Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Clocks Are Back

Visitors of Baselworld 2008 and the SIHH 2008 were surprised to discover magnificent clocks among the exhibits of the most prestigious brands highly respected for their wristwatches, with de Grisogono, Hermes, Franck Muller and Jaeger-LeCoultre among many other companies that have proclaimed their passion for the complex and ancient art of clock-making.

Jaeger-LeCoultre, the proud creator of the legandary Atmos clock, has marked its 175th anniversary with introducing new interpretations of the Atmos clock, for which the year 2008 is also a milestone year.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock is famous for two remarkable characteristics - it is easy to maintain and functions in a really extraordinary way. The Atmos requires no battery, electricity and even winding. The clock was born thanks to the genius of Jean-Leon Reutter.

Since he was 14, Jean-Leon Reutter was overwhelmed by the idea to invent a perpetual clock. Having graduated as an engineer from the prestigious Zurich Institute of Technology, in 1928 Jean-Leon developed the principle of a clock with an outstanding ability to keep time for centuries without any external intervention. In 1932, Jean-Leon Reutter met David LeCoultre who was ready to spend all his manufacturing resources on the production of this incredible clock.

The Atmos enjoyed an instant success, with some 750,000 sold to date. Moreover, the clock's mechanism is so environmentally-friendly that it would take 60 million to produce enough energy for lighting a single 15 watt bulb.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Atmos, Jaeger-LeCoultre has launched three totally original models created in close cooperation with leading artists and craftsmen.

The first Atmos has been created by famous designer Marc Newson, who has long been fascinated by the clock. The designer himself contacted Jaeger-LeCoultre and shared his idea about creating a new model. The Australian artist, the designer of the Orgone stretch lounge chair, has enveloped the Atmos 561 by Marc Newson in a Baccarat crystal ice-cube, inspired by the contemporary design principles of pure lines and forms. It took five attempts to come up with the ideally smooth crystal envelope.

The second original Atmos model has nothing to do with contemporary design, tracing back to the 17th century, when Andreas Cellarius drew his star chart. The Atmos Astronomique features a reproduction of a map of the heavens on a glass case. It is equipped with a complicated movement offering an equation of time, the month and showing the constellations of the northern hemisphere.

The third Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos glorifies the exquisite art of marquetry. The case of the clock, which automatically slides open, is a true masterpiece created in a limited edition of ten, being inlaid with hundreds of pieces of precious wood and gold leaf. The painstakingly assembled pieces reproduce the celebrated Portrait of Adele Bloch by Gustav Klimt.


Enjoy a selection of fine Jaeger-LeCoultre watches and clocks: