Vintage Jaeger-Lecoultre atmos mantle clock 540 with a 24k Gold Plated Frame.

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Vintage Jaeger-Lecoultre atmos mantle clock 540 with a 24k Gold Plated Frame. :
$5815.86

Item under consideration is a 9 inch Tall, ATMOS (atmospheric) CLASSIC MANTLE CLOCK, SN 681170, with a jeweled 540 movement and a gilt gold rectangular case. Produced in 1987 by Jaeger-LeCoultre located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Clock is glass encased with a 24K gold plated bronze frame. 13 jewel 540 movement, and a locking mechanism for transport. The clock is equipped with a glass bubble level and two adjustable front feet to assist in the leveling of the clock, necessary for accurate operation. International Guarantee, Directions for Use document, and Original box with packing material are included.

Note:

Clock is new, never used. Clock was received in 1994, never activated and placed in storage.

Original owner received clock in 1994 as a retirement gift, never activated it, placed sealed box in storage, where it remained until Sept. 2023 (30 years).

Upon receiving the clock in September, we first balanced and then activated the clock to verify operability. Clock operated for one week continually. Then it was deactivated and stored in original box. No fault or errors found during operation period.

Atmos Clock operation:

The Atmos clock operates with no external power source use, never needs to be manually wound by hand or require use of a suspended weight, as most pendulum clocks do.

Instead, the Atmos clock gets its power to operate from minute changes in atmospheric temperature.

No batteries, no electricity, no manual windings.

Extremely accurate and silent.

The technical principle behind the Atmos operation is a beguiling one; inside a hermetically sealed capsule is a mixture of gas and liquid which expands as the ambient temperature rises and contracts as it falls, causing the capsule surface to move like a concertina. This motion is utilized to wind up the clock’s mainspring. A variation in temperature of one degree C provides sufficient energy for 48 hours of clock operation.

The Atmos is specifically designed and built so that there is minimal resistance opposing this small amount of created energy. To convert this small amount of energy into motion, everything inside the Atmos has to work as smoothly and gently as possible.Therefore, all its parts are made of the highest quality material with the greatest of precision, and are practically wear free. Theoretically, an ATMOS clock should expect a service life of at least 600 years, although, with today’s air pollution, it is recommended to service every 20 years, or so.

Connoisseurs of elegant forms, precious materials, and traditional craftsmanship are, also, not disappointed with the Atmos. The frame of this Atmos, under consideration, is 24K Gold plated.

Every Atmos is made by hand, with some models requiring a full month to complete a single clock. There are an additional 5 weeks of testing, alinements and fine adjustments that every ATMOS has to successfully complete before acceptance by the master-watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

The subtle union between the classic and the modern is the secret to the Atmos collection's timelessness. Its unique design allows the observer to view the complexity and operation of its machinery from all angles. The ring shaped balance wheel seems to float in the air, charting the course of time with utter ease and grace.

The Atmos clock in its gilded cage is a genuine icon of style and perfection.

A unique gem of horological technology.

Temperatures changes are its source of power and its balance wheel will operate as long as the sun will shine.

Jaeger-LeCoultre's ATMOS Clock is the official gift of the Swiss Confederation, a prestigious group of nation states consigned to armed neutrality. Many historical and political leaders have had the experience of displaying an Atmos clock on their bookshelves and desks.

Dimensions: Height- 9.1 inch.

Width- 7.1 inch.

Length- 5.1 inch.

Weight- 10 pounds, 10.4 ounces.

Background.

In 1928 a French engineer, Jean-Lean Reutter, designed a completely revolutionary clock. A Clock drawing its power to operate from variations in ambient temperature.

Jaeger-LeCoultre transposed this concept into a technical reality that they perfected and patented.

Production of the Atmos Clock began in 1936.