Atmos Clock Range

Explore the range of classic Atmos clocks, featuring unique designs and exceptional craftsmanship for every space.

Model History and numbers...

Jean-Leon Reutter, in France, designed the Atmos Clock in 1927 and this is referred too as the Atmos 0. These prototypes were never sold and never called the Atmos 0 at that time.

His clocks were driven by a "mercury in glass" expansion device which rotated a cylinder which wound the mainspring by ratchet. The mechanism operates on temperature change only. The clocks are slightly different to the later Atmos models in minor details of escapement.

On June 01, 1929, Compagnie generale de radio (CGR) created a department devoted to the manufacture and sales of the Atmos clock. Jean-Leon Reutter was appointed to manage that department. It is unclear how many were made and sold but they are referred to these as Atmos I's. Two French patents were granted for the Atmos 0 (624.595) and for the Atmos I (664.689) but that company never produced the Atmos 0. They are very nicely made and typically they have a plate saying "Reutter Brevet" (Brevet = Patent).

In September 1932 LeCoultre entered an agreement to develop movements for CGR and first deliveries were made in mid 1933 and these movements were called the 30" A calibre. Annual production of these movements was between one and two thousand for years 1933 and 1934.

On July 27, 1935, CGR agreed to transfer all production to LeCoultre and all remaining stock and work in process. LeCoultre continued to sell the Atmos I while it was developing the Atmos II, which the primary improvement was the change from an ammonia and mercury "bellows" to a canister filled with ethyl chloride.

By January 15, 1936, LeCoultre announced its "new" Atmos and they were still using the 30" A calibre movement. These "new" Atmos' were later called Atmos II's. By November of 1936 the Atmos I production was stopped completely. Problems arose and "full" production of the Atmos II did not start until mid 1939.

The next model was the Atmos III, which included the 519 caliber and 529 caliber. Serial number's for the Atmos II and Atmos III are somewhat intertwined because of LeCoultre purchasing the entire stock of CGR.

There is evidence of overlapping in all LeCoultre models; there are no "absolutes" of serial numbers and caliber numbers.

The Atmos V consist of the caliber 526 and the Atmos VI, VII, and VIII consists of the caliber 528 and the 528/1 represents the Atmos VIII. The important point here is that this is the last of the "genuine" Reutter design Atmos made and production stopped late in 1983.

In late 1983, LeCoultre totally resigned the Atmos and came up with the 540 caliber. They also stopped the practice of labeling the models numerically (Atmos 0 - Atmos VIII). These serial numbers start with 600,000 and is still being made today under various caliber numbers and model names.

There have therefore been many models since the Atmos Clock first entered commercial production. However, all are based on the "Classic" atmos models / calibres which can be summarised as follows:

Atmos I - 7,000 made from 1930 to late 1938

Atmos II - 18,000 made from mid 1938 to mid 1950

Atmos III (519, 529) 65,000 made from mid 1950 to mid 1955

Atmos IV (522, 532) 10,500 made from early 1954 to early 1955

Atmos V (526-5 "Baby")* 45,000 from late 1954 to late 1958

Atmos VI (528-6, 528-8) >425,000 from early 1957 to early 1983

Atmos VII (540, 560) current production model from 1983

Atmos 550 "Prestige" 3,000 made from 1981 to 1987

*The "Baby" Atmos V (526-5) continued to be made into the late 1960's but numbers where small. However, the same basic movement and frame where used for a large number of "specialty" clocks made between 1950's to the 1970's such as the ones with persepx sides having Chinese, Fish and other motifs, the Gruen Atmos with a mahagony case, some solid silver case designer series clocks, etc.... It number made of these variations is unknown.

The Atmos VI (528) is the single most prolific made, >425,000 units between 1957 and 1983. These where often commissioned by large corporate companies in North America as long service awards to employees.

The Atmos VII (540/560) was introduced in early 1983, becoming the primary production model. The era of large corporate companies giving Atmos clocks as gifts was over and production numbers significantly decreased, Jaeger LeCoultre had to focus on a different clientele. Atmos began to evolve into a series of specially designed clocks with elegant and very expensive cases as well as features such as calendar and moon phase movements.