| abstract |
A method for manufacturing a timepiece component comprising the steps of manufacturing a master for the timepiece component and then manufacturing a polymer mould based on the master piece. The mould is then filled with a metallic material (e.g., by electroforming or electroless plating) such as to build up the timepiece component with the material, and the component is then separated from the mould. According to the invention, during the step of manufacturing the mould, a fluid resin is applied onto the master. Preferably, the master is placed on a fixed support, and after the fluid resin has been applied on to the master, the resin is pressed onto the master by means of a press. The step of filling the mould with the metallic material may be preceded by a step of at least partly coating the mould with a conductive or catalytic coating. The invention also relates to a timepiece component manufactured by means of the above method. The timepiece component may comprise a surface topology or pattern on the nanometer and/or micrometer scale that is faithfully replicated from the master. |