Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos clocks anyone?

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I have two of these, both from the 1960s, both picked up at regional NAWCC events at reasonable cost. The first one needed some work and I was lucky enough to find a retired local clock repairman who fixed it. It runs a little fast — needs to be stopped for a couple of minutes once a month or so.

The second one (bought two months ago) took some time to get precisely level, but has kept time perfectly since.

Here’s a couple of pictures. The second one is on the left. It has the front opening case so that you don’t need to lift off the whole top.

 
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@nicks
Nice ones!
Lot of good info here if you have not already found it.
 
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I have a LeCoultre Atmos clock which sadly, needs many parts. Case, glass, dial, all in excellent condition. It needs a pallet fork and conditioning, and perhaps other bits as well. It is available for free to anyone who wants it, and will pay shipping. PM me if interested.
 
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Where are you based?
 
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My latest timekeeping aquisition. Was a crock but after a new bellows its keeping great time, seemingly perpetually! The seller has a nickel or chrome coloured one which looks a million dollars but unfortunately is also worth many multiples of the value of this one which was embarrassingly cheap when you think about how special they are. Superficially it looks to be the same model as Nicks above but with Euro rather than US branding. If I have decoded the serial number correctly, this is from 1966.


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A poster on another forum I’m on found one at a thrift store for $55. 👍
 
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A poster on another forum I’m on found one at a thrift store for $55. 👍
Sheesh, apparently I need to hike less and go to thrift shops more
 
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My wife bought mine from an AD in Sturgis, SD in Dec 1973 for the list price of $125, there was a small sales placard next to it from LeCoultre showing that price. It had been in their stock for some years as the bellows were scratch marked June 1963, still has the original bellows. Now the price is $11,100, and the mechanisms aren't considered as good. $125 in 1963 is now about $1,300, so JLC charging $11,100 for an Atmos today tells you how upmarket they have become.
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Actually, a properly regulated Atmos can be very accurate. The key is to get the clock absolutely level and then to make any adjustments to the regulating lever in very - and I mean VERY - small increments and then wait at least a few days before making another adjustment. The time that it takes for an Atmos to reflect a change in regulation is slooooowwww, so be patient. And turn the hands forward when setting the time - never backward. Picked mine up for $600 and it keeps great time.
Bit big for the wrist!
 
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Mine is tempermental but I love it. Blued screws. Needs some TLC - gold is flaking off the case. One day, perhaps she will be renewed.
 
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You want to see an early one?
Check this….from another forum.
Bout 100 years old!
This is gorgeous. Saw as similar one with imho even more stunning dial with a Dutch dealer:



Apparently sold for 17,5k€..
That one is indeed earlier. It appears to be a mercury driven Reutter. Reutter invented the Atmos. It was all French at first, then LeCoultre made the movement (in Switzerland), and later the whole clock. The one above has a LeCoultre movement, but likely the rest of the clock is French.
 
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Saw as similar one with imho even more stunning dial with a Dutch dealer:

IMG_3762.webp
I think that is a Reutter RA2 model (Atmos), from around 1933. The numerals and hands of this dial variant are really cool. Most had more art-nouveauish numerals though.
 
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As promised, here's my fully functional Reutter/LeCoultre RC2 Atmos with mercury motor from 1934.
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As promised, here's my fully functional Reutter/LeCoultre RC2 Atmos with mercury motor from 1934.
Wow. What a beauty.