# US 11,027,574 B2 · Process for the production of a timepiece provided with a raised external element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,574 B2 - Document ID: US11027574B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/591,138 - Filed: 2017-05-10 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-19 - Assignees: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Applicants: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Inventors: Pascal Grossenbacher; Stewes Bourban; Pierry Vuille; Yves Winkler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027574B2 ## CPC - B44C 1/14: Metallic leaves or foils, e.g. gold leaf - B44C 1/24: Pressing or stamping ornamental designs on surfaces - C25D 1/10: Moulds; Masks; Masterforms - G04B 19/042: {Construction and manufacture of the hands; arrangements for increasing reading accuracy (hands with illumination G04B19/305; specially shaped hands, e.g. figures or pictures G04B45/0061; clockwork in the hands G04B45/043; invisible drive of the hands G04B45/046)} - G04B 19/10: Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial {(cases for special purposes, e.g. ring or button watches G04B37/12; indicating means with special effects G04B45/00)} - G04B 19/12: Selection of materials for dials or graduations {markings} - G04B 19/18: Graduations on the crystal or glass, on the bezel, or on the rim - G04B 19/28: Adjustable guide marks or pointers for indicating determined points of time {(inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003)} - G04B 45/00: Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects (ornamental shaping of dials G04B19/10 ){(lubrication of clockwork bearings G04B31/008; special effects and pictures in general B44F)} - G04D 3/0048: {for dials (construction thereof G04B19/10, G04B19/12)} - A44C 27/00: Making jewellery or other personal adornments - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) - G04D: APPARATUS OR TOOLS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING OR MAINTAINING CLOCKS OR WATCHES - A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS ## Abstract The invention relates to a process for the production of a part provided with an external element comprising the following steps: provide an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a pattern forming a recess in said upper surface deposit an electrically insulating layer into the pattern so that the insulating layer extends as far as the upper surface deposit a metal layer onto the upper surface of the substrate by galvanic growth so that at the end of this step the metal layer partly rests on the insulating layer dissolve the insulating layer cover an assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part, wherein the mass forms an imprint of the assembly separate the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, wherein the mass then exhibits an external element with a shape corresponding to the imprint of the pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the production of a part of a timepiece or a jewelry provided with an external element comprising: forming an electrically conductive substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; forming a pattern having a recess within the substrate between the upper surface and the lower surface; depositing an electrically insulating layer into the recess so that an upper surface of the insulating layer extends only as far as the upper surface of the substrate; depositing a metal layer onto the upper surface of the substrate by galvanic growth so that a bottom surface of the metal layer covers only a portion of the upper surface of the insulating layer; dissolving the insulating layer; covering an assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer with a mass of a base material of the part, wherein the mass forms an imprint of the pattern; and separating the mass and the metal layer from the substrate, wherein the mass then exhibits an external element with a shape corresponding to the imprint of the pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1 further comprising: dissolving the metal layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1 further comprising: before the step of depositing the insulating layer, machining the upper surface of the substrate so as to create a texture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1, wherein the pattern has a base that has a texture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1 further comprising: after the step of depositing the metal layer, machining the metal layer so as to reduce its a thickness of the metal layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1, wherein the base material is an amorphous metal or a polymer, and the covering is performed by pressing a block of base material onto the assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1, wherein the base material is metallic, and the covering is performed by galvanic growth of the base material on the assembly comprising the substrate and the metal layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer is formed from gold, silver or nickel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The production process according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is formed from resin.