Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos
”Sort by
Atmos: Driven by Hidden Forces
The Atmos is Jaeger-LeCoultre's mechanical table clock with a torsion pendulum. A beautiful addition to any home, it fascinates observers with its unique power source: changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure. Thus, you never need to wind it!
Highlights
- Fascinating timepiece: powered without a movement, battery, or solar cells
- Precise technology and timepiece
- Luxury, decorative table clock
- Official Swiss gift to foreign state guests
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Powers Itself
At first glance, Jaeger-LeCoultre's Atmos looks like any other table clock. However, the Atmos is incredibly unique: It's not powered by a battery, weights, or key winding, but rather by temperature changes in its immediate environment. Seeing as the clock is sensitive to dust, its ingenious technology is safely contained in a glass case. Jaeger-LeCoultre decided against adding a seconds hand in order to save energy.
Which Atmos should I buy?
Model | Price (approx.) |
Atmos Marqueterie, Ref. Q5543307 | 140,000 euros |
Atmos by Mac Newson, Ref. Q5165103 | 100,000 euros |
Atmos Réédition 1930, Ref. Q5175101 | 20,000 euros |
Atmos Classique Phases de lune, Ref. Q5111202 | 6,500 euros |
Atmos Classique, Ref. 5101202 | 5,000 euros |
Detailed Price Information
In terms of price, most Atmos clocks cost under 10,000 euros. However, some cost more, such as the Atmos Réédition. This clock, first produced in the 1930s, has a historic design with a large, round glass bell jar supported by a steel platform; it is available for 20,000 euros. Even more expensive are the blue crystal Atmos models designed by the Australian designer Marc Newson. Only 28 clocks (reference number Q5165103) were produced, and their price reflects their rarity: They cost around 100,000 euros.
Most Atmos models have conservative designs with metal pieces made of gold-plated brass. You can purchase one of these clocks in good or very good condition for 2,000 euros. The Classique version (reference number 5101202) has a dial featuring Roman numerals and is available for around 5,000 euros. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Classique is 22.5 cm tall, 20 cm wide, and has a depth of 15.5 cm. In addition to the gold versions, there are also silver-gray versions made of rhodinized brass.
The Marina version (costing around 4,000 euros) is in a solid case and features maritime imagery such as ships, fish, and water plants. You can find a special model of this version, the China Aquarium, under reference number 5806.
Seeing as most complications require massive amounts of energy, Jaeger-LeCoultre forwent extras on the Atmos in favor of a smoothly running clock. One exception is the version with a moon phase display at the six o'clock position; it costs around 6,500 euros.
Almost a Perpetual Motion Clock
The round pendulum that functions as a balance wheel swings back and forth once a minute and is sure to catch onlookers' eyes. But where does it get its energy? The secret is temperature change; the Atmos draws its energy from changes in temperature in its immediate environment . The clock features an internal hermetically sealed capsule filled with ethylene chloride. Minimal rises in temperature cause the liquid in the capsule to change into gas, expanding the flexible capsule, which then pushes against a balance spring. It reaches its maximum expansion at 27 degrees Celsius and shrinks again as temperatures drop, thereby relaxing the balance spring.
This growing and shrinking motion is used to wind the caliber's mainspring and put the hands in motion. A temperature change of one degree Celsius is enough to power the clock for two days. Theoretically, the Atmos can function forever, as long as it experiences enough temperature fluctuations in its environment. However, it's recommended to have your Atmos serviced every 15 years to make sure it keeps running smoothly.
A Gift for State Guests to Switzerland
The Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter (1899-1971) invented the Atmos in 1928. Jaeger-LeCoultre bought the patent shortly thereafter. The company has more or less kept the design of the atmospheric clock consistent since 1945. From a physics point of view, the Atmos is a heat engine; for Swiss state guests, on the other hand, it's a gift. The Swiss government gives its official visitors an Atmos clock as a lasting memory and symbol of the Swiss people's special watchmaking skills.
The Atmos runs even more precisely than the chronometer norm established for wristwatches . Usually, the clock deviates from the reference time by about one minute each month. When regulated even more precisely, it's possible that the clock will deviate by only 30 seconds per month. This is an astounding value considering the pendulum only undergoes 120 alternations per hour. In comparison, the balance wheel of a modern wristwatch vibrates at 28,800 alternations per hour. The Atmos's pendulum is supported by a suspension wire made of Elinvar, a material that is resistant to temperature changes – an important characteristic for this clock.
The Energy-Saving Clock
Even more impressive is the minimal energy needed to keep the Atmos running. According to Jaeger-LeCoultre, it would take 60 million Atmos clocks to equal the energy use of a 15-watt light bulb. The movement functions with as few components as possible, none of which require lubrication. Friction loss is thus minimized and the caliber runs smoothly; however, this also makes the movement sensitive to dust particles. Thus, the clock's case isn't just decorative, but rather a method of protecting the caliber.
Top categories
More watches
Model
- Albatros
- AMVOX
- Deep Sea
- Deep Sea Chronograph
- Duomètre
- Geophysic
- Geophysic 1958
- Geophysic True Second
- Geophysic Universal Time
- Grande Reverso
- Grande Reverso 976
- Grande Reverso Calendar
- Grande Reverso Duo
- Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin
- Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin Duetto Duo
- Grande Reverso Night & Day
- Grande Reverso Ultra Thin
- Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931
- Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface
- Ideale
- Master Calendar
- Master Chronograph
- Master Compressor
- Master Compressor Chronograph
- Master Compressor Chronograph 2
- Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic
- Master Compressor Diving
- Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs
- Master Compressor Diving Automatic Navy SEALs
- Master Compressor Diving Chronograph
- Master Compressor Diving Chronograph GMT Navy SEALs
- Master Compressor Diving GMT
- Master Compressor Diving Pro Geographic
- Master Compressor Extreme
- Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2 Tribute to Geophysic
- Master Compressor Extreme Tourbillon
- Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm
- Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph
- Master Compressor Geographic
- Master Compressor GMT
- Master Compressor Lady Automatic
- Master Control
- Master Control Date
- Master Date Tourbillon 39
- Master Eight Days
- Master Eight Days Perpetual
- Master Geographic
- Master Grande Tradition
- Master Grande Ultra Thin
- Master Grand Réveil
- Master Grand Tourbillon
- Master Hometime
- Master Memovox
- Master Minute Repeater
- Master Réserve de Marche
- Master Tourbillon
- Master Ultra Thin
- Master Ultra Thin 38
- Master Ultra Thin Date
- Master Ultra Thin Moon
- Master Ultra Thin Perpetual
- Master Ultra Thin Réserve de Marche
- Master Ultra Thin Tourbillion
- Master World Geographic
- Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea
- Odysseus
- Polaris
- Rendez-Vous
- Reverso
- Reverso Classic Medium Duetto
- Reverso Classic Small
- Reverso Classic Small Duetto
- Reverso Classique
- Reverso Duetto
- Reverso Duetto Classique
- Reverso Duetto Duo
- Reverso Duoface
- Reverso Grande Date
- Reverso Grande Taille
- Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2
- Reverso Lady
- Reverso Memory
- Reverso Squadra
- Reverso Squadra Chronograph GMT
- Reverso Squadra Hometime
- Reverso Squadra Lady
- Reverso Squadra Lady Duetto
- Reverso Squadra World Chronograph
Case material