Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos 561
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Once again, clocks will play a major role in our next sale of Antiques & Fine Art on Monday 3rd September. Following the success of April’s auction – where a Dent marine chronometer sold for £11,000 – we are pleased to feature some particularly compelling pieces; chief amongst these is the Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos 561.
A brilliant inventor and self-taught watchmaker, Antoine LeCoultre (1803-1881), founded his first workshop in 1833 having invented a machine to produce watchmaking pinions. Travel through time to 1928, when Jean-Léon Reutter’s brilliant invention of a clock movement powered by subtle changes in temperature – later perfected and manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre – gave birth to the ‘Atmos’.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Atmos, Jaeger LeCoultre launched this iconic table clock in collaboration with the Australian, Marc Newson. Awarded the CBE on this year’s Honours List for his services to design, Newson has worked on projects for Alessi, Qantas, Samsonite and Ford, designed Lance Armstrong’s ‘LiveStrong’ Trek Art bike, and is also co-founder of the Ikepod watch company. In recent years, some of his ‘Lockheed’ lounge chairs (one of his first projects from 1986) have exceeded £1 million at auction.
The Jaeger LeCoultre 561 immediately became a hit with fans old and new. Its Baccarat, crystal body devoid of any sharp edges is typical of Newson’s design and encases a 15-jewel movement, with month calendar dial and moon phase. The manufacture of these clocks was limited to a special edition of just 888 pieces worldwide – the number 8 used to symbolise infinity and eternity. Numbered 531, this clock is sold with its original stylish, embossed tan leather carry case and paperwork.
With an estimate of £6,000 - £8,000, Fellows are proud to be the first UK auctioneers to offer an example of these prestigious designs at auction.
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