2011: Atmos 561 by Marc Newson, unique piece
Invented in 1928 by the Neuchâtel engineer Jean-Léon Reutter, developed and manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Atmos perpetual clock flirts with one of humanity’s oldest dreams: perpetual motion. Drawing its energy from the slightest changes of temperature, it consumes 65 million times less energy than a 15-Watt light bulb.
A change of one degree is enough to run the clock for 48 hours. Having served as the official gift of the Swiss government for over half a century, the Atmos has become an emblem of Swiss watchmaking excellence, and a cult object for its many fans. The Artcurial sale will offer several very rare models from the 1930s. For its part, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture is offering a unique piece especially made for this sale, with the proceeds to be donated to a charitable association, the AMM (The Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy).
The Atmos 561 by Marc Newson is housed in a special Baccarat crystal case the making of which required a number of special operations, in particular the technique of glass frosting, followed by the application of several acid baths to obtain a sand-blasted crystal effect.