Ceramic element for a watch case and process for manufacturing this element

US7121717B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ROLEX SA · CH

Inventors

• Eric Grippo · Geneva, CH
• William Passaquin · Armoy, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2004
• Grant date: Oct 17, 2006
• Expiry date: May 30, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/31678
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This ceramic element, the visible surface of which includes features, is intended to be fitted onto a watch case. This visible surface has, at each feature, a hollow having the shape of said feature, with a depth at least equal to 0.05 mm, the side walls of said hollow being essentially perpendicular to said visible surface, the bottom of said hollows having a first tie layer of Ti, Ta, Cr or Th type, with a thickness of at least 100 nm and at least a second layer from the group Au, Ag, CrN, Ni, Pt, TiN, ZrN, Pd or alloys thereof with a thickness of at least 100 nm.