Imagine a clock that winds itself based on changes in atmospheric pressure. This Atmos 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 condenses. When the temp falls, the metal spring expands, and the mainspring winds. Because the clock is so delicate, a pendulum with practically no friction and hangs off a wire thinner than a human hair. This Atmos clock is the brand of a torsion pendulum clock made by Jaeger-LeCoultre of Switzerland.

Clocks that ran on atmospheric pressure were invented in the 17th century and refined throughout the 18th century.

A particularly noteworthy torsion pendulum clock is the Beverly Clock in Dunedin New Zealand. A human hasn’t touched it since 1864. It still tells accurate time.

I love this Gold and Crystal Atmos nine-inch mantel clock with its modern case. HK’s grandfather received it as a gift like many VIPs in the mid-20th century. Many boxed Atmos clocks were presented since the 1940s. Not the least of the ‘givers’ is and was The Atmos Mantle Clock became the go-to gift for the Swiss government to give visiting dignitaries since the 1950s.

The US version is gold-plating over brass with 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 $1,000. Black enamel round-face models go for $1,500. The clock shows different outward casing styles but technically contains the same internal workings since 1946. From retirement to wedding gifts, the Atmos reflected a relationship honored because Atmos reflected reliability, dependability, accuracy, and beauty.

A version of the Atmos mantel clock called the Moonphase retails today, used, for $10,000. It’s the same torsion pendulum Atmos clock set in a case of plated Rose Gold and crystal. The difference is that the Moonphase tells the time, month, and moon phases, and is NOT accurate only once in every 3,821 years.

Swiss engineer Jean-Leon Ruetter invented the Atmos in 1928. It became commercially produced by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1936. Antoine LeCoultre formed Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1833. They’ve 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 collects unique wristwatches. He loves the wizardry of the Tourbillion movement Jaeger-LeCoultre Grand Complication. Called the Hybris Mechanica a Grand Sonnerie this wristwatch designed in 2009 will set you back $2.5 Million. For $2.5M you get treats for the ear. Sonnerie means ”chimes,” and yes, the watch contains miniature tiny gongs and hammers that play miniature chimes inside that watch. Because of its 1,300 parts and complex tiny gears, it plays the entire Big Ben Chime Song. It also plays the Westminster Chime Song as well as showing you the time and 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 complexity in a relatively small wristwatch. To solve the complexity problem in mechanically engineered miniature ways that are NOT digitally based, but mechanical.

If, in 1980, your Casio beeped every hour, this $2.5Million dollar Hybris Mechanica a Grand Sonnerie wristwatch will play amazing tiny chimes. It comes delivered with its own 450 pound safe and two back up watches.

Over the length of its career as THE premier Swiss mantle clock, the Atmos has undergone various models and changes to its horology, but the essential engineering remains the same. However, in the last few years a LeCoultre designer developed the ‘Atmos Mysterieise,’ 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 comes accented with 9.35 carats of diamonds and retails for $230,000.

The value of the 1960s era Atmos is $500. HK reports it’s in working order and she wants to sell. Contact me if interested.

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