Method for printing a functional element on a timepiece component

A method for printing a functional element on a surface of a receiving area of a timepiece component of a timepiece, contributing to setting a rate of the timepiece, said method comprising:

• preparing a solution containing a material constituting said functional element, said preparing comprising defining specific properties of the solution as a function of preparation criteria, said properties concerning a viscosity and a surface tension of the solution and the preparation criteria comprising:
• structural modification features of the timepiece component,
• construction features of the functional element on said receiving area, said construction features including geometric dimensions, and mechanical, chemical, and aesthetic properties of the functional element to be constructed,
• structural features of the material to be applied to the receiving area, said structural features comprising aesthetic, physical, and chemical properties including a density of said material, and
• features of said receiving area of the component comprising geometric dimensions of the surface of the receiving area that can be covered by the functional element, mechanical and chemical properties of the material constituting the area said properties including adhesion, surface roughness, surface energy, and surface tension properties of the surface of the receiving area;
• and
• depositing, using a spraying device, said prepared solution onto the surface of the receiving area,
• wherein said defining comprises a phase of generating the specific properties of the solution from said preparation criteria estimated in determination phases, the preparation criteria comprising:
• structural modification features of the timepiece component,
• construction features of the functional element on said receiving area,
• structural features of the material to be applied to said receiving area,
• features of said receiving area of the component, and
• features regarding a printing technology implemented in the method, and
• wherein during the generation phase:
• the viscosity property of the solution is determined from the preparation criteria, and is sufficiently high to prevent spreading or even bursting of drops resulting from spraying the solution beyond the target receiving area for the printing of the solution, the viscosity property being established in consideration of the size of the receiving area and also in consideration of aesthetic criteria concerning the final appearance of the functional element, and
• the surface tension property of the solution is adjusted according to the surface energy in the receiving area of the timepiece component, the surface tension of the solution being lower than the surface energy in the receiving area.