Atmos Clocks
Have you ever heard of a clock that runs on…AIR?
There is a clock manufactured in Switzerland that literally never needs winding because it runs off of air temperature and atmospheric pressure.
The clock is called the Atmos clock. The technological concept of the Atmos clock is quite interesting. Inside a sealed capsule, a gas and liquid mixture expands as the temperature rises and then contracts when the temperature falls. This moves the capsule back and forth like an invisible accordion. This motion constantly winds the mainspring which enables the clock to run and keep the perfect time. Small temperature variations of just one degree will operate the clock for two days! (Pretty cool, huh?!) No additional source of energy is needed to run this clock. The Atmos clock can last nearly forever if it is serviced every 20 years. The original claim is that the clock would last for 600 years. In the past, when the air was cleaner there wasn’t a need for a cleaning every 20 years, but with today’s air pollutants that has changed (now that’s got to be a bad sign regarding our environment, if there ever was one).
History of Atmos Clocks
Many Centuries ago, Leonardo Da Vinci tried to show the physical impossibility of making a perpetual motion device and predicted that it simply could not be done. Since then, scientists and artisans of many different nationalities have continuously attempted to do so anyway. The Atmos clock was invented in 1928 by Jean Léon Reutter, an engineer in Switzerland. He made a noncommercial prototype which predates the Atmos name. This prototype is now known as the Atmos 0. It was driven by a mercury in-glass expansion device. The mechanism operated on temperature change. It’s interesting that Da Vinci said a perpetual motion device such as the Atmos clock was impossible, because much of his art is located in the Vatican City art galleries, and the Vatican now has an Atmos clock (oh, the irony)! Suffice it to say, Da Vinci was a bit short sighted when it came to predicting future technology.
After an extensive development, Jaeger LeCoultre, a famous clock maker in his own right, patented the Atmos clock and began to market it world-wide. Since then, the clock has gone through some different variations. One of the changes to the Atmos clock was made in 1935. LeCoultre developed the Atmos II, which changed from using an ammonia and mercury mixture inside the sealed capsule to using ethyl chloride instead. This changed model had problems in production. Atmos II wasn’t in full production until 1939.
The Atmos clock is still made in Switzerland by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Company. There is also a Jaeger-LeCoultre dealer located in Winchester, Virginia. Each Atmos clock is still made by hand! In our time of mass-production this is quite unique. Each clock takes about a month to produce and then has to undergo another five weeks of trial and an adjustment process before it ever leaves the factory in Switzerland. I know, this sounds expensive and it is. The starting price of an Atmos clock is about $2,600. (By contrast, OnlineClock.net is free – power to the people!)
Types of Atmos Clocks Available
If the starting price of a new Atmos clock is too expensive (and it’s definitely too expensive for us!), there are pre-owned models you may be able to get your hands on for a starting price of around $850. Some of the pre-owned types that may be in circulation are identifiable by either serial numbers or calibers. These types are:
- The Atmos II and the Atmos III: These models include both the 519 caliber and the 529 caliber. Serial numbers for the Atmos II and Atmos III are somewhat intertwined. The serial numbers range from 4,000 to 59,999.
- The Atmos IV: These models include calibers 522 and 532 and have serial numbers from 60,000 to 69,999. This is LeCoultre’s shortest full production run ever. There will be less of these in circulation which will make them a rarity for collectors.
- The Atmos V: This model includes caliber 526.
- Atmos VI: This model includes caliber 528.
- Atmos VII and Atmos VIII These models include caliber 528/1. Serial numbers range from 70,000 to 599,999. Atmos stopped production of this model in 1983.
In late 1983, LeCoultre redesigned the Atmos clock. They started making the clock using a 540 caliber. They also started a new series of serial numbers. These new numbers start with 600,000 and the clocks are still being made today under various caliber numbers and model names.
Jaeger Le Coultre Logo
The value of these clocks fluctuate, and it is not an easy task to assign a specific value, since each clock would be valued differently, depending on the condition of the clock. Many companies gave Atmos clocks to people upon retirement or as general thanks for many years of service. People also acquired Atmos clocks through other means. Many people are finding Atmos clocks in various conditions through family members or at estate sales. Some wonder what they are worth. Atmos clocks are very rare but certainly not priceless. The better the condition, the more they are worth. Extremely old Atmos clocks in good working condition can hold a value into the tens of thousands of dollars.
How An Atmos Clock Works
Anyone who may be lucky enough to acquire an old Atmos clock must keep in mind that the Atmos should be serviced every 20 years. Any Atmos clock you find to collect is not likely to have been serviced, and it is perhaps non-functional. There is a great difference between the value of a working clock and a non-working one. To maximize the value of any clock, it is wise to first get it up and running. Fortunately, several very competent individuals exist that do this kind of work. If you do find an Atmos clock and it is not working, you need only to start surfing the web for Atmos repair experts. There are quite a few to be found. The repairs can get pricey if the clock is in bad shape, but if you have an old, rare edition, it would be worth the investment to repair the clock. We here at OnlineClock.net recommend that if you find one, make sure to look up the model number for a possible value before you make any repairs. If you decide it’s not worth the repair, it at least makes for a nice decoration. Such a clock is unique and simplistic in appearance and looks quite elegant when displayed.
Newer Models of Atmos Clocks
Atmos 566: This model is designed by Marc Newson, an Australian designer. Newson went for the minimalist design and used a Baccarat crystal case for the clock. The clockworks can be seen through the clear crystal case. The face of the clock is blue and somewhat resembles an Astronomic clock because it shows the view of the night sky from the Northern Hemisphere. It also shows the hours and minutes as well as the month and the equation of time. This is a limited edition clock and only 28 of them will be made in the clear crystal. There will be an additional 28 made in blue Baccarat crystal.
Atmos Réédition: This clock is modeled after one of the historical clocks from the 1930s. This edition pays homage to the original inventor of the Atmos clock, Jean Léon Reutter. The glass is dome-shaped and all the inner workings can be seen through the clear glass. The base of the clock is made of steel. Only 300 of these models will be produced!
For decades, the world’s most celebrated watch-making country of Switzerland has been presenting its many distinguished guests with the Atmos clock. The Atmos has had the honor to be associated with great statesmen, royalty, and other famous people including John F. Kennedy, Sir Winston Churchill, General Charles DeGaulle, and Charlie Chaplin.
Whether you are a collector or you just like clocks that look different from all the other clocks you may have, the Atmos clock can be a great addition to your clock collection. The design is unique and the craftsmanship is amazing. Of course, who better to craft a nearly perfect clock than Switzerland? Some of these models, such as the one from the 1930s resemble pieces from the Atomic Age. If you have that sort of décor in mind, the Atmos clock would fit in quite well…
The critical reviews about Atmos clocks are also extremely positive, except for the price. According to TechnaBob.com, the design is great but the price of the clock is high. Perhaps too high for most people to be able to afford these days. However, they do enthusiastically recommend the Atmos clock if it is within your financial grasp to purchase one.
The idea of this perpetual motion clock that runs on air is quite astonishing, especially since the idea came to fruition so early in the last century.
If you are a lover of clocks and time, you will appreciate this unique time-keeper for your collection.
The inventor and the people who produced the Atmos clock were certainly ahead of their time in both concept and design.
There simply hasn’t been another clock like it, and that’s saying a lot since, errr, we at OnlineClock.net take a look at a whole lot of clocks! 
Admittedly, the newer models are quite expensive but the number available will be limited, and if you can get your hands on one of these, eventually it will be worth a tidy sum of money because of the limited amount being produced.
Kudos to the makers of the Atmos clock in Switzerland for making a truly marvelous product that has withstood the test of time.
Online Clock salutes you!
Clocks That Run On Atmosphere is a post from: Alarm Clock Blog, the official blog of the original Online Alarm Clock.
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