HK40014592A - Method for identifying a timepiece - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a method for identifying a watch part.

The issues of traceability and unique authentication of a product are of great importance, especially in the watchmaking field. Several solutions are known to facilitate the identification of a finished product, the most commonly used of which are the addition of a unique external or internal physical identifier to the object (chip, barcode, RFID tag, etc.) or the affixing of a unique physical or chemical mark directly on the object. The information related to this unique identifier is then in a database, accessible for comparison and authentication of a product by e.g. an after-sales service or the end consumer. US 2014/140570 A1 refers to an object authentication series in which a unique code for the object is generated from an object's defects, such as the image of the object and a number associated with the same object, in a database.

In the watchmaking industry, the most commonly used solution for traceability and authentication of a piece is physical or chemical marking (engraving of a unique identification number, for example). This marking can be done on a non-visible or visible place on the finished product.

However, the identification mark which is not visible on the finished product assembled must be at least partially removed to verify its authenticity, while the mark placed on a visible part of the object must be aesthetic, non-invasive and wear resistant to prevent its erasure and ensure proper authentication of the object over time.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of identification of an object, particularly suitable for the watchmaking industry, which allows for increased traceability and facilitates authentication of the object.

The present invention is concerned with an identification process according to claim 1.

The process of identifying a watch part according to the invention includes the following steps.

The first step is to photograph a first area of the watchpiece with sufficient magnification to reveal the traces or defects in or on the watchpiece substrate due to the manufacturing process of the watchpiece (polishing, engraving, milling, turning, enamelling, assembly, etc.) in this first area. These traces or defects are distinct, distinguishable and unique from one object to another. They therefore constitute a unique identification imprint of the watchpiece.

Traces or defects characterising the first zone may also include, for example, scratches which form on a watch part (e.g. a tenon or pivot of a watch part) when a first watch part component (e.g. the movement) is embedded in a second watch part component (e.g. the box).

The first zone may be the pivot of the seconds hand or the centre grip of the movement of a watchpiece. These elements usually have a polished surface for aesthetic reasons in particular. The polishing traces can be seen by photograph with sufficient magnification and are distinct, distinguishable and unique from one pivot or grip to another, from one watchpiece to another. In addition, the pivot of the seconds hand or the centre grip is protected by the ice of the watchpiece, through which it is nevertheless taken, and therefore does not risk being damaged or transformed by the use or wearing of the watchpiece.

The second step of the process is to transform, by means of an appropriate algorithm, the traces or defects in or on the first area photographed in the previous step into a unique code to form a unique identifier of the watch part.

Finally, the unique identifier is stored in a database, to allow the watch to be authenticated in the future by comparing the new unique code obtained by a new photograph of the first zone.

Preferably, in addition to the unique code characterising the traces and defects of the watch substrate in the first zone, the unique identifier also includes information characteristic of the first zone (coordinates in a watch part-specific repository, name of the zone or element, etc.) to identify this first zone on the watch part.

This gives a method of identification which allows the authentication of the watchpiece to be carried out quickly, easily and without dismantling: it is enough to take a new photograph of the first area, to transform the traces or defects detected into a new code using the appropriate algorithm and to compare this new code with the unique code of the unique identifier of the watchpiece stored in the database.

The process of the invention is also easy to implement, without the need for complex means for the photograph of the first zone. The data stored for each object can be of minimal size by their nature (alphanumeric format for example for the unique code and characteristic information of the first zone, no need to store an image), saving storage space and allowing faster access to the database.

The identification process according to the invention also includes the following steps.

A macroscopic identification mark is affixed to a second area of the watch part. Preferably, this second area is not visible from the outside without disassembling the watch part. This mark may be for example a label or obtained by a physical or chemical modification of the watch part substrate in said second area, such as by engraving. The mark contains at least one piece of information about the watch part (serial number, model, etc.).

The information contained in the identification mark (s) shall be associated with the unique identifier of the watch part (unique code and possibly characteristic information of the first zone) and stored with it in the database, in order to enable the watch part to be authenticated in the future by comparison of the identification mark or the new code obtained by a new photograph of the first zone.

This process therefore provides even more robust and complete authentication of the watch part if necessary.

In addition, this process is particularly suitable for the watchmaking industry, where a watch is very often made up of at least two separate components which are linked or assembled during the final assembly, such as the case and movement, in which case it is possible to choose the first part of the watch on the first part, e.g. the movement, and to affix the identification mark (e.g. an engraved serial number) on the second part, e.g. the box. Thus, even if the identification mark is hidden in the watch box during the assembly of the watch, the watch is still easily identifiable by its first part if it is visible from the outside of the watch, while the watch can be fully authenticated by a disassembly area.

The process according to the invention ensures that even in the event of repair or maintenance requiring dismantling, the watch part is then traceable in its entirety via each of its components. Furthermore, tracking and identification of the watch part is still possible even if the first area has been damaged (repair, wear, etc.). In this case, it is possible to define a new first area with new characteristic information to obtain a new unique code to be associated with the information contained in the identification mark affixed in the second area, to obtain a new unique and complete identifier of the watch part.

Claims (7)

1. Method for identifying a timepiece comprising a first component and a second component, said method comprising the following steps:

   • photographing a first zone chosen on the first component of the timepiece with sufficient enlargement to show the tracks or flaws in or on the substrate of the timepiece in this first zone resulting from the process of manufacturing the timepiece, said tracks or flaws in or on the first zone comprising scratches produced when the second component is fitted into the first component;

   • using an appropriate algorithm to convert the tracks or flaws of the first zone which are picked out by photography into a unique code to form a unique identifier of the timepiece;

   • storing the unique identifier of the timepiece in a database to permit authentication of the timepiece in the future by comparison with a new unique code obtained after conversion by the algorithm of the tracks or flaws picked out by a new photograph of said first zone;

   • applying an identification mark to a second zone chosen on the second component of the timepiece, said mark containing at least one item of information characterising the timepiece;

   • associating said at least one item of information contained in the identification mark with the unique identifier of the timepiece and storing it with said unique identifier in the database to permit authentication of the timepiece in the future by comparison of the identification mark and/or a new unique code obtained after conversion by the algorithm of the tracks or flaws picked out by a new photograph of said first zone;
2. Method for identifying a timepiece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identifier further comprises information characteristic of the first zone permitting its location on the timepiece.
3. Method for identifying a timepiece as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first zone is chosen on a visible part of the outside of the timepiece.
4. Method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the identification mark is obtained by chemical or physical modification of the substrate of the second component of the timepiece in the second zone.
5. Method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the identification mark is not visible from the outside of the timepiece without disassembling it.
6. Method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first component is formed by the movement of the timepiece and the second component is formed by the case of the timepiece which is intended to receive said movement.
7. Method as claimed in the preceding claim 6, characterised in that the first zone is the pivot of the seconds hand or the centre post of the movement of the timepiece.