Alloys
A combination of two or more metals, melted or fused together.
Anibal, Nickel steel for balances, discovered by C. E. Guillaume; it contains 42 to 44%. nickel and is used instead of steel in the Guillaume bimetallic balance (integral balance).
Beryllium Bronze (Glucydur), an alloy with a low-coefficient of thermal expansion. Often used for making balance wheel; an alloy of beryllium, copper and iron. Its hardness (400 Brinell), non-magnetizability, resistance to deformation make it suited for making precision parts that need high dimensional stability. Also resistant to corrosion.
Bismuth is a brittle, grey-white metal with a melting-point of 268° C. It is used in compounding certain solders.
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. Light alloys, used for industrial purposes, contain light metals such as aluminium and magnesium.
Bronze, is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, (12–12.5% tin) and other metals (aluminium, manganese, nickel or zinc).
Elinvar, a term for steel-nickel alloys with a low thermoelastic coefficient close to zero within the normal range of temperatures (- 10° to + 30° C.)
German silver, (Maillechort). An alloy of copper, nickel and zinc developed in France circa 1820 by Maillot and Chorier from who its French name is taken.
Glucidur (Glucydur), An elastic but hard, non-magnetic and corrosion-proof alloy used to manufacturer monometallic balances.
Gold, Highly malleable, stainless, precious yellow metal. When alloyed with copper, silver, platinum or nickel, gold takes a fine polish, and a wide range of coloured alloys can be obtained. 24 carat gold is pure, 18 carat gold has 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts an additional metal (as noted above).
Gun metal, a red or yellow type of bronze, not prone to oxidation or discolouration.
Ingot, An ingot is a piece of pure metal, cast into a shape ready for further processing.
Invar,An abbreviation of invariable, an alloy of nickel and steel containing 36% nickel.
Platinum,A heavy, stainless, precious metal. In recently years over-mined, causing the price to fall.
Palladium, a very hard, brittle, stainless, non-magnetic white metal.
Silver, Silver is found in certain hard solders. It has been used historically to make watch cases and dials. It is soft and prone to oxidation if not protected.
Stainless steel, an iron alloy with added elements such as chromium, nickel, silicon and manganese.
Steel, an alloy of iron with a carbon.
Titanium, has a silver colour, low density, and high strength, it is resistant to corrosion in sea water, aqua regia, and chlorine. There exists multiple types/grades of titanium.
Tungsten, a hard and dense metal often used in watches for the material of the rotor weight.
Zinc, Zinc is a delicate metal at room temperature with a blue-silvery colour when not oxidation. Used producing brass and German silver. Zinc is also used to make soldering-fluids. It is also applied by electroplating to protect iron and steel.