Method for manufacturing watch component

1. A method for manufacturing a watch component formed of austenitized ferritic stainless steel including a base formed of a ferrite phase and a surfacing layer formed of an austenitized phase in which the ferrite phase is austenitized, the method for manufacturing the watch component comprising:

a first processing step for forming a hole portion or a recessed portion at a base material formed of ferrite stainless steel;

a heat treatment step for performing a nitrogen absorption treatment on the base material to form the surfacing layer at a surface side of the base; and

a second processing step for cutting the surfacing layer corresponding to the hole portion or the recessed portion to form the watch component.

2. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third processing step for threading the surfacing layer to form a threaded portion.

3. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

in the heat treatment step, the surfacing layer is formed by a nitrogen solid solution.

4. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

in the second processing step, throughout an entire surface of the base material subjected to the nitrogen absorption treatment, the surfacing layer is cut by a predetermined thickness from the surface.

5. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

in the second processing step, cutting is performed such that a cut amount of a surfacing layer corresponding to the hole portion or the recessed portion is larger than a cut amount of a surfacing layer corresponding to a location other than the hole portion or the recessed portion.

6. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

the base contains, in percent by mass, Cr: 18 to 22%, Mo: 1.3 to 2.8%, Nb: 0.05 to 0.50%, Cu: 0.1 to 0.8%, Ni: less than 0.5%, Mn: less than 0.8%, Si: less than 0.5%, P: less than 0.10%, S: less than 0.05%, N: less than 0.05%, and C: less than 0.05%, with a balance being formed of Fe and unavoidable impurities.

7. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

in the heat treatment step, the nitrogen absorption treatment is performed on the base material such that a nitrogen content of the surfacing layer is 1.0 to 1.6% in percent by mass.

8. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

in the first processing step, any one of forging, casting, and powder molding is performed in addition to cutting.

9. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a polishing step, performed after the second processing step, for polishing a surface of the watch component.

10. The method for manufacturing the watch component according to claim 1 , wherein

the watch component is at least one of a case, a piece of a band, an end-piece, a clasp, a bezel, a case back, a crown, a button, and an outer body.