What to Know

This page courtesy and copyright of Hour House^TM. The content cannot be used without permission.

Permission for the use of this content has been granted for the following Ebay items ONLY:

Please contact hour_house@earthlink.net or see Hour House for more information.

What to know when buying an Atmos...

Atmos repairs can be quite expensive, and repairs requiring new parts can take a long time if these are out of stock with the U.S. supplier and must be imported from Switzerland. Parts are available only through Jaeger-LeCoultre authorized repair shops (or occasionally, E-Bay!). Because of the authorization requirement, many clock shops do not have access to Atmos parts. The repair of an Atmos is unlike traditional clock repair - there is a suspended torsion pendulum, coupled to a fine movement through a fork and roller pairing that is decidedly temperamental. The whole thing is powered by a mainspring that is wound by the actions of a temperature sensitive bellows. Not like any other clock in the world.

The Atmos is powered by a chemical-filled bellows. The chemical contracts and expands with changes in air temperature, and provides the power for the Atmos. The bellows is the most common cause of Atmos failure. Over time, the chemical (ethyl chloride) will actually permeate the metal and escape, or in some cases, the bellows will crack with age. The bellows MUST be intact for the clock to run long-term. A new bellows is around $200 for parts alone.

With some work, it is possible to wind the Atmos by hand. This manual winding may last for several months, and will temporarily hide a defective bellows. However, the accuracy of the Atmos will suffer greatly if the movement is not continuously wound by the bellows. And of course, if the bellows is defective, the clock will eventually stop.

The "suspension wire" is a very delicate wire from which the rotating pendulum is suspended. The Atmos provides a locking mechanism to lock the pendulum and take tension off the wire. If the Atmos is moved without locking the pendulum, the suspension wire can be broken; if the Atmos is shipped without locking the pendulum, it is a virtual certainty. Suspension wires can lose tension, stretch, and even become twisted as the clock ages, and most professionals will replace the suspension spring as part of a standard overhaul, but the price of "parts" is usually in additional to the price of an overhaul. Replacement of the suspension wire will also require retiming and rebalancing of the movement.

Sometimes, an Atmos will have a "missing", "loose", or "removed" minute hand. This is probably because someone was careless when setting the clock, and the very fine post to which the minute hand attaches was broken off. This is most common with the Atmos models that require the case to be lifted off to set the time. This is an expensive repair because the pin is part of one of the wheels in the movement, and the wheel must be replaced. The wheel costs about $125, and the labor to replace it can be substantial.

The original finish of an Atmos clock is NOT brass. The cases of ALL Atmos clocks were plated with a thin layer of 24K gold at the factory. (The exception is the silver-colored Atmos, which is usually chrome, nickel, or rhodium-plated.) Some had lacquer applied as a final finish. NEVER USE BRASS POLISH! If the case is badly tarnished or spotted, it likely CANNOT be polished to a satisfactory finish. Attempting to polish heavily will remove the lacquer, if present, and damage the gold plate, and result in a case with inconsistent color (there is brass or nickel beneath the gold). A pitted case will require complete refinishing. You will do better to buy a nice looking Atmos that doesn't run, than to buy a running Atmos that has a hopeless case.

I am starting to see more Atmos cases that have had the gold completely polished off intentionally. Depending on the vintage of the Atmos, this leaves either a shiny brass finish, or a silver color, which is nickel. Either can be made to look nice, and be acceptable for presentation. However, often these are advertised as "restored", which is incorrect. If you see an Atmos with a silver-colored case and a gold-colored movement, this is not likely to be original. Some silver-colored Atmos clocks were produced, but their movements were usually produced in the same finish. There are exceptions, but most are from the latest generation of Atmos clocks which began in 1984 starting with serial number 600000.

For several decades, the Atmos was popular as a service or retirement gift in corporate America. Many of these clocks were presented with an award plaque attached to the front. Some were glued on or stuck on with tape, and some were bolted on by drilling holes in the front base of the case. Whether or not the plaque should be removed is personal choice. Personally, I like the plaque when it is dated since it will provide some history of the clock, and validate its antiquity. But you should know that if you want to remove the plaque, even if it can be removed without damage to the case, it is quite likely that the gold finish behind the plaque will not match the rest of the case due to aging.