Nivarox

Nivarox (full business name Nivarox - FAR SA) is a Swiss company formed by a merger in 1984 between Nivarox SA and Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunis (FAR). It is currently owned by the Swatch Group ^[1]. Nivarox is also the trade name of the metallic alloy from which its products are fabricated. Nivarox is most famous for producing hairsprings which are attached to the balance wheel inside a mechanical watch movement, as well as mainsprings which provide the motive power for the watch.

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The Nivarox story began in 1933 when Dr. Straumann perfected the process of hairspring manufacturing in his Waldenbourg laboratory. FAR was the corporate name chosen in 1932 for the entity comprising several companies and subsidiaries located in Le Locle, Switzerland, manufacturing various watch components.

The Nivarox alloy

As a trade name Nivarox is a German acronym for "Nicht Variable Oxydfest" (G.) or "Non-Variable Non-Oxidizing." (E.). The Nivarox alloy is a metallic alloy used mainly in the watch industry, but also in other micro-machine industries and in certain medical equipment and surgical instruments. There are several variations of the Nivarox alloy depending upon the intended application. These alloys are stainless steel alloys with high concentrations of Cobalt (42-48%), Nickel (15-25%) and Chromium (16-22%). There are also small amounts of titanium and beryllium. Hairsprings made of this alloy are wear-resistant; they are practically non-magnetic, non-rusting and possess a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

When used for critical watch components the alloy reduces errors due to temperature variation. This alloy made obsolete the expensive compensation balance. Nivarox springs are used most watchmakers worldwide.

Nivaflex

Nivaflex NM, NO, NE, 45/5 and 45/18 are various alloys used for the mainsprings of watches. The NO, NM, NE, 45/5 and 45/18, are generally the same alloy (e.g. 45% Cobalt + 21% Nickel + 18% Chromium + 5% Iron + 4% Tungsen + 4% Molybdenum + 1% Titanium) except that the Nivaflex 45/5 has an additional 0.2% Beryllium.

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