Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Latest Atmos Clock Is a Sign of New Times
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s recently re-appointed CEO Jérôme Lambert has two focuses for his new era at the venerable Swiss label: “watchmaking creativity” and “revolutionary product”.
At least, that’s what he told me earlier this week in Villa Mozart in Milan where JLC is holding its Living on Air exhibition (open until Sunday, in case you're in town) for the city's design week.
The showcase ties into the latter focus. It is a walkthrough of the history of the horological label's Atmos Clock, from the very first invented for a 1928 release by engineer Jean-Léon Reutter to the latest take, the Atmos Infinite Halo.
As many of you will know, each Atmos Clock runs continuously without the need of human intervention. Powered by a gas-filled capsule, it is energised by the fluctuations of air temperature. It takes just a change of a single degree Celsius to provide the clock with two days of ticking power.
The Atmos Infinite Halo is the white lacquer dial version of the black lacquer dial Atmos Infinite released in 2022. The variant combines the bell jar-esque containers of the OG models with the movement of the Atmos Jubilee released in the seventies (to celebrate its 50th anniversary) and achieves an impressive floating component illusion.
But what does the Halo suffix spell? The white dial “gives the opportunity to have more light underline the movement itself,” Lambert tells me. “A darker face brings a lot of polarisation on the dial itself and less on the movement. With the white lacquer it puts a halo effect on the movement.”
For Lambert, the Atmos clock represents stability and freedom of expression. Since it can take any shape, it can capture the zeitgeist but the concept of perpetual movement remains the same. He tells me Atmos projects motivate teams across JLC who are passionate about pushing the envelope.
Over time, he hopes to spread this spirit of innovation beyond the clocks. “I’ve been interacting with so many of our maison projects. With 180 craftsmanship, 430 patterns, a large catalogue for movement and an integrated manufacturer, you can do a lot of things.”
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Infinite Halo is available for €21,800 and limited to 100 pieces. Find out how to purchase here.
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