• Unveiling of new timepieces: showcasing four limited-edition Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Turner’ timepieces inspired by J.M.W. Turner’s Venice paintings, alongside a new colour version of the Atmos Régulateur Enamel ‘Colibris’

• Craft continuity: Preserving ancestral craftsmanship and ensuring its transmission to future generations

• Homo Faber Fellowship co-creations: introducing objects developed during the two last editions of Homo Faber Fellowship in partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre is pleased to announce its return to Venice in September to participate in the fourth edition of Homo Faber Biennial, the world’s leading exhibition of contemporary craftsmanship. Created by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, Homo Faber celebrates the savoir-faire of talented craftspeople from around the globe, honouring and supporting the priceless human skill behind the creation of beautifully handcrafted objects. This year’s edition of Homo Faber Biennial, designed around the theme An Island of Light by award-winning British stage designer and artist Es Devlin, will showcase the work of more than 500 highly skilled makers from over 70 countries, exhibited across 15 themed spaces. Homo Faber 2026 will take place at Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, from 1 to 30 September 2026.

A CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY AND A RARE INSIGHT INTO PRECIOUS CRAFT SKILLS

Underlining the exceptional savoir-faire of its Métiers Rares™ atelier and reflecting a core value of the Maison, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been chosen to participate in two of the themed spaces of Homo Faber 2026.

In “An Atelier Alive”, located in the Sala degli Arazzi, the Maison celebrates the talent and accumulated savoir-faire it continues to nurture in both watchmaking and the decorative arts through four new limited-edition Reverso timepieces. On the caseback of each watch, a minutely detailed reproduction of one of the early 19^th-century paintings of Venice by the great English artist J.M.W. Turner showcases the craft of miniature painting in Grand Feu enamel. Among them is ‘The Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore’, depicting the very island on which Homo Faber Biennial takes place. Turner’s fascination with the Venetian light echoes the theme of Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light. Alongside these miniature works of art, illustrating a shared commitment to beauty and heritage, visitors are invited to observe the delicate and demanding craft of Old Master painting restoration, as an expert restorer breathes new life into a Renaissance masterpiece.

Many of the motifs on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ timepieces are inspired by nature, and the Sala Bianca, with its theme “An Infinite Birdsong”, provides the perfect setting for three more of the Maison’s creations. From the Vallée des Merveilles^TM series, two Reverso One timepieces showcase the crafts of gem-setting and enamelling with images of birds among blossoms, each requiring between 125 and 160 hours of gem-setting work. Alongside them, a new colour edition of the Atmos Régulateur Enamel ‘Colibris’ clock, the result of 230 hours of hand-enamelling, is framed by hand-painted Grand Feu enamel panels depicting hummingbirds among cherry blossoms and hydrangeas.

HOMO FABER FELLOWSHIP

Underlining its commitment, alongside the Michelangelo Foundation, to the preservation and transmission of vitally important craft skills for future generations, Jaeger-LeCoultre has been a founding partner of the Homo Faber Fellowship programme since its establishment in 2023. Redefining the traditional mentorship model, Homo Faber Fellowship offers an international, hands-on learning experience that combines the transmission of exceptional craft skills with business acumen, equipping emerging artisans to thrive in a sustainable craft economy.

Each year, the Fellowship brings together duos of renowned craft masters and emerging talents (fellows) for an eight-month sponsored training programme across Europe. Each cycle begins with a one-month residential masterclass combining creative workshops, design case studies and training in business skills and entrepreneurship. This is followed by a six-month residential placement for fellows in the studios of their respective masters, during which they exchange ideas, share skills and further develop their techniques through the co-creation of an object.

A selection of these objects has been curated for Homo Faber 2026, where they will be displayed across different exhibition areas, each reflecting the creative vision and craftsmanship it embodies. The ten displayed objects were created by the following duos of master artisans and fellows from both the most recent completed cohort (2025/2026) and the previous cohort (2024/2025):

· “Cabinet of Curiosity” by Navid Gholipour (Cyprus) and Natali Touloupou (Cyprus), craft of woodworking, 2024/2025 edition

· “Matter to Reflect” by Eve George (France) and Alexandra Holmes (UK), craft of glassblowing, 2024/2025 edition

· “Suaimhneas” by Helen O’Connell (Ireland) and Finn Conlon (Ireland), craft of stone carving, 2024/2025 edition

· “Balance” by Ole Morten Rokvam (Norway) and Line Blom Salvesen (Norway), craft of ceramics, 2024/2025 edition

· “Intérieurs en Couleurs” by Luis Minguez Serrano (Spain) and Gonzalo Minguez Minguez (Spain), craft of bookbinding, 2024/2025 edition – temporarily exhibited

· “Bird Houses” by Stian Korntved Ruud (Norway) and Marianne Bain (Norway), craft of woodworking, 2024/2025 edition

· “Before the Storm” by Kim Jordan (UK) and Sandra Pinto (France), craft of straw marquetry, 2025/2026 edition

· “Light of Longing” by Helena Imaginário (Portugal) and O33 (China), craft of lamp making, 2025/2026 edition

· “Light of Andalusia” by Pablo TITO (Spain) and Tito Martínez (Spain), craft of ceramics, 2025/2026 edition

· “Liminal” by Kuniko Maeda (Japan/UK) and Momoka Ienaga (Japan), craft of paper sculpting, 2025/2026 edition

Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light is open to the public from 1 – 30 September 2026, from 10am to 7pm daily, at Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice. Information and tickets are available at https://www.homofaber.com/en/biennial/homofaber-2026

• Exclusive Milan Design Week exhibition: an inspiring six-chapter showcase featuring 53 archive design-led timepieces and 32 Atmos clocks, spanning nine decades and the Marc Newson novelties

• Creative collaboration with Marc Newson: exploring the enduring dialogue between timekeeping and design, continuing the long-standing partnership with the celebrated industrial designer, first initiated in 2008

• State-of-the-art novelties: the unveiling of five new clocks, including three new designs by Marc Newson and two Atmos creations showcasing the Maison’s decorative crafts

During Milan Design Week this April, Jaeger-LeCoultre invites the public to discover ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’, an immersive exhibition that explores the continuous dialogue that exists between design and daily life, through timekeeping objects that measure life’s tempo minute by minute, day after day.

The exhibition traces the evolving style of timekeeping, showcases the extraordinary one-of-a-kind Atmos clock, marks the unveiling of five exceptional new timepieces, and presents a curated selection of heritage watchmaking objects. This exclusive showcase pays tribute to the Maison’s long-standing creative collaboration with acclaimed industrial designer Marc Newson, a partnership first initiated in 2008. Alongside the unveiling of exceptional novelties, Newson’s avant-garde vision also extends beyond watchmaking to include a selection of his distinctive design pieces. ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ is open to the public free of charge and will run from 21–26 April 2026 at Villa Mozart in the historic centre of Milan.

THE ART OF TIME, UNBOUND

At Jaeger-LeCoultre, the art of horology extends beyond the wrist. Since 1833, the Maison has built its legacy on mastering the intricacies of watchmaking calibres. As the 20^th century brought profound transformations in society, technology and design, Jaeger-LeCoultre expanded its creative expression, applying its expertise to a diverse range of timekeeping objects including Atmos, where mechanical ingenuity and design culture converge.

Embodying the contemporary design values of Milan Design Week, ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ celebrates a remarkable marriage of technical ingenuity, design and craftsmanship. Highlights include:

-          An unprecedented collection of timepieces, including 53 design-led timekeeping objects from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s archive collection, created for travel, for home and for the desk, as well as 32 Atmos clocks spanning more than nine decades

-          The unveiling of five new clocks: two Atmos clocks (Atmos Hybris Artistica Tellurium and Atmos Designer Calibre 568) and a new travel clock (Memovox Travel clock), all created in collaboration with the celebrated industrial designer, Marc Newson; and two Atmos clocks that showcase rare decorative handcrafts, the Atmos Régulateur Enamel Colibris and the Atmos Régulateur Wood Marqueterie

-          Live demonstrations that reveal the mystery of how the Atmos mechanism achieves apparent perpetual motion

-          A curated selection of Marc Newson’s signature designs – including chairs, tables, and other unique pieces – all bearing his distinctive signature

A STORY TOLD IN SIX CHAPTERS

‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ tells the fascinating story of the Atmos as well as showcasing Jaeger-LeCoultre’s rich legacy of creative design and technical ingenuity in a wide range of other timekeeping objects.

CHAPTER I: ATMOS, THE STORY

The dream of perpetual motion has fascinated humanity for centuries, expressing a deeper desire to master time, energy and autonomy. This long-standing quest took a decisive step in 1928 when a Swiss radiological engineer, Jean-Léon Reutter, succeeded in developing a prototype clock that came closer to perpetual operation than any other mechanism yet created. Known as the Atmos 0, it was powered not by rewinding or any other conventional energy source, but by subtle variations in air temperature, thus creating the unprecedented concept of a timekeeper designed to operate autonomously.

Early commercial versions revealed technical limitations, yet the invention’s promise remained undeniable. Jacques-David LeCoultre realised that, despite the brilliance of the invention, the mechanism required exceptional watchmaking skill to make it fully viable. He recognized its poetic force and mechanical potential, inviting Reutter to join forces with LeCoultre & Cie, initiating a collaboration that united visionary invention with high watchmaking expertise.

Refining the intricate mechanism and enhancing its reliability, this passionate collaboration first resulted in the Atmos I in 1932. This model featured apparent perpetual motion, on principle, able to run indefinitely with minimal external input as long as the ambient air temperature fluctuated, creating the illusion of endless operation.

Until 1938, early Atmos models used a mercury-driven motor block: a system of communicating vessels in which thermal expansion and contraction powered the movement. However, mercury’s fragility made transport difficult and limited reliability. In response, LeCoultre replaced it with a gas-filled capsule (ethyl chloride) and centralized production, while the underlying mechanism initially remained unchanged – known as Calibre 30A, as used in the Atmos I and II.

Powered solely by subtle variations in ambient temperature, it could transform a change of just 1°C into around 48 hours of autonomy, enabling the clock to function indefinitely without any manual input.

Soon adopted as a diplomatic gift, earning the name 'President’s Clock,' today’s Atmos Classic remains its dignified heir, preserving the timeless design codes that made the Atmos a symbol of prestige, continuity and enduring precision.

CHAPTER II: ATMOS, THE MÉTIERS RARES^TM

With its intricate mechanism and the mesmerisingly slow beat of its annular balance wheel, the Atmos clock transcends mere timekeeping; as an objet d’art rooted in the elegant minimalism of its Art Deco origins yet constantly evolving, it is a natural canvas for artistic expression.

Usually displayed within a glass dome or crystal case, the distinctive architecture of the Atmos movements has anchored a strong visual identity that is celebrated as much as the time it measures, embracing diverse designs while retaining its core spirit. Since the 1970s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has revived the spirit of aesthetic experimentation that marked the first decade of the Atmos in the 1930s. A series of collaborations with masters of decorative crafts have elevated Atmos clocks into works of fine art, and leading contemporary designers have reimagined the Atmos in their own style, while always preserving the clock’s unmistakable identity.

CHAPTER III: ATMOS, THE COMPLICATIONS

The Atmos’ apparently magical way of working is also a limitation: because the mechanism produces only a very small amount of energy (a single 15-watt incandescent light bulb consumes the energy equivalent to 60 million Atmos clocks), there is not enough power left over to drive additional functions. Visitors to the exhibition will discover how Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers solved this problem in 1982 with a new movement – Calibre 540 – that made it possible to integrate complications with only an infinitesimal increase in energy consumption. Having discovered that the ideal complications are those based on the long, slow cycles of the astronomical phenomena that lie at the origin of time measurement – such as the moon phases and seasons – they developed the first moon-phase Atmos at the end of the 1990s. In 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers crafted the most complex Atmos clock ever conceived: the Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590, nicknamed the Atmos Tellurium as it incorporates a contemporary version of the tellurions – three-dimensional mechanical mobiles that precisely reproduce the true cycles of the Earth, Sun, and Moon – invented during the Renaissance.

CHAPTER IV: CLOCKS, THE WATCHMAKING OBJECTS

In the 1920s, personal access to time remained limited, positioning the timepiece as an accessory reserved for a privileged few. Jaeger-LeCoultre reimagined the clock by transforming familiar objects of daily and professional life. Thus, desk accessories, lamps and architectural miniatures gained the ability to measure and display time. By embedding timekeeping functions into useful, everyday items, the Maison blurred the boundary between utility and watchmaking, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary through imaginative design and meticulous craftsmanship. Conceived to integrate naturally into their environment rather than commanding attention as standalone objects, these timekeepers were often unexpected in form or playful in reference, blending refinement and surprise. Designed to be handled and lived with, set on a tabletop, read from both sides or slipped into a purse, these objects reflect a new relationship with time that is intuitive and naturally woven into the rhythm of daily life.

CHAPTER V: CLOCKS, THE TRAVEL OBJECTS

As the 20^th century progressed and modern life was increasingly defined by mobility, Jaeger-LeCoultre responded by transforming clocks into portable objects designed to accompany their owners wherever the journey led. Marrying technical expertise to aesthetic elegance and creativity, the Maison’s nomadic timekeepers include unexpected and immaculately crafted designs, sometimes incorporating functions such as barometers and thermometers. From the 1930s onwards, travel clocks embodied this vision of mobility. Miniaturised and integrated into mirrors, leather cases or folding table clocks, they combined mechanical reliability with practical design solutions adapted to movement. Designed to be handled and transported, these objects reflect an era fascinated by precision, progress, mechanical reliability and functional elegance. The introduction of the Memovox mechanical alarm in 1950 transformed time from a passive display into an active signal. Adapted into watches, desk clocks and travel objects, Memovox embodied a philosophy of time that alerts, guides and reassures.

CHAPTER VI: CLOCKS, THE DESIGN OBJECTS

From the 1920s onwards, fuelled by social, economic and technological change, a tremendous burst of creative energy expressed itself through a new design language that shaped every aspect of life – from architecture and graphics to modes of transport, household products and even industrial machinery. Clocks were no exception and Jaeger-LeCoultre embraced the new spirit of modernity, rethinking both form and display. Clocks became playful, surprising and sometimes provocative – objects of expression designed as a style statement as much as a display of the time. From Art Deco table clocks to boldly graphic compositions of the 1960s, each creation reflects a dialogue between watchmaking expertise and the spirit of its time. Mechanical precision remains indispensable, yet it is wrapped in freedom of interpretation, shape, material and style. Conventions are questioned: hands shift off-centre, dials rotate, proportions stretch or contract. These objects invite conversation, spark curiosity and transform the simple act of reading the hour into a rich experience.

EXCLUSIVE NOVELTIES: THREE MARC NEWSON DESIGNS AND TWO EXCEPTIONAL ATMOS PIECES

A creative collaboration with Marc Newson: Jaeger-LeCoultre and the celebrated industrial designer Marc Newson have periodically collaborated since 2008, pooling their expertise and creative energy to produce new interpretations of the Atmos – a clock that the designer describes as ‘a complex and magical object’. In 2008 they released Calibre 561; in 2010 it was Calibre 566; and in 2016 came the first iteration of Calibre 568. Famous for his work, ranging from furniture to luggage, a surfboard and a superyacht – Marc Newson has a longstanding interest in timepieces and has been fascinated by the Atmos clock since he first saw one in his early teens.

During ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ Jaeger-LeCoultre will unveil three new designs by Marc Newson, alongside a curated selection of his exceptional furniture creations: a new version of the Atmos Tellurium, a new interpretation of the Atmos Calibre 568 that he designed in 2016 and a new Travel Clock inspired by the Maison’s iconic Memovox alarm wristwatches.

Atmos Hybris Inventiva Tellurium by Marc Newson

Atmos Designer Calibre 568 by Marc Newson

Memovox Travel Clock by Marc Newson

A celebration of craftsmanship: The preservation and perpetuation of traditional decorative handcrafts – widely used in watchmaking until the end of the 19^th century but often forgotten as tastes changed during the 20^th century – has long been a core value at Jaeger-LeCoultre. As a fine watchmaking Maison, it takes its responsibility to nurture these crafts seriously, and as one of the few watchmaking Maisons to have its own Métiers Rares™ atelier in-house, it constantly encourages their evolution by applying them to different timepieces, in new ways. Shining the spotlight on the decorative crafts, two new Atmos models will be unveiled during the exhibition, one showcasing miniature painting in Grand Feu enamel and the other paying homage to the traditional craft of wood marqueterie.

An exclusive Milan Design Week exhibition: ‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ expresses a singular philosophy of time. At once scientific, functional and artistic, Atmos and the watchmaking objects that surround it form a coherent universe where design, mechanics and human invention shape a vision of time that is durable, thoughtful and deeply connected to the world around us.

‘The Perpetual Timekeeper’ will run from 21–26 April 2026 at Villa Mozart, via Mozart 9, 20122 Milan and is open to the public free of charge from 10.00 to 18.30 daily. Visitors may register online in advance at https://bit.ly/ThePerpetualTimekeeper or on arrival at the exhibition.

• Watchmaking ingenuity: a revolutionary ‘perpetual motion’ horological concept, invented in 1928, with a change of one degree Celsius providing 48 hours of power reserve
• A new white lacquer dial: requiring 10 coats of lacquer to be applied, with rigorously controlled drying after each layer
• Limited edition: offering 100 pieces

The invention of the utmost perpetual movement has been the dream of physicists for centuries. Unique in the world of horology, the creation of the Atmos clock in 1928 brought this dream to life – not just as a remarkable timepiece, it is a kinetic work of art defined by the distinctive form of its mechanism. In 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced this extraordinary clock in an entirely new design – the Atmos Infinite – and in 2025, La Grande Maison presents a new interpretation of the design: a limited edition of 100 pieces with a white lacquer dial.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TIMEPIECE LIVING ON AIR

Invented in 1928 by Jean-Léon Reutter, the Atmos seems to defy the laws of physics: running independently of human intervention, it draws its energy from infinitesimal variations in the ambient air temperature. The secret lies in a hermetically sealed, gas-filled capsule, which is connected to the clock’s drive spring by a membrane. The slightest temperature variation changes the volume of the gas, causing the membrane to ‘breathe’ like the bellows of an accordion, and wind the spring. A temperature fluctuation of just one degree Celsius provides the clock with an operating autonomy of about two days, enabling it to run perpetually.

An ode to transparency and minimalism, the Atmos Infinite ‘Halo’ is a design of great purity yet remains true to the intrinsic identity of the Atmos. A 21st-century reinterpretation of the classical Art Deco “glass box” Atmos design, the smooth, cylindrical glass cabinet of the Atmos Infinite ‘Halo’ also recalls the rounded “bell jar” domes of the very earliest models. With its complete absence of visual distraction, the seamless glass cabinet gives full value to the remarkable Atmos mechanism, which appears to float freely within it. In fact, it is held in place by glass supports, designed to be virtually invisible. From every angle, this allows an unrestricted view of the entire mechanism, with the bellows, chains and gears that keep the clock moving.

MINIMALISTIC DESIGN ENHANCED BY A WHITE LACQUER DIAL

The white lacquered dial, composed of two circles that create an impression of visual depth, is complemented by polished baton-shaped applied indexes and hands that match the silvery rhodium finish of the mechanism. An exercise in refined simplicity, it exemplifies how removing unnecessary details allows the true elegance of an object to emerge. The making of the dial ring is an intricate process that demands great precision. The purity of the white requires 10 coats of lacquer to be applied, with rigorously controlled drying after each layer. The lacquer is then polished, and a varnish is applied to protect it during the machining of tiny indentations to accommodate the indexes. This painstaking craftsmanship ensures a flawless finish, where clarity and balance define the final aesthetic. Once completed, the protective varnish is carefully removed, and the indexes are attached in their slots.

On a metal outer ring, the minutes are marked by tiny, indented dots. Their form echoes the round indentations on the annular balance, which oscillates in its slow and mesmerising rhythm beneath the body of the movement. This subtle detailing reinforces the purity of the design, where every element has a role, and nothing feels excessive or out of place.

The approach to design is echoed by the clock’s functions: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 570 is an hours-and-minutes movement that eschews the distraction of additional complications. By focusing only on the essential, it embodies the philosophy that true sophistication lies in simplicity. The open-worked construction – a characteristic of Atmos calibres – is likewise refined to its purest form, yet fine watchmaking finishes, including brushed surfaces, polished edges and Côtes de Genève stripes, combine to create an intriguing play of light and reflection. With its clean lines and thoughtful proportions, the Atmos Infinite ‘Halo’ allows the craftsmanship and quality of materials to shine through, proving that less is indeed more.

The new interpretation of the Atmos Infinite ‘Halo’ epitomises Jaeger-LeCoultre’s constant quest for aesthetic evolution married to a deep commitment to technical excellence and innovation anchored in horological tradition. Designed, produced and assembled in a dedicated workshop within the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, the new, limited-edition Atmos Infinite ‘Halo’ will be unveiled in Milan on 8 April 2025 during the Milan Design Week, the world’s leading design event.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

ATMOS INFINITE ‘HALO’

Cabinet Material: Glass

Dimensions: 215mm diameter x 253mm height

Movement: Perpetual Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 570; annular balance with 60-second oscillation

Functions: Hours, minutes

Dial: White lacquer

Reference: Q540532J

Limited edition of 100 pieces

There could be no better setting in which to showcase the time-honoured skills of La Grande Maison’s Métiers Rares workshops: presenting the priceless human skills behind the creation of rare objects, Homo Faber brings together 15 exhibitions that celebrate the savoir-faire of exceptional master artisans from all over Europe. This year, reaffirming the shared values of craftsmanship that transcend cultures and borders, Homo Faber features 12 Japanese Living National Treasures as guests of honour.

In homage to this connection, La Grande Maison has chosen to depict the sakura or cherry blossom on the new Atmos Régulateur. An emblem of Japan, cherry blossom has become a universal metaphor for Spring, a symbol of renewal and a precious reminder of the fleeting nature of life, and of time itself. In keeping with this year’s Stellar Odyssey theme, the Atmos movement features a moon-phase display – the best-known and perhaps most beloved celestial complication of all.

Noble in presence and delicate in detail, the Atmos Régulateur ‘Cherry Blossom’ is a one-of-a-kind work of art, showcasing the clock’s mechanism within a transparent glass cabinet set between two dramatic panels of black Grand Feu enamel.

A branch of cherry blossom, hand-painted in enamel, extends seamlessly from one side, across the dial ring, to the opposite panel. Petals scatter in the air around it, as if shaken free by a passing breeze.

With the enamelling alone requiring 200 hours of dedicated work by the master artisans in the Métiers Rares® atelier of Jaeger-LeCoultre, this is the largest enamelled piece ever undertaken at La Grande Maison. While the enamellers have thoroughly mastered the techniques of enamelling on watch cases and dials, the large scale of this piece presented an entirely different set of challenges. Rising to it, the artisans of the atelier worked closely together, spending countless hours on preliminary research, exchanging ideas, experimenting and making trials before the enamelling could begin in earnest. Materials and techniques were examined and reconsidered – and a new kiln specified, to accommodate such large pieces.

For the panels – measuring 196mm by 105.2mm – copper was found to be more suitable than the gold used for enamelling on watches. For such large surfaces, the enamellers had to perfect the ‘dry enamelling’ technique of sifting powdered pigment onto the copper plates (rather like dusting the top of a cake with icing sugar), repeating the process again and again, to achieve the desired depth and uniformity of black. After every layer, the panels had to be fired, then cooled and perfectly flattened – with every stage carrying the risk of bubbling, cracking or dust specks, any of which would ruin the work.

For the two dial rings, it was determined that silver was the best material – despite its being a soft metal and therefore less resistant to firing at the high temperatures required for grand feu enamel. Normally, to prevent deformation, the back of an object is prepared with ‘contre-email’, but in this case it was impossible since the dial is visible from behind. The rings were hollowed out to form a trough into which the enamel was applied. Then, as for the panels, came the challenge of multiple firings.

Finally, when the black enamel backgrounds were completed to perfection, the work of the miniature-painter could begin – bringing with it the almost contradictory needs for artistic flair and absolute precision. As with the black enamel, this work was done in a series of layers, each needing to be fired, with every firing again carrying the risk of damaging everything that had been done before. To succeed in such work is testament to an extraordinary level of finesse, and a degree of mastery that can be achieved only with countless years of experience.

Invented in 1928, with a unique mechanism that is driven by tiny changes in air temperature, the Atmos is an extraordinary timepiece and an objet d’art in equal measure. Since the 1970s the Manufacture has invited a series of leading designers and proponents of the artistic crafts to reinterpret this mechanical prodigy. With a clear sense of artistic intention, this new interpretation, the Atmos Régulateur ‘Cherry Blossom’, amplifies the distinctive identity of the clock with balanced proportions and visual harmony allied to fine artistry.

The movement of this exceptional piece, conceived and entirely produced within La Grande Maison, is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 582, which is distinguished by its regulator display. With an architecture defined by circles within circles, the large minutes ring and smaller hours ring are complemented by a monthly calendar and moon-phase display, as well as by the shape of the annular balance that slowly oscillates beneath the displays. The moon-phase indication is so precise that it will take 3,821 years to diverge by just one day from astronomical reality.

As a one-of-a-kind work of art, the Atmos Régulateur ‘Cherry Blossom’ is testament not only to La Grande Maison’s exceptional depth of savoir-faire but also to its commitment to preserving rare skills within the Manufacture, supporting and encouraging the expansion of those skills, and celebrating human creativity.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

ATMOS RÉGULATEUR ‘CHERRY BLOSSOM’

Dimensions overall: 468 mm x 183 mm x 255 mm

Dimensions of panels: 196 mm x 105.2 mm

Calibre: Mechanical, perpetual Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 582

Functions: regulator type display of hours and minutes; 24-hour indication; month indication; perpetual moon-phase indication (one-day discrepancy every 3,861 years)

Dial: Grand Feu Enamel

Panels: Grand Feu Enamel

Cabinet: glass

Reference: Q5604302

Homo Faber Event is open to the public from 10 April to 1 May 2022, at Fondazione Giorgio Cini on the island of S.Giorgio Maggiore, Venice. Information and tickets are available at homofaber.com

· Reinterpreting the Atmos for the 21st century; conceived as a contemporary work of art with exceptional transparency and purity of line

· Viewed from every angle, the mechanism seems to float freely within its cylindrical glass cabinet, thanks to almost-invisible supports

Invented in 1928, the Atmos seems to defy the laws of physics: running independently of any human intervention, it draws its energy from infinitesimal variations in the ambient air temperature. The secret lies in a hermetically sealed, gas-filled capsule, which is connected to the clock’s drive spring by a membrane. The slightest temperature variation changes the volume of the gas, causing the membrane to ‘breathe’ like the bellows of an accordion, and wind the spring. Its energy consumption is so slight that it would take 60 million Atmos clocks to consume the same amount of energy as a single 15-watt incandescent light bulb. A temperature fluctuation of just one degree Celsius provides the clock with an operating autonomy of about two days, enabling it to run perpetually under normal everyday conditions.

An ode to transparency and minimalism, the new design is an object of startling purity and modernism yet remains true to the intrinsic identity of the Atmos. Reinterpreting the timeless elegance of the classical Art Deco “glass box” cabinet for the 21st century, the cylindrical glass cabinet of the Atmos Infinite also makes subtle allusion to the rounded glass domes of the very earliest models.

‘The aesthetic of the Atmos is defined by the distinctive shape of its movement. With its complete absence of visual distraction, the seamless glass cabinet gives full value to the Atmos mechanism, which appears to float freely within it.’ explains Lionel Favre, Jaeger-LeCoultre Design Director.

The Atmos mechanism is held in place by glass supports, designed to be virtually invisible. From every angle, this allows an unrestricted view of the entire mechanism, with the bellows, chains and gears that keep the clock moving.

The minimalistic approach extends to the clock’s functions: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 570 is an hours-and-minutes movement. Its construction, too, is pared back to the essentials, yet fine watchmaking finishes abound, including brushed surfaces, polished edges and Côtes de Genève stripes.

The black lacquered dial is composed of two concentric circles onto which polished baton-shaped indexes have been applied, and is complemented by hands that match the silvery rhodium finish of the mechanism. On a metal outer ring, the minutes are marked by tiny indented dots. Their form echoes the round indentations on the annular balance, which spins back and forth in its slow and mesmerising rhythm beneath the body of the movement.

By capturing the singular spirit of the Atmos and reinterpreting all of its essential features in contemporary style, the Atmos Infinite is destined to become a modern classic.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

ATMOS INFINITE

Dimensions: 215mm diameter x 253mm height

Calibre: perpetual Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 570

Frequency: annular balance with 60-second oscillation

Functions: hours, minutes

Cabinet: cylindrical glass

Reference: Q5405311

Nicknamed the Atmos Tellurium, this is the most complex Atmos clock ever created, pushing the limits of both precision and design, and the intricacy and architectural beauty of its movement naturally inspired the artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares® atelier. Dedicating a wide range of their craft skills to its decoration – from miniature-painting and laser-engraving to lacquer-work and meteorite inlay – they have elevated the Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590 to become a sublime work of art as well as an outstanding timekeeping device.

· Pushing the boundaries of precision and design, the Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590 is the most complex Atmos clock ever created, requiring more than four years of research and development work

· New Calibre 590 incorporates a complication that reproduces the true cycles of the Earth, Sun, and Moon

· The artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares® atelier dedicated a wide range of craft skills to its decoration, transforming an outstanding timekeeping device into a sublime work of art

Measuring Time as the Planets Move

In the very beginning, thanks to the movements of stars and planets, mankind became aware of the passing of time and began to define and measure it. Days, with periods of light and darkness, were defined by one complete rotation of Earth on its axis; years were defined by the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same position in the sky, completing a full cycle of seasons.

Over the millennia, scientists invented instruments to reproduce these cycles and enhance their understanding of celestial phenomena. Clock-makers began to measure time by using the values of the various astronomical cycles – although the units of standard civil time are only approximate, based on the average values of solar, lunar and sidereal cycles. In 1543, Copernicus revolutionised scientific thinking with the publication of his heliocentric model of the solar system (first hypothesised by the Ancient Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, the model had been discounted for more than 1,500 years in favour of an Earth-centred model).  The heliocentric model places the Sun, rather than Earth, at the centre of our solar system and its publication triggered the invention of the tellurion (also written as tellurium), a three-dimensional mechanical mobile that illustrates the relative positions and movements of Earth and the Moon in relation to the Sun. From the 18th century onwards, elaborate clocks were sometimes surmounted by these fascinating mechanisms. The nickname of Calibre 590 –‘Tellurium’ – is a tribute to those magnificent clocks.

Invented in 1928, the Atmos needs no human intervention to wind its movement; a temperature variation of just one degree Celsius provides sufficient energy to wind it for 48 hours, enabling it to run perpetually if kept under normal everyday conditions. Because this remarkable system produces only a small amount of energy – some 40 times less energy than a traditional 4Hz watch movement typically offers – the Atmos movement has been designed to consume as little energy as possible, with the balance taking one minute to perform a complete oscillation.

Over time, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have mastered the challenge of adding functions to the mechanism without substantially increasing energy consumption. In doing so, they have discovered that the complications best suited to the Atmos are those based on longer cycles, such as the seasons, months and phases of the moon.

A New Complication and a Captivating Display

The new Calibre 590 was entirely conceived, designed and constructed within the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre and assembled in the Atmos atelier, a workshop solely dedicated to Atmos. Comprising 443 components, with the tellurium complication fully integrated into the movement, it required more than four years of research and development – its technical complexity and sophistication naturally meriting a place in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Hybris Mechanica collection. As well as reproducing with precision the rotation of Earth on its own axis, and the orbits of the Moon around Earth and Earth around the Sun, the new calibre indicates the corresponding months and seasons with a zodiacal calendar.

The clock face is defined by a peripheral ring formed of two layers. The upper layer, fixed in place, is marked with an hour-and-minute track and the names of the seasons; this conceals a mobile ring marked with the months, which appear in an aperture at 6 o’clock. Set within this frame is a disc of translucent blue sapphire crystal, laser-engraved with the zodiac signs. At the centre of the dial, the sun is represented by a burst of polished golden metal rays.

Close to the peripheral ring, balanced by a wedge-shaped counterweight, a circle of meteorite frames a transparent sapphire disc into which a spherical Earth and Moon are set. The Earth rotates on its axis in 24 hours, the length of a civil day, providing a night-day indication as it revolves. At the same time, the Moon orbits Earth in one synodic month, turning on its own axis to show its phases. Defined by one complete cycle of moon phases, a mean synodic month is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2 seconds in length. This mean (or average) duration allows for the slight variation caused by the elliptical shape of the Moon’s orbit. The mechanism of the Atmos is so close to this mean that it creates only one day of error in 5,770 years.

This entire Earth-and-Moon disc orbits around the central Sun, making a complete rotation in one solar (or “tropical”) year, indicating the seasons as it turns. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers have succeeded in establishing a cycle of 365.2466 days. This is so close to the reference value of 365.2425 days found in the Gregorian calendar that it varies by only one day in 390 years, meaning that it will not need adjusting until the year 2412 (the only adjustment is the seasonal change).

‘Fully visible from every angle, the entire mechanism seems to hover in space within its cylindrical cabinet of glass. In fact, it is supported, and attached to the base by a virtually invisible glass cloche, which also encloses the annular balance. Like the main body of the movement, the balance also seems to floating as it performs its slow and mesmerising dance.’ explains Lionel Favre, Jaeger-LeCoultre Design Director.

Naturally, this extraordinary mechanism has inspired the artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares® atelier to dedicate a wide range of their craft skills to its decoration. Miniature painting adds detail and depth to the spherical Earth; laser engraving evokes the surface of the Moon; lacquer brings a rich glow to the main dial ring; and meteorite – material that has literally fallen from space – is inlaid on the Earth-Moon ring; and the glass cabinet has been hand-painted with a delicate rendering of the constellations.

The most complex Atmos clock ever created, the new Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590 pushes the limits of precision and design a step further with a perpetual mechanism complemented by a tellurion that perpetuates time to almost infinity. It showcases this remarkable achievement in the form of a true work of art.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

ATMOS HYBRIS MECHANICA CALIBRE 590

Dimensions: 215mm diameter x 253mm height

Calibre: perpetual Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 590

Frequency: annular balance with 60-second oscillation

Functions: hours, minutes, night & day, month, moon phases, zodiacal calendar

Cabinet: cylindrical glass hand-painted with the constellations

Decorative finishes: inlaid meteorite; engraving; miniature painting; lacquer

Reference: Q5765300 - Limited edition of 10 pieces

Running on Air

In 1928, Reutter, a Neuchâtel-born radiological engineer, introduced a prototype clock – now known as Atmos 0 – that seemed to defy the laws of physics: with no need for batteries, electricity, or routine rewinding, it could operate for centuries without wearing out or requiring any external intervention.

The mechanical principle behind the Atmos is simple, albeit extremely difficult to execute: the energy required to drive the clock is supplied by normal, everyday fluctuations in air temperature. Thermal energy is transformed into mechanical energy, which drives the movement of the balance. The secret lies in a hermetically sealed, gas-filled capsule, which is connected to the clock’s drive spring by a membrane. The slightest temperature variation changes the volume of the gas, causing the membrane to expand and contract – ‘breathing’ like the bellows of an accordion – thus winding the spring. A change of just one degree Celsius can power the clock for 48 hours.

Because this remarkable system produces only a small amount of energy, the movement must consume as little as possible; indeed, its consumption is so slight that the energy used by a single 15-watt incandescent light bulb is equal to that of 60 million Atmos clocks. The mechanism uses a torsion pendulum to keep time and the balance is a circle of metal, suspended from a thin wire made of Elinvar, a nickel-based alloy. Because this annular balance takes one minute to complete a full oscillation, it requires just one-fortieth of the energy needed for a typical wristwatch.

From Prototype to Prized Object

In 1930, two years after Reutter had unveiled his prototype, the first examples of Atmos I went on sale but it was fraught with technical problems and commercialisation and production quickly faltered.

Chancing upon an Atmos in a Paris boutique, Jacques-David LeCoultre was fascinated by its unique mode of operating and bought it. He quickly realised that, despite the brilliance of Reutter’s concept, the mechanism was not viable, with problems that, he believed, could be solved only through an exceptional level of watchmaking skill. The Manufacture contacted Reutter who was immediately enthused and came to work in Le Sentier under the management of Jacques-David LeCoultre on the “new Atmos” project. While continuing to sell an upgraded version of Atmos I both men had a clear intention to further improve the mechanism and fully commercialise its production.

Essential improvements included: enhancing the air-tightness necessary for proper functioning of the movement; replacing the mercury used by Reutter with the more stable ethyl chloride; and entirely redesigning key components of the mechanism to make it simpler, more robust and properly suited to series production. At last, in 1939, Jaeger-LeCoultre was sufficiently satisfied with the new Calibre 519 and ready to begin commercialisation of Atmos II.

Success came quickly and the Atmos soon gained the status of prized cult object; in 1950, it was chosen as the official gift of the Swiss Confederation. By 1951, production had reached 10,000 units a year and in 1979 the 500,000th clock left the Manufacture in Le Sentier.

Even so, the Atmos mechanism had a limitation: because it produces only a very small amount of energy, there is not enough power left over to drive additional functions. Jaeger-LeCoultre solved this problem in 1982 with a new movement – Calibre 540 – that made it possible to incorporate additional functions with only an infinitesimal increase in energy consumption. The Manufacture’s engineers developed the first moon-phase Atmos at the end of the 1990s and have since added other complications: celestial charts, regulator dials, equation-of-time displays, even a ‘mystery clock’ with a remontoir d’égalité, or constant-force mechanism.

Evolution of a Classic Design

More than just a remarkable technical feat, the Atmos is a work of art. The original Atmos I, with its ‘glass dome’ cabinet is an early and exceptionally pure expression of Streamline Moderne style and is highly coveted by collectors today. The timeless Art Deco lines and perfect balance of the rectilinear design of the Atmos II cabinets have ensured the status of this ‘glass box’ as the classic form. A perfect marriage of functionality and style, it has anchored the strong aesthetic identity of the Atmos through many decades of evolution.

The cabinet of the Atmos has lent itself naturally to different artistic interpretations. Since the 1970s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has collaborated with a series of talented designers and specialised craftsmen to produce special editions of the Atmos, notably those that incorporate astronomical complications. Among some outstanding examples are the futuristic Atmos du Millénaire Atlantis, created in 1999 to celebrate the new millennium and based on a unique model conceived by the Parisian design agency Kohler & Rekow in 1988; the Atmos 566 by Marc Newson, encased in a cube of hand-made Baccarat crystal, within which the mechanism appears to float weightlessly; and the sumptuous Atmos Marqueterie ‘Le Baiser’ of 2012, enclosed in a cabinet of rare woods with an exquisitely detailed wood marquetry rendition of Gustav Klimt’s painting ‘The Kiss’. Age-old decorative arts such as wood marquetry, as well as straw marquetry, enamelling, gem-setting and various crystal-making techniques, have been applied to the Atmos with the same artistic imagination and meticulous craftsmanship that La Grande Maison devotes to its finest wristwatches.

All Atmos movements are entirely developed, produced and assembled within the Manufacture and by hand in a specialised Atmos atelier. Not counting the five weeks of trial and adjustment that every Atmos mechanism undergoes, it can take eight to ten months to produce a single clock.

More than nine decades after its invention the Atmos clock remains a unique and emotionally resonant keeper of time – a splendid homage to design, technical virtuosity and tradition that captivates with the beauty of its form, the serene movement of its balance wheel and the mystery of its workings.

In 2022, Jaeger-LeCoultre will pay homage to the Atmos at Homo Faber, an extraordinary event that honours the best of European craftsmanship through 15 exhibitions that showcase exceptional master artisans. Chosen for its outstanding savoir-faire in watchmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre will feature in the Genealogies of Ornament exhibition, celebrating the intricate craft skills and accumulated expertise of its artisans in both watchmaking and the decorative arts. The Atmos, a timepiece and an objet d’art in equal measure, is recognized around the world as a symbol of Swiss craftsmanship and ingenuity. Homo Faber will take place from 10 April to 1 May, on the island of S.Giorgio Maggiore in Venice.

About the ATMOS

Born in 1928, the Atmos is a clock like no other. An invention that appears to defy the laws of physics, running for centuries without the need for any conventional energy source or rewinding. Instead, its mechanism is powered by normal, everyday fluctuations in air temperature; a variation of just one degree Celsius is sufficient to guarantee two days of running time. Since the 1930s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has harnessed the Manufacture’s watchmaking skills to continually make technical improvements, and its creative talents to enhance what has become a prized objet d’art. While the glass cube based on the Art Deco design of the Atmos II has become an instantly recognisable classic, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also collaborated with renowned designers and master artisans to create special editions of the Atmos.

Virtually perpetual movement

A secret that is hidden in plain sight: just a single degree of variation in the room temperature, and the Atmos clock captures enough power to run for two entire days. A clear glass allows the components of its movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 563, to be admired from every angle. Each face of its transparent cabinet has been treated with a new anti-reflective coating. Now lovers of beautiful objects can enjoy every detail of this fascinating display of clockmaking at their own leisure.

Aesthetic and chromatic harmony

The Atmos Transparente clock features a new glass dial that sets off its twelve hour-markers particularly well. Fine, perfectly straight, and of a deep black, they stand out sharply within this beautifully pared-back design. At the centre, two great, circling hands of the same colour mark off the passing hours and minutes. Strict, almost minimalist in their lines, these quintessential attributes form a harmonious contrast to the rounded fullness of the dial. These straight lines are housed within a circle, which itself sits inside a rectangle. Yet again, Jaeger-LeCoultre demonstrates its unique know-how, constantly striving to combine mechanical expertise with aesthetic precision – finding ways for opposing geometrical shapes to cohabit the same piece, complementing each other to perfection.

In this Atmos Transparente, the virtually perpetual movement enjoys another occasion to reveal the mechanical genius and exceptional accuracy that characterise it. The environmental credentials of this iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre clock positioned it well ahead of its times, and the Atmos remains a must-have for lovers of fine things who delight in timeless objects of resolutely contemporary design.

Atmos Transparente

Movement: mechanical, virtually perpetual, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 563, manufactured and assembled by hand, 217 parts, annular balance wheel

Functions: Hours/Minutes

Dimensions: 250 mm x 185 mm x 145 mm

Calibre: 563

Power reserve: virtually perpetual

Dial: glass, transferred index

Hands: black polished finish

Cabinet: new-generation glass for a totally colourless, see-through effect with an anti-reflective coating

Base: stainless steel with dual polished and satin-brushed finish

Reference: Q5135204

Since 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre and designer Marc Newson have been teaming up to pool their expertise and spark off each other’s creative energy, working together on a new and unique interpretation of the iconic Atmos. This year the designer once again applied his imagination to this clock that lives on air, rendering it in a contemporary spirit that stays true to its intrinsic identity. His work with the Grande Maison has given rise to an exceptional object of startling purity that draws breath under a Baccarat crystal globe.

Discover the video of Marc Newson at SIHH: https://youtu.be/Ez3uyg409tk

It is all lightness, transparency, and simplicity. At first glance, what draws the eye in Marc Newson’s Atmos 568 is its timekeeping mechanism, which appears to float freely in the air, while actually being held in place by the rear part of the movement. On the movement’s reverse, the mechanism is visibly held in place at four points, rather than the three on traditional Atmos clocks, to create symmetry. The membrane bridge, redesigned in a cross-shape and with a brushed finish, showcases the membrane’s bellows to great effect. It bears the clock’s name in the chosen shade of blue, along with the designer’s discreet signature in his trademark orange.

Closer inspection reveals a continuous play of light on the movement, which was devised by Manufacture artisans and had some of its components redesigned by Marc Newson. It is worked in a very contemporary-looking matte satin-brushed finish, with a number of shiny areas that are thrown into brilliant relief by the light streaming through the crystal. A brand new design for the balance wheel features grooves with matte tooth surfaces and shiny hollows, so that as it rotates back and forth, it creates a beautiful pattern of remarkable subtlety reflecting the sun’s rays. A true show of craftsmanship!

The combined talents of Marc Newson and the artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre have yielded this timeless design – a clock that seems to defy time altogether. With its limpid beauty and delicate simplicity, the Atmos 568 by Marc Newson offers a showcase for time to glide by in utter tranquillity.