Watchmakers persuing this ambitious new idea were unsuccessful at first, mainly because with all their efforts, they were still trying to use the traditional watchmaking movements known at that time. All of which required too much power in order for the theory of perpetual motion to work.
However, in 1927, a Swiss engineer named Jean-Leon Reutter who was also fascinated with the idea of perpetual motion, finally succeeded in designing a movement that needed a thousand times less energy than a conventional clock movement! THE ATMOS CLOCK WAS BORN! Operating on nothing else than atmospheric changes and pressure, Mr Reutter designed the ATMOS to run, quite literally, "ON AIR".
As remarkable and ingenious as this new invention was, it still lacked total efficiency. It wasn't until a few years later, when master watchmaker David LeCoultre saw Reutter's invention in a shop window, walked in and purchased it. Upon close examination, LeCoultre then determined that the movement on this revolutionary clock could be made to work much more efficiently.
Just one year later, in the now famous factory of The Vallee De Joux, LeCoultre launched the first series of ATMOS clocks. Built with sufficient precision to uphold the reputation and highest standards of quality, LeCoultre's finest achievement - the ATMOS CLOCK, is still regarded as a technological masterpiece and is coveted by clockmakers and clock collectors the world over.
The Atmos Elysee, fitted with calibre 540, displays hours and minutes. It is available with an arab numeral dial or a roman numeral dial.
The Atmos Vendome, fitted with calibre 544, displays hours, minutes and moon phases on a roman numeral dia. The base of the cabinet is in marble.
The Atmos Opera, fitted with calibre 545, displays hours and minutes. It also shows moon phases, thanks to a moon phases display with hand.
The French designer Robert Kohler was fascinated by the slow and silent alternations of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock. He has transported the Atmos beyond earth-bound time. Suspended in its crystal-clear capsule, the Atmos Atlantis seems to float weightlessly in space. This model is available in two versions : gold-plated or rhodium-plated.
The Atmos China, fitted with calibre 540 displays hours and minutes. The case of the Atmos China is black lacquered, decorated with motifs entirely painted by hand, which makes each piece unique.
In our high-tech age, wood was chosen in tribute to the ageless elegance of the Atmos, which has remained unequalled since 1928. Intended for collectors or enthusiasts always on the look-out for exceptional creations, Atmos has arrayed itself in all its finery : a precious wood exterior devised to match the unique concept and mechanism it houses.
Only the rarest materials, perfectly harmonised and offering optimal resistance to ageing, were judged worthy of adorning this all but perpetual movement. To meet this daunting challenge, the Manufacture selected the most prestigious types of wood. The doors are enhanced by marquetry inlays representing the earth's two hemispheres.
The Atmos Marqueterie "Quatre Saisons", exceptional work of art gave master cabinet makers the opprtunity to give free rein to their creative passion. Common sense has no place here : passion and excess alone could inspire a creation of such complexity. Only the talent of Jerome Bouttencon - a marquetry artisan based in Sainte-Croix and nominated French "craftsman of the year" in 1994 - could accomplish such a painstaking task.
Using over 100 types of wood, more than 2000 parts were delicately fashioned to create a faithful reproduction of the 4 motifs of the seasons as depicted by Alphonse Mucha, a major Art Nouveau figure. Two years of work were not enough for Jerome Bouttencon to complete the limited edition of 25 Atmos Marqueterie "Quatre Sainsons". The finesse of the achievement demands a standard of quality rare attained in figurative marquetry work.
