Antiques: Atmos, queens of clocks

If there is one clock that has stood the test of time above all others, it is the Atmos by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Its cut-out dial, innovative movement and distinctive brass-and-glass case give it a look all its own.

Since the 1930s, more than 500,000 Atmos clocks have been made in a variety of configurations. You have probably seen, admired and perhaps even owned one. And the story behind Atmos clocks is almost as captivating as the clock itself. It goes like this.

Towards the end of the Roaring '20s, a dreamy French engineer named Jean-Léon Reutter was enchanted by the idea of a clock that needed no winding. Recognizing that it doesn't take much power to keep a clock ticking, he explored the idea of utilizing the energy inherent in atmospheric changes to create a means of perpetual motion. Could the up-and-down movement of mercury inside barometers be enough to power a clock? It was — and the Atmos clock was born.

A few years later, a chance purchase of an Atmos by an executive of the storied Swiss watch firm LeCoultre eventually resulted in the company acquiring all rights to the Atmos technology. LeCoultre's later merger with its competitor Jaeger created a major player in the premium watch market, a role that Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to occupy to this day. Subsequent to its merger, Jaeger-LeCoultre invested heavily in developing the Atmos, and the years have proven this to be a wise decision. Without a doubt, the Atmos has become one of the most iconic clocks of the 20th century.

Just like the originals, those made today are assembled by hand and require more than a month of testing before being released for sale. Considering the tiny amount of energy available to them, Atmos parts require extremely high precision so that friction is reduced almost to nil. Apart from periodic cleaning, there is no maintenance required, and the estimated working life of a typical Atmos is centuries. Its cachet has further been burnished by the Swiss government's practice of using Atmos clocks as gifts of state. The Vatican is known to have many, and rare is the seat of government that does not have an Atmos sitting around somewhere.

Over the years, Atmos clocks have varied considerably in both design and movement. More than 15 different movements (known as "calibers") have been employed, and housings run the gamut from rectangular to cathedral-like to asymmetric. Limited editions with fancy designer imprimaturs have also been introduced and are aimed largely at collectors. Serial and caliber numbers found on most models give evidence both of the manufacturing date and the number of clocks in the series. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands.

For most people, however, the Atmos is simply a lovely clock that requires virtually no maintenance and will deliver reliable timekeeping for many generations to come. For such a complex instrument, the appeal is simple.

Mike Rivkin and his wife, Linda, are longtime residents of Rancho Mirage. For many years, he was an award-winning catalogue publisher and has authored seven books, along with countless articles. Now, he's the owner of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His antiques column appears Saturdays in The Desert Sun. Want to send Mike a question about antiques? Drop him a line at info@silverfishpress.com.