Components with at least one relief decoration
By depositing a layer of precious metal or its alloy onto the relief decoration and integrating it with the substrate, the problem of poor adhesion of the decoration is solved, achieving a strong connection and improved durability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- COMADUR
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
The decoration has poor adhesion to the substrate and is prone to tearing or separation on high-stress components, especially in areas such as watch bezels.
By depositing a layer of precious metal or its alloy onto a relief decoration and integrating it with a substrate through electroforming and selective laser ablation, an integrated 3D decoration is formed.
It achieves a firm connection between the decoration and the base, avoiding separation due to friction or stress, and improving durability and aesthetics.
Smart Images
Figure CN224426951U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to a component with 3D decorations, which are plated with precious metals or alloys of precious metals. Background Technology
[0002] Decorative elements are typically attached to components made of rigid, non-conductive materials, such as ceramics, for example, by gluing. Decorative elements attached in this way exhibit poor adhesion to the substrate, with an increased risk of tearing or separation, especially on high-stress components such as watch bezels. Utility Model Content
[0003] This invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a component with a raised relief decoration (or positive relief decoration) (also known as a 3D decoration), wherein the decoration is integral with the substrate to avoid adhesion problems. A shell made of gold, silver, or more generally precious metals or their alloys is created on the relief decoration to add decorative elements.
[0004] More specifically, this invention relates to a component made of a non-conductive material (such as ceramic, sapphire, YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet), or silicon nitride), the component comprising at least one relief decoration coated with a visible layer made of a precious metal or its alloy. The component can be manufactured according to a method comprising the following steps:
[0005] - Provide a single-piece blank comprising a surface consisting of a base surface and at least one relief decoration covering the base surface;
[0006] - A first adhesive layer is deposited on the relief decoration and on at least a portion of the base surface, and a second adhesive layer is subsequently deposited;
[0007] - A visible layer is deposited on the second adhesion layer by electroforming;
[0008] - Selective laser ablation is performed on the visible layer and at least partially on the first and second adhesive layers on the surface of the base so that only the visible layer on the relief decoration (including its sides) is left.
[0009] Using this method, the decoration cannot be torn off or separated from the base, because it is part of the base.
[0010] Furthermore, the layers of precious metal or their alloys on the relief decorations are quite thick, sometimes reaching a fraction of a millimeter (i.e., a few tenths of a millimeter). In particular, the precious metal may be gold or a gold alloy. For example, the large thickness of the deposited metal or alloy contributes to the “secure” appearance of any decoration that may have been fixed to it, such as inlay.
[0011] Since this invention is more specifically designed for decorative bezels, there is no risk that deposits may be worn away by friction with clothing, potentially exposing the substrate.
[0012] Electroformed gold has the added advantage of being harder than metallurgical gold alloys that may be fixed to a substrate. This can be used to produce a satin finish, which becomes more durable over time. Attached Figure Description
[0013] Figures 1 to 5 Five steps in a method for manufacturing a component according to the present invention are illustrated schematically.
[0014] Figure 6 A watch bezel with scales and numerals forming a 3D decoration, according to the present invention, is shown, the 3D decoration being plated with a precious metal or its alloy. Detailed Implementation
[0015] This utility model relates to a component with an embossed decoration plated with a precious metal or a precious metal alloy. More specifically, the precious metal is gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, or ruthenium. For example, the component can be a watch assembly. More specifically, it can be an external component selected from a non-exhaustive list including the middle section of a watch case, the case back, the bezel, the crown, pushers, bracelet links, the bracelet, the clasp, the buckle, the dial, and the hands. Typically, the watch assembly is a dial or bezel with scales and numerals forming the embossed decoration, which is plated with a precious metal or its alloy. More specifically, the component is made of a non-conductive material, such as ceramic, silicon nitride, YAG, or sapphire. These materials are typically hard, having a hardness greater than or equal to 1,100 HV.
[0016] Figures 1 to 5 The diagram illustrates a method for manufacturing components of this invention, consisting of five steps. In the first step ( Figure 1In this embodiment, a component having an unplated decorative element 2a is provided, which is collectively referred to as a blank (ébauche) 3. The decorative element 2a is a component of the blank 3, which is made using conventional powder sintering, or by additive manufacturing for ceramics, silicon nitride, and YAG, or by flame fusion method and EFG (limited edge feed) technology for sapphire. These methods are given as examples, and of course, other methods for making the blank can also be considered.
[0017] The blank 3 is defined by its surface 2, which includes a base surface 2b and at least one relief decoration 2a covering the base surface 2b.
[0018] Then, in the second step ( Figure 2 In this process, at least two adhesion layers 4a and 4b are preferably deposited by PVD (physical vapor deposition) on at least a portion of the relief decoration 2a and the substrate surface 2b. The first layer 4a is formed of Cr or Ti, and the second layer 4b is formed of Au, Ag, or Cu. The thickness of each layer is between 30 nm and 70 nm, typically about 50 nm per layer. According to this invention, for example, one or two adhesion layers can be selectively deposited on only a portion of the substrate surface using a mask. For example, the surfaces of one or two adhesion layers can also be structured using a laser to modify their physical properties, such as hydrophobicity.
[0019] In the third step ( Figure 3 In this process, a noble metal or its alloy layer 5 is deposited by electroforming. The thickness of this layer 5 is between 0.02 mm and 0.7 mm, preferably between 0.03 mm and 0.3 mm. For growing a gold alloy with a chromaticity in the range of 3N to 5N (according to ISO standard 8654 of February 2018), the parameters are as follows:
[0020] - The bath contains gold metal in the form of basic gold cyanide salts, ranging from 1 to 10 gl-1;
[0021] - The bath contains 30 to 80 gl-1 of copper metal in the form of a dual-base cyanide;
[0022] - The bath may contain indium metal in a composite form ranging from 10 mg·l⁻¹ to 5 g·l⁻¹;
[0023] - The bath solution contains 15 to 35 gl-1 of free cyanide;
[0024] - The temperature of the bath solution is maintained between 50°C and 80°C;
[0025] - The pH value of the bath solution is maintained between 8 and 12;
[0026] - The method is performed with a current density between 0.05 and 1.5 A.dm-2.
[0027] In the optional fourth step ( Figure 4 In the process, the upper portion of the precious metal or its alloy layer 5 may be subjected to mechanical operations to polish, satin finish and / or matte finish on the layer.
[0028] In the fifth step ( Figure 5 In this process, at least a portion of the noble metal or its alloy layer 5 and the two adhesive layers 4a, 4b are removed from the base surface 2b by laser ablation, leaving only the respective layers 4a, 4b, 5 on the relief decoration 2a (including its sides). This laser ablation is preferably performed using a pulsed laser (e.g., picosecond, nanosecond, or femtosecond laser). Various source combinations and parameters can be used to ablate the metal layers. However, femtosecond laser sources are preferred, with wavelengths contained between 310 nm and 600 nm, and pulses shaped to present a minimum average energy and peak value per pulse relative to the average energy applied to the metal layer. Typically, repeater frequencies contained between 400 kHz and 1,200 kHz are used, along with burst envelope formation consisting of 1 to 35 pulses with increasing or decreasing linear slopes having a variable tilt.
[0029] It should be noted that step four may also be performed after step five, and may be performed after steps six and seven as described below.
[0030] In an optional sixth step (not shown), the blank material may be textured to give the material a matte, satin, and / or patterned appearance. Textured material may be applied by laser cutting or by mechanical means.
[0031] In an optional seventh step (not shown), if laser ablation leaves any residue from these adhesive layers, the adhesive layers 4a, 4b can be peeled off from the base surface 2b of the component. Peeling involves chemically removing residue from these layers by immersing the component in a bath, such as Chrome Etch No. 1 formulated by Technic. Peeling these layers has little effect on the noble metal or its alloy layer because the thicknesses of the adhesive layers and the noble metal or its alloy layer are significantly different. In other words, removing any residual nanoparticles from the adhesive layers will remove a proportionally small amount of material from the thick noble metal or its alloy layer. This optional step can also be performed prior to step six if applicable (as mentioned above is optional).
[0032] Therefore, for the bezel, Figure 6The resulting component 1 shown has one or more relief decorations 2a covering the base surface 2b, wherein only the relief decorations 2a (including their sides) are covered with a layer 5 of precious metal or its alloy.
Claims
1. A component having at least one relief ornament, characterized in that, The component (1) is made of a non-conductive material. The at least one embossed decoration (2a) covers the base surface (2b) of the component (1) and is integral with the component (1). The at least one embossed decoration (2a) is plated with at least a first adhesive layer (4a), a second adhesive layer (4b) and a visible layer (5) made of a precious metal or an alloy thereof, which are connected to the outside of the component (1). The first adhesive layer (4a) and the second adhesive layer (4b) each have a thickness between 30 nm and 70 nm, and the visible layer (5) has a thickness between 0.02 mm and 0.7 mm.
2. The component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The visible layer (5) has a thickness between 0.03 mm and 0.3 mm.
3. The component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The component (1) is a watch assembly.
4. The component according to claim 3, characterized in that, The component (1) is a bezel or dial.
5. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The component (1) is made of ceramic, sapphire, YAG or silicon nitride.