower case portion 31 of the case housing 26 for installing, for example, a movement.

[0067] As in Figure 2 As can be further seen in the figure, in the assembled state of watch 1, the actuator device 11 protrudes axially from the annular lower cavity 32 of the case 9, which is aligned or alignable with the peripheral cutout 34 of the case back cover 14, thereby protruding from the peripheral cutout 34 to be fully exposed so as to be operated by the fingers in opposite first and second rotational directions, as indicated by opposite arrows A1, A2.

[0068] The actuator arrangement 11 is best shown in Figure 11 、 Figure 12 、 Figure 14 and Figure 15 The actuator device 11 has a tubular actuator portion 35 which is fixed to an actuator bore 36 provided in the lower case portion 31 of the case 9 in the annular lower cavity 32, as in Figure 15 The actuator device 11 also has an actuator bolt 37, which is composed of an upper bolt end portion 38, a lower bolt end portion 39 and an intermediate bolt portion 40 having a larger diameter than the upper bolt end portion 38 and the lower bolt end portion 39. Figure 14 As best shown in FIG, the lower bolt end portion 39 is accessible from the outside of the watch via the peripheral cutout 34 of the case back 14. The upper bolt portion 38 is secured in an annular hole 41 in the locking ring 12, and the intermediate bolt portion 40 prevents the actuator bolt 37 from passing upward through the locking ring 12. In response to actuation of the actuator device 11, the lower bolt end portion 39 is moved from side to side by operation, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown by arrows A1 and A2 in FIG, the locking ring 12 can rotate an arc segment of a suitable angle relative to the watch case 9 and the watch case back cover 14.

[0069] As in Figure 15As seen in more detail in the cross-sectional view of FIG, the tubular actuator portion 35 houses a compression spring 42 and a ball 43 facing the locking ring 12. The ball 43 projects toward two angularly spaced notches 44, 45 in the upper surface of the locking ring 12, so that the locking ring 12 faces the face of the watch case 9, as shown in FIG. Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the ball 43 is seated in one of the notches 44, 45, depending on the angular extent of movement of the actuator pin 37 and rotation of the locking ring 12 about the central axis X. The case back 14 presses the open-ended, partially annular spring element 13 into close contact with the locking ring 12, which is then pressed upward against the annular lower cavity 32 of the watch case 9. This keeps the distance between the locking ring 12 and the annular lower cavity 32, and therefore between the ball 43 and the locking ring 12, very small, placing the ball 43 under the compressive force of the compression spring 42. Consequently, the ball 43 is resiliently trapped between the locking ring 12 and the compression spring 42 within the tubular actuator portion 35. The upper pin end portion 38 may have a small pin cavity 46 that better accommodates the spring-biased ball 43 in a position where the watch 1 is disassembled and the decorative device 3 is replaced. Because ball 43 is spring-biased, it can move slightly axially to jump into bolt cavity 46 when bezel 2 is to be released from case 9, and can jump into and out of two angularly spaced notches 44, 45 when lower bolt end portion 39 is operated to move along peripheral cutout 34.

[0070] When bezel 2 and case 9 are to be assembled after being disassembled, locking ring 12 is rotated by actuating lower bolt end portion 39, thereby disengaging the spring-biased ball 43 of tubular actuator portion 35 and allowing ball 43 to jump into spring-biased engagement with one or the other of notches 44, 45, thereby being clamped upwardly within the interior of tubular actuator portion 35 between locking ring 12 and compression spring 42 due to the compressive force of compression spring 42, as described above.

[0071] If especially in Figure 8 、 Figure 11 and Figure 12 As can be seen in FIG, the locking ring 12 further has two diametrically opposed first through-grooves 47, 48 for passing two diametrically opposed guide pins 18a, 18b. The first through-grooves 47, 48 respectively have locking ends 47a, 48a and opposite release ends 47b, 48b, with the release sections 47b, 48b being wider than the corresponding locking ends 47a, 48a and optionally also wider than the maximum diameter of the corresponding free locking section portions 49a, 49b of the guide pins 18a, 18b.

[0072] The guide pins 18a, 18b may have respective locking sections 50a, 50b between the respective free locking section portions 49a, 49b and the bezel 2. The diameter of the locking sections 50a, 50b is less than or equal to the width of the respective locking ends 47a, 48a of the respective first through-grooves 47, 48. Thus, the free locking section portions 49a, 49b of the respective guide pins 18a, 18b constitute an enlargement of the associated locking section 50a, 50b, which is adapted to retain the guide pins 18a, 18b within the respective locking ends 47a, 48a by being wider than the locking sections 50a, 50b, as shown in FIG. Figure 13 shown.

[0073] The locking ring 12 has a second through slot 51 configured to receive an upstanding projecting web 52 of the open-ended partly annular spring element 13, as shown in FIG. Figure 9 and Figure 10 The open-ended partially annular spring element 13 also has third through-holes 53a, 53b for receiving guide pins 18a, 18b and three spaced-apart spring elements 54a, 54b, 54c, which are annular segments of the open-ended partially annular spring element 13. The spring characteristics of the annular segments are achieved by axially deflecting the annular, spaced-apart segments of the open-ended partially annular spring element 13 at their inner periphery, or more preferably at their outer diameter, toward the case back 14, thereby enabling them to provide an axial spring force component toward the case back 14. The open-ended partially annular spring element 13 has opposing free ends 55a, 55b and a gap 56 between the free ends 55a, 55b, which is aligned with the peripheral cutout 34, allowing the intermediate bolt portion 40 to pass through and the lower bolt end portion 39 to become accessible for operation via the peripheral cutout 34.

[0074] The case back 9 has a fixing collar 57 configured to securely mount the case back 9 to the case 9 via a first O-ring O1. Figure 15 The second O-ring O2 is sealed in the annular upper cavity 28 between the decorative device 3 and the upper shell part 27, as shown. Figure 13 and Figure 14 Four third O-rings O3 seal around crown 10 when inserted into radially protruding crown bushing 58. Respective fourth O-rings O4 surround respective guide pins 18a, 18b to provide a seal against bezel 2 and decorative device 3.

[0075] exist Figure 13 Part of the holder 59 for the movement can also be seen (not shown).

[0076] In the accompanying drawings, for illustrative purposes only, the watch is shown without a movement and strap. The implementation and inclusion of these components are known to those skilled in the art. However, it should be emphasized that these components are indeed part of the watch of the present invention, serving to make it operable and wearable as a functional wristwatch. The movement and strap may be of any known type.

[0077] The present invention is not limited to any particular shape or profile of the watch case. The shape and profile of the watch case need not be circular, for example. Polygonal and elliptical overall profiles are within the scope of the present invention. The lugs for securing the watch strap shown in the drawings can also be made of any conceivable design, as can the bezel, provided the bezel design is compatible with the design of the watch case and, if present, the bezel matches the decorative features. The lugs can also be replaced with eyelets to allow the watch to be used with a bracelet, or with rings to allow the watch to be worn as a finger watch.

[0078] It is further emphasized that the plurality of spaced-apart through-openings may have any conceivable design, may be randomly spaced or evenly spaced, and may be a combination of through-openings having different designs. The appearance of the decorative device may be made special in any conceivable way (e.g. by color, pattern, topography) or used to provide visual information to the wearer of the watch.

[0079] In some embodiments, the bezel is integral with the exchangeable decorative device, and the entire assembly is an integral part provided with the first locking means and constitutes the exchangeable part of the assembly.

[0080] It is also important to emphasize that the locking mechanism of the present invention can be used to assemble the bezel and case of a watch without replaceable decorative devices, as well as for watches without any decorative devices at all between the bezel and the case. In these embodiments, the bezel can be made without multiple spaced-apart through-openings, and the bezel can be configured with or without decoration.

[0081] Finally, it should be emphasized that, although this application claims protection for a watch, the present invention can be modified for use with a piece of jewelry or a small trinket, such as a pendant, brooch, or ring. The principles of assembly and disassembly of the locking mechanism, namely, the first locking portion of the locking mechanism on the first part of the jewelry or trinket and the second locking portion of the locking mechanism on the second part of the jewelry or trinket, can be directly transferred from a watch. Thus, in contrast to a watch, for a piece of jewelry or trinket, the first portion can replace the bezel, and the second portion can replace the watch case.

[0082] In summary, the present invention relates to a watch including a decoration. Watch 1 includes a locking mechanism configured to removably interlock bezel 2 and case 9. The locking mechanism includes a first locking portion on bezel 2 and a second locking portion associated with case 9. The second locking portion includes a locking ring 12 and an actuator device 11, which is configured to actuate the reciprocating rotation of the locking ring 12 relative to the first locking portion around the central axis X of bezel 2 from the outside of case 9, so as to interlock with the first locking portion in the assembled state of watch 1, and to release the second locking portion from the first locking portion in the disassembled state of watch 1. Watch 1 may include a separate, replaceable decorative device 3 arranged between bezel 2 and case 9, or the bezel 2 itself may be decorated, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A watch (1) comprising (3) a locking mechanism configured to detachably interlock a bezel (2) and a watch case (9) of the watch, characterized in that The locking mechanism comprises: - a first locking portion on said bezel (2), - a second locking portion associated with said watch case (9), said second locking portion comprising: - a locking ring (12), and -- an actuator device (11), which is engaged with the locking ring (12) and is configured to actuate the reciprocating rotation of the locking ring (12) relative to the first locking part around the central axis (X) of the bezel (2) from the outside of the watch case (9) to interlock the locking ring (12) with the first locking part when the watch (1) is in an assembled state, and to release the second locking part from the first locking part when the watch (1) is in a disassembled state.

2. The watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The table (1) includes: - a decorative device (3), preferably a replaceable decorative device (3), arranged between said bezel (2) and said watch case (9), or - the bezel (2) is formed integrally with the decorative device or the bezel (2) has a decoration.

3. The watch (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - the bezel (2) has a plurality of spaced-apart through-openings (16) through which the decorative device (3) is visible, and / or - The bezel (2) is transparent.

4. A watch (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that The second locking part includes: the watch case (9) has at least one axially extending first through hole (17a, 17b), and the at least one axially extending first through hole (17a, 17b) is configured to allow the first locking part to pass through, and the first locking part is in the form of at least one guide pin (18a, 18b) axially protruding from the bezel (2) toward the watch case (2).

5. The watch (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The replaceable decorative device (3) has at least one recess (23a, 23b), which is aligned with or can be aligned with the at least one axially extending first through hole (17a, 17b) passing through the watch case (9).

6. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second locking part further comprises a case back (14) configured to be mounted to a bottom portion of the watch case (9) and having a peripheral cutout (34) allowing the reciprocating rotation of the actuator device (11).

7. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The locking ring (12) comprises: - at least one first through-slot (47, 48) for the passage of said first locking portion, and - an annular ring (41) for passing said actuator means (11), in: - the at least one first through-slot (47, 48) has a locking end (47a, 48a) and an opposite release end (47b, 48b), wherein the locking end (47a, 48a) of the at least one first through-slot (47, 48) is sized to be removably clamped around the first locking portion, and the opposite release end (47b, 48b) of the at least one first through-slot (47, 48) is wider than the locking end (47a, 48a) to facilitate release of the first locking portion.

8. The watch (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The actuator device (11) comprises: - a tubular actuator portion (35) protruding axially from the watch case (9), and - an actuator bolt (37), which extends axially through the annular hole (41) of the locking ring (12) and protrudes from the peripheral cutout (34) of the case back cover (14) so ​​as to be accessible from the outside of the case back cover (14) and actuated to reciprocate along the peripheral cutout (34), thereby respectively performing: in the disassembled state of the watch (1), rotating the locking ring (12) in a first direction (A1) by an arc segment to arrange the first locking part to be unlocked in the release end (47b, 48b) of the first through-grooves (47, 48); and in the assembled state of the watch (1), rotating the locking ring (12) in a second direction (A2) opposite to the first direction (A1) by an arc segment to arrange the first locking part to be locked in the locking end (47a, 48a) of the first through-grooves (47, 48).

9. The watch (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The angular length of the circular arc segment substantially corresponds to the angular length of the first through-grooves (47, 48) of the locking ring (12) and / or the angular length of the peripheral cutout (34) of the case back (14).

10. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The watch case (9) has an annular lower recess or annular lower cavity (32), and the annular lower recess or annular lower cavity (32) is configured to accommodate at least the locking ring (12).

11. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 10, characterized in that The second locking portion comprises an open-ended partially annular spring element (13) arranged between the case back (14) and the locking ring (12), the open-ended partially annular spring element (13) defining a gap (56) between its opposite free ends (55a, 55b).

12. The watch (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that The gap (56) is arranged at least substantially in alignment with the peripheral cutout (34) of the case back (14).

13. Watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 12, characterized in that The watch case (9) has an annular upper recess or annular upper cavity (28) configured to accommodate at least the decorative device (3) and optionally to at least partially accommodate the bezel (2).

14. A method for replacing an interchangeable decorative device (3) or an interchangeable bezel (2) of a watch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: a) rotating the locking ring (12) in a first direction (A1) by operating the actuator device (11) to disengage the first locking portion from the second locking portion, b) removing the replaceable bezel (2) and / or the replaceable decorative device (3), c) replacing the replaceable decorative device (3) with another replaceable decorative device (3) and / or replacing the replaceable bezel with another replaceable bezel, d) arranging the first locking portion of the interchangeable bezel (2) to engage the second locking portion associated with the watch case (9), and e) rotating the locking ring (12) in a second direction (A2) opposite to the first direction by operating the actuator device (11) to interlock the first locking portion with the second locking portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The first direction (A1) of step a) is toward the release end (47b, 48b) of the at least one first through-groove (47, 48), and the second direction (A2) of step e) is toward the locking end (47a, 48a) of the at least one first through-groove (47, 48).

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