Self-winding Atmos Clock

Imagine a clock that winds itself based on changes in atmospheric pressure. This clock doesn’t need a human. It winds itself with the help of a sealed bellows of ethyl chloride: when the temperature rises, the metal spring is condensed, when it falls, the metal spring expands, and the mainspring is wound. Because this clock is so delicate, a pendulum was invented that practically has no friction and hangs off a wire thinner than a human hair. This is the Atmos clock, brand name of a torsion pendulum clock made by Jaeger-LeCoultre in Switzerland. 

Clocks that ran on atmospheric pressure were invented in the 17^th century and refined throughout the 18^th century. A particularly noteworthy torsion pendulum clock is the Beverly Clock in Dunedin, New Zealand, which has not been touched by a human since 1864 and is still telling accurate time. 

I love this Gold and Crystal Atmos 9” mantel clock with its modern case, given to HK’s grandfather, as were so many of these clocks in the mid-20^th century. Many Atmos clocks were presented (boxed) since the 1940s. Not the least of the ‘givers’ is and was the Swiss Government, for which the Atmos Mantle Clock is the go-to gift for visiting dignitaries since the 1950s. 

In the U.S., the model is gold plating over brass with a five-panel crystal casing. The Swiss made other models for dignitaries from Japan, featuring views of Mt. Fuji and a pagoda. The Marina design features motifs of the ocean. The ribbed brass model and a round or square faced model sell at auction under for $1,000; the black enamel round face model is $1,500. The clock has different outward casing styles but technically speaking is the same internally since 1946. Popular as retirement and wedding gifts bestowed by employers and families respectively, the gift of the Atmos suggested a relationship honored. The gifted  Atmos symbolized – and indeed actualized – reliability, dependability, accuracy, and beauty. 

For example, a version of the Atmos mantel clock called the Moonphase, which retails today (used) for $10,000, is the same torsion pendulum Atmos clock set into a case of plated rose gold and crystal. The difference is that the Moonphase tells the time, month, and moon phases – the moon phase mechanism itself so precisely engineered it is said to take 3,821 years to accumulate a one-day error. 

The Atmos was invented by the Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter in 1928 and became commercially produced by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1936. Jaeger-LeCoultre was formed in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre. The brand is my favorite. They have invented and patented thousands of clock movements: for example, the world’s smallest movement, the world’s most complicated movement, and the “perpetual” movement of the Atmos clock. 

My business manager Shawn is a collector of men’s unique wrist watches and loves the wizardry of the Tourbillion movement Jaeger-LeCoultre Grand Complication watch. Designed in 2009, it is called the Hybris Mechanica à Grand Sonnerie – and will set you back $2.5 million. What you get on your wrist for $2.5M are treats for the ear, because Sonnerie means “chimes,” and yes, the watch has miniature tiny gongs and hammers inside that can play the miniature chimes inside that watch. Because of its 1,300 parts and many complex tiny gears, it plays the entire Big Ben Chime Song, and the Westminster Chime Song, as well as showing you the time, and the perpetual calendar for the date, day, month, and leap year. The challenge to the watchmaking industry in the creation of the Grand Complication is the precise engineering needed to find more and more complexity in a relatively small wristwatch – and to achieve this complexity through mechanical miniaturization that does NOT rely on digital diminution but on precision analog engineering.  

If, in 1980, your Casio digital wonder beeped every hour, this $2.5M Hybris Mechanica à Grand Sonnerie wristwatch will play amazing tiny chimes. It will come delivered with its own 450 lb. safe and two back up watches. 

Over the length of its career as THE premier Swiss mantle clock, the Atmos has had various models and changes to its horology, but the essential engineering is the same. In the last few years a LeCoultre designer developed the “Atmos Mysterieuse,” a most gorgeous torsion pendulum mantel clock set in a case with a base covered in cream colored shagreen (shark’s hide), and mother of pearl, with a Baccarat crystal cloche which hermetically seals the Atmos horological movement. The case is accented with 9.35 carats of diamonds and retails for $230,000.

The value of the 1960s era Atmos is $500. HK reports it is in working order and she would like to sell (contact me).