Ceramic Watch Bezel with Inlaid Decorations for Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceramic watch bezels with synthetic sapphire configurations face challenges in readability due to altered transmission of color and lack of contrast between the sapphire and inlaid decorations, leading to difficulty in visual differentiation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving forming a ceramic body, etching recesses for decorations, modifying the recess surfaces, and depositing a second ceramic via thermal spraying to fill and smooth the recesses, ensuring uniform mechanical resistance and high contrast through the use of ceramics with varying colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a synthetic sapphire bezel with inlaid deposit is used, then mechanical protection is improved, but visual readability deteriorates due to altered color transmission and lack of contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from transparent sapphire to opaque or translucent ceramic, which fundamentally alters the optical properties. This allows the ceramic to provide mechanical protection while enabling better color contrast and visual readability of the inlaid decorations, as the ceramic body does not alter color transmission in the same way transparent sapphire does
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the ability of ceramic materials to provide a wide range of natural colors without requiring transparent properties. By selecting ceramic bodies and inlays with contrasting colors (e.g., dark body with light inlays or vice versa), the patent achieves enhanced visual readability and aesthetic appeal while maintaining mechanical durability
2Ease of manufacture
If amorphous metal alloy inlays are used in ceramic bezel, then manufacturing is simplified, but mechanical resistance uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using ceramic material for both the bezel body and the inlaid decorations. This ensures uniform mechanical properties, hardness, and wear resistance throughout the entire component, eliminating the mechanical resistance uniformity issues that arise from combining ceramic with amorphous metal alloys
3Strength
If ceramic inlays are used to improve mechanical resistance uniformity, then strength is improved, but color variety is limited by transparency requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameter from transparent to opaque/translucent, which removes the limitation on color variety. Ceramic materials can naturally exhibit a wide spectrum of colors and finishes (glossy, matte, metallic) without requiring transparency, thus enabling full color diversity while maintaining uniform ceramic construction for mechanical strength
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves a visually contrasting and highly wear-resistant ceramic element with improved readability and uniform resistance, allowing for a wide range of color combinations and enhanced aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
depositing, by thermal spraying, a second ceramic over said at least one recess in order to completely fill said at least one recess
Implementation Method 2
etching at least one recess in one face of the ceramic body
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A method for manufacturing (21) an inlaid ceramic element (10) of a timepiece (1) comprising the following steps: a) forming (22) a ceramic body (11); b) engraving (23) at least one recess (12) in a face (F) of the ceramic body (11), each at least one recess forming the impression of a decoration (13); c) modifying (24) the surface condition of the bottom of said at least one recess in order to increase its contact area; d) depositing (26), by thermal projection, a second ceramic (16) over said at least one recess in order to completely fill said at least one recess; e) flattening (27) said second ceramic (16) so as to leave only in the hollow of said at least one recess.