A French Art Deco nickel Reutter patent Atmos clock, circa 1934.

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Jean-Léon Reutter

In 1927, Jean-Léon Reutter created his first prototype clock, with a driving spring that is wound by changes in temperature. After a number of adaptations and improvements, the design was patented in 1928. A commercial production line for the Reutter Patent Atmos was started in the middle of 1929. Several inventions made this technical marvel possible. He used a torsion pendulum, known from 400-day clocks, and by enlarging it, ensured a very low ticking count. He made the suspension wire from elinvar, an alloy insusceptible to temperature changes, which greatly improved precision. The movement was finely made and executed with ruby end stones, causing it to need very little energy. In fact, the clock only needs 1/1000th of the energy that a conventional movement requires. These improvements were combined with his winding mechanism, which consists of a drum that can turn between two blocking pins. Inside the drum there is a U-shaped glass tube filled with mercury and ammonia gas, of which one part is insulated. By changes in temperature, the ammonia gas expands or contracts compared to the gas in the insulated half of the tube. This causes the mercury to shift, and this motion turns the drum. This turning winds a spring which drives the mechanism. Between 1930 and 1938, these clocks were produced under the direction of Jean-Léon Reutter. In 1935, Jaeger-LeCoultre took over the patent and started plans to modify the winding mechanism. The production of the modified Jaeger-LeCoultre version commenced after the Second World War, in 1947. Because of these developments, the number of Reutter Patent clocks remained limited. The Reutter clocks were executed with different cases. Many of the Art Deco versions are fairly rare because they were too modern for the large public. Nowadays, these clocks are desired because of their fascinating technique and their iconic, timeless designs.
This nickel plated model RC2 is a nice example of the Art Deco Style. These are fairly rare because they were too modern for the large public.

Atmos pendule perpetuelle

The 12-cm chapter ring has applied Arabic numerals and has ruby half hour markings. The chapter ring is inscribed Atmos below the number 12 and pendule perpetuelle above the number 6. Pendule perpetuelle means ‘perpetual clock’ a name that Reutter used since the clocks winds itself. The straight white laquered hands have black tips.

Balance wheel

The nickel plated movement is suspended with brackets in the case and is numbered 1958. The large balance wheel has a revolution of thirty seconds and is executed with large adjustment screws. With a sliding clip in the base, the balance can be locked.

Art Deco

The nickel plated case has beveled glass panels to all sides enabeling a good view of the movement. There are doors to the front and back. The whole is raised on a canted plinth. The rectangular clear design is typical for the Art Deco style belonging to the 1920’s and 1930’s.