Abstract:
A skeleton watch including a case provided with a back cover and a crystal, and a set of components forming a movement of the skeleton watch, the components being arranged inside the case between the back cover and the crystal and being wholly or partially visible through the crystal, wherein the skeleton watch comprises at least one solar cell.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a watch including a timepiece mechanism and a casing particularly including the glass (2) and the middle (4). The middle (4) and the glass form a single piece machined in a block of a transparent mineral material.
Abstract:
A dual-powered timepiece for independently displaying time information and driving one or more other timepiece functions comprises a case comprising a case interior and a case opening substantially defined by a periphery of a first side of the case. The timepiece further includes an analog movement comprising a first timing device within the case interior, where the analog movement drives the display of time information in hours and minutes. Also, the timepiece may comprise a lever escapement mechanism comprising a second timing device within the case interior. This level escapement mechanism is substantially independent from the analog watch movement and drives at least one timepiece function.
Abstract:
A mechanical clock has a driving element and a braking element. The braking action of the braking element is based on a hydrostatic gradient of at least one flowable medium. The driving element exerts a first torque on a first shaft extending along a first axis, and the braking element exerts a second torque on the first shaft, with the second torque being opposed to the first torque. The braking element has at least one drum which is rotatable around a second axis and in which the flowable medium is located.
Abstract:
A timepiece, with a clockwork driven by a stepping motor, has a clockwork-supporting structure with front and rear uprights, generally of hourglass shape, each constituted by a pair of mirror-symmetrical coplanar strips defining its contour, the front upright being framed by an annular dial swept by the minute and hour hands; the gears of the clockwork are visible from all sides. The supporting structure with the dial is mounted on a platform carried by two columns above a base which contains the motor, its power supply and a tone generator controlled by the clockwork to emit acoustic time signals on the hour and possibly also on the half and quarter hours; a torsion pendulum without time-keeping function is suspended between the columns. Most of the shafts of the clockwork lie in a vertical plane of symmetry also containing the axis of the nested hour, minute and seconds shafts disposed at the center of the dial ring. An ancillary shaft offset from that plane has a pinion in mesh with a gear included in the step-down transmission between the minute and hour shafts so as to rotate in step with the minute hand at one revolution per hour; this ancillary shaft carries a resetting knob and two cam disks, one of them controlling a switch for the periodic actuation of the tone generator while the other causes a resynchronization of that tone generator every 12 hours. The resetting knob is provided with a one-way coupling to prevent reverse rotation of the control cams; the seconds shaft carries an impeller for the torsion pendulum.
Abstract:
Timepiece movement (1) comprising:—a main frame (3) acting as a support for a drive source (5) and for at least one base gear train (7) designed to be driven by the drive source (5);—at least one flying bridge (11) cantilever-mounted on an element of the main frame (3) and extending in superposition on the latter, characterized in that the flying bridge (11) supports at least one functional element (13; 9) kinematically linked to the base gear train (7) via a flying gear train (17, 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d), and in that the functional element (13; 9) and at least some elements of the flying gear train (17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) are entirely supported on the flying bridge (11).
Abstract:
A self-winding mechanical horological movement including a pivotally oscillating weight, wherein the oscillating weight is provided with a decorative disc mounted on the oscillating weight and pivotally driven by the weight. The disc is fastened to a support that includes a stem inserted into a hole provided in the rotational shaft of the weight. The stem and the hole include non-circular section cylindrical portions corresponding with one another, so that the support and the disc are pivotally driven by the shaft. The disc forms a decoration that covers the entire surface of the movement, without requiring technical complexities. The disc can be free to undergo an axial movement in relation to the weight, so that the disc may be removed from the weight when the horological movement is dismantled from a watch case.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a timepiece comprising: a casing (10) with a bottom (12), a middle (14) and a control body (16) mounted movably in relation to the middle (14), a movement (18) housed in the casing (14), a glass (26) closing the casing, a dial (28) arranged between the movement (18) and the glass (26), said dial (28) comprising two polarised lenses (28a, 28b), at least one of which is mounted on a mobile frame (30), such that said polarised lenses (28a, 28b) can assume a first state wherein elements arranged behind the dial (28) in relation to the glass (26) are visible from the side of the glass (26) and a second state wherein said elements are hidden. A kinematic connection is arranged between the control body (16) and the mobile frame (30), said kinematic connection comprising a first toothing secured to the control body, a second toothing secured to the mobile frame and arranged in a different plane from that of the first toothing, and a setting-wheel train kinematically connecting the first toothing and the second toothing. The setting-wheel train is pivoted on the middle (14) and comprises at least two moving parts arranged in the same plane parallel to the plane defined by the movement (18), and at least two moving parts that are interconnected by a shaft pivoted on the middle (14) and orthogonal thereto.
Abstract:
A watch or timepiece regulating member includes a balance, a balance-cock, at least one light energy source, and at least one balance spring attached between the balance and the balance-cock. The balance spring is made of quartz or of glass or of ceramic or is partially transparent to visible and/or ultraviolet wavelengths or made of an at least partially amorphous material and transmits and diffuses light emitted by the light energy source.