Timepiece mechanism having a contact pair with no lubrication

A timepiece mechanism comprising at least one pair of components including a first component including a material taken from a first group including silicon dioxide, natural diamond, micro- or nano-crystalline CVD diamond, solid monocrystalline diamond, and amorphous carbon known as diamond-like carbon or “DLC”, and having a first friction surface arranged to cooperate with a second friction surface comprised in a second opposing component, wherein said second opposing component includes, at least in said second friction surface thereof, a material with a high concentration of boron, greater than 10 atomic percent, and wherein said first component includes a first friction layer, and wherein said first component is in one-piece with said first friction layer in a material taken from said first group.

A timepiece mechanism comprising at least one pair of components including a first component including a material taken from a first group including silicon dioxide, natural diamond, micro- or nano-crystalline CVD diamond, solid monocrystalline diamond, and amorphous carbon known as diamond-like carbon or “DLC”, and having a first friction surface arranged to cooperate with a second friction surface comprised in a second opposing component, wherein said second opposing component includes, at least in said second friction surface thereof, a material with a high concentration of boron, greater than 10 atomic percent, and wherein said second component includes a surface friction layer, and wherein said second component is in one-piece with said second friction layer in a material formed by a ceramic containing boron, or including at least one ceramic containing boron.

A timepiece mechanism comprising at least one pair of components including a first component including a material taken from a first group including silicon dioxide SiO2, natural diamond, micro- or nano-crystalline CVD diamond, solid monocrystalline diamond, and amorphous carbon known as diamond-like carbon or “DLC”, and having a first friction surface arranged to cooperate with a second friction surface comprised in a second opposing component, wherein said second opposing component includes, at least in said second friction surface thereof, a material with a high concentration of boron, greater than 10 atomic percent, and wherein the mechanism is an escapement mechanism and includes a plurality of said pairs, each formed on the basis, on the one hand, of a tooth of an escapement wheel set, and on the other hand, of a pallet-stone of a pallet lever.

(canceled)

A method for transforming a timepiece mechanism of the type comprising at least one pair of components including a first component including a first friction surface arranged to cooperate with a second friction surface comprised in a second opposing component, wherein:

• a first friction layer in a material taken from a first group including including silicon dioxide, natural diamond, micro- or nano-crystalline CVD diamond, solid monocrystalline diamond, and amorphous carbon known as diamond-like carbon or “DLC” is applied to said first friction surface to form a new first hard friction surface, and
• a second friction layer, formed by a ceramic containing boron or including at least one ceramic containing boron, is applied to said second friction surface to form a new second hard friction surface, and
• said new first hard friction surface is made to cooperate in dry contact, without lubricant, with said new second hard friction surface.