Method for testing and producing balance springs for timepieces

Abstract

Method for testing a balance spring or a balance spring blank arranged to form a balance spring, the balance spring being required to have at least one predetermined expected resonance frequency, the testing method including the following steps: a. applying to the balance spring or balance spring blank, a vibratory excitation that varies over time in order to cover a predetermined frequency range, b. identifying at least one characteristic of a resonance frequency of the balance spring or balance spring blank, such as a resonance peak, during, or in response to, the vibratory excitation over the predetermined frequency range, c. subjecting the resonance frequency characteristic identified in step b. to a prediction machine in order to determine if the balance spring or balance spring blank is affected by a defect.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.