MICROMECHANICS

Micromechanics is the branch of mechanics that designs, manufactures, and assembles mechanical components and systems of very small dimensions, with manufacturing tolerances of the order of a Micron. Watchmaking is one of the most accomplished historical applications: gear trains, springs, pivots and regulating organs require extreme dimensional precision to operate reliably within a small volume. Beyond the watch, Micromechanics today finds applications in medical instrumentation, aerospace, and precision electronics, fields that share with watchmaking similar requirements for miniaturization and reliability.

The rise of horological Micromechanics is closely linked to the industrial history of the Jura Arc, where know-how and machine tools dedicated to the machining of very small parts developed from the 19th century onward. Modern micro-machining processes — Electrical discharge machining (EDM), precision Profile turning, UV-LIGA Electroforming technology for microstructured metal components, or DRIE (Deep Reactive Ion Etching) etching for silicon components — make it possible to achieve submicron tolerances. This discipline remains at the heart of contemporary watchmaking innovation, particularly for the manufacture of silicon regulating organs.