Patent ID: 7755977

Claim:
A display unit for a portable instrument, the unit comprising: (a) a plurality of transparent or semi-transparent rigid elements supported on or in a support; (b) at least one display cell; and (c) control means connected to at least two electrodes of the cell, wherein the control means provide electrical signals to the electrodes in order to place the cell in a first state for displaying information, and in the absence of electrical signals the cell is in a second state at rest, wherein the transparent or semi-transparent rigid elements are precious stones or synthetic stones which comprise a plurality of cut facets, wherein the stones are supported on or in the support and disposed on a rear face of the display cell in order to combine information of the cell in the first display state (1) with light refraction through the visible cut stones, or (2) with light reflection on or in the visible cut stones, or (3) with light refraction through the visible cut stones and with light reflection on or in the visible cut stones, wherein at least one upper flat facet of each stone is disposed parallel to the front face or to the rear face of the display cell, and wherein lower facets of each cut stone are inclined by an angle less than 90° relative to the front face or to the rear face in order to reflect a part of the light passing through one or more of the visible stones.