Three houses combined their expertise in order to create this 176-piece limited edition crystal clock that quite literally lives on air. The Hermès, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Les Cristalleries de Saint-Louis have made together something quite amazing, the Atmos Hermès clock.
Since 1928, the mechanism of the Atmos clock fascinates by its exceptional mode of operation with no battery, no electric current and no winding. It lives on air by means of an ingenious principle. A metically sealed capsule containing a mixture of gases that expands when the temperature rises and contracts when it drops. Connected to the mainspring of the clock, the capsule acts like a concertina or a pair of bellows, thereby constantly winding the mechanism.
Hermès, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Les Cristalleries de Saint-Louis present the Atmos Hermès clock
The clock is so sensitive that a one degree temperature difference is enough to power it for 48 hours. Its balance oscillates just twice a minute rather than the average 300 times of a classic wristwatch, which consumes 250 times more energy than an Atmos clock. The cabinet is shape of sphere and dimensions are 276 x 276 x 272 mm. The material is transparent crystal globe from Les Cristalleries de Saint-Louis, lined with white enamel Rhodiumed 172 mm-diameter base and with weight of 10 kg featuring extra white mineral glass with black silkscreen printing.
Mechanical is almost perpetual winding thanks to temperature with Jaeger-LeCoultre 560a fluctuations. It has 15 jewels, annular balance and 1 vibration per minute. Pursuing this demanding hand crafted approach, Hermès entrusted Les Cristalleries de Saint-Louis glassmakers with creating the astonishing exterior of this clock.
A crystal globe made using the so called double overlay technique, which consists in coating layers of glass over each other, including a coloured one. Within the company, only six master glassmakers have the mastery and experience required to perform this task.
Unvelied at Paris’ Place Vendôme, the Atmos Hermès Clock is truly a marvel to behold
Atmos Hermes Clock
The Atmos clock requires no battery, no electric current and no winding, it is a marvel that survives on air
