1960s Desk Accessories

Outstanding ATMOS VENDOME watch. The 1962 Atmos Vendome watch from renowned Swiss watchmaker Jaeger LeCoultre is one of the most iconic and fascinating watches in the history of high-end watchmaking, with a rich connection both in terms of engineering and artistic design. It is an extraordinary timepiece, renowned for its near-perpetual movement, powered by minimal fluctuations in temperature. Its mechanism is housed within a square, transparent glass case, offering an unobstructed view of its intricate inner workings. The base and structural elements are made of green marble and bronze, following a neoclassical aesthetic: an architecture of geometric lines and subtle ornamentation. The dial is white, featuring simple Roman numerals and Breguet hands. Known as “the President’s watch”, the Atmos was for a long time the official gift of the Swiss Confederation and this watch graced the desk of the greatest personalities and numerous presidents of republics. Origin and history of the complex mechanism The origin of this clock is due to the Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter (1899-1971), who dedicated his entire life to the search for the so-called perpetual movement. Jean-Léon Reutter surely studied the inventions of Charles Victor Hour, a Frenchman living in Paris who registered several patents, including that of a winding mechanism based on the expansion of gases depending on temperature variations. It is not a recent invention, since the first clocks that used changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure as a source of energy date back to the 17th century. However, for various reasons, this type of clock did not continue, and it was necessary to wait until 1928, when the Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter developed the Atmos clock mechanism as we know it today. In 1928 he presented the first prototype, called Atmos 0, of his clock that obtains its energy from variations in temperature and the environment. This invention quickly had a great impact on the international scientific community and was the subject of numerous articles around the world. However, Reutter faced difficulties related to the mass production of his invention. The method of implementation in the 1926 patent was too delicate to be built, so Reutter invented another system in 1928 that enclosed a mixture of mercury and ammonia in a “U”-shaped glass tube. One end of the tube was thermally insulated, while the other was not. So, when the ambient temperature changed, the expansion of the gas and the weight of the mercury caused the tube to rotate to wind the clock. In 1929, he addressed the problems related to the pendulum’s torsion wire. He further improved his clock and a new version was launched in 1930, two years after the previous one, and was thus the first to be marketed. The watches were not as successful as expected, and it was some time later that Jacques-David LeCoultre, grandson of the founder of the Jaeger-LeCoultre company, discovered this watch by chance in the window of a Parisian watchmaker. Intrigued by this invention that he had heard about but was wary of, he bought a copy and began to study it. This is how he got in touch with the inventor to discuss improvements to be made and to begin a collaboration in 1932 on an in-depth study of the Atmos watch between Jean-Léon Reutter and the watchmakers of Jaeger-LeCoultre. This collaboration led to the creation of the new LeCoultre calibre 30A. On 22 May 1936, the Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture bought the patents from Reutter and registered the production of the Atmos watch in its statutes. From 1939, the Atmos was fitted with a more water-resistant membrane. But it took ten years to produce, in 1946, the bellows perfectly sealed against the gas mixture: ethyl chloride C2H5CN. The new system uses a hermetically sealed vacuum capsule containing ethyl chloride. This gas expands in a membrane when the temperature rises, which has the effect of compressing the helical spring. When the temperature drops, the gas condenses and the spring relaxes. An Atmos can operate for years without human intervention. A simple variation of one degree (for a temperature between 15°C and 30°C) or a pressure variation of 3 mm Hg is enough to power the clock for more than a day. To operate the clock with this modest source of energy, the mechanism is designed with the minimum possible friction, so it does not contain oil in its gears. Time is measured by a balance that consumes less energy than an ordinary pendulum. In fact, it makes only one oscillation per minute, which is sixty times less than a classic clock...

22k Yellow Gold Coin & 18k Yellow Gold Key Chain by Salvador Dali D'or for Piaget. An extremely rare 22k yellow gold coin key chain designed by the famous surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Inspired by his hero, Louis XIV, Dali minted a limited number of his own gold coins. The artist called his gold coin the "Dali d'or" after the "Louis d'Or" coins created for the French king. The coins were minted in four sizes and values, and Dali occasionally used them to pay debts he owed to friends. This is an authentic key chain from Piaget, the coin is sculpted by Salvador Dali. The key chain is crafted from solid 18k yellow gold and is from Piaget by Dali. The 22k Dali coin...

FACTORY / HOUSE: LeCoultre Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Mid Century METAL / MATERIAL: Gilt on Brass CIRCA / YEAR: 1960's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 1 3/4 Inches Square MOVEMENT / CALIB...

Table cards holders designed by Hermes. Very rare and unusual set of table menu-card holders, created in Paris France by the luxury house of Hermes, back in the 1960-1970. These set...

A fine pair of sterling silver taper candlesticks. By Thomas Bradbury & Son for James Robinson. Each candlestick with a square base with indented & rounded corners supporting a tap...

Beautiful vintage Hermès mini notebook agenda cover tooled out of the classic burgundy leather associated with the iconic Parisian luxury brand, with sti...

It is said that time is a luxury and this sumptuous Van Cleef & Arpels Paris vintage desk clock is the ultimate reminder. With a lush pink rhodoni...

Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable Oscar Nemon 18ct gold bust sitting on a Malac...

Circa 1960s Hermes 8 Day Desk Clock with World Time Calendar and Alarm function. 3 Piece Gilt Brass case measuring 4 1/4 inches in Diameter and 1 5/8 in...

Circa 1960s Cartier Desk Clock, 14K Yellow Gold Textured case measuring 2 3/8 inches in height X 2 1/2 inches. 17 jewel Mechanical, Manual wind 8 Day Geneva movement with Alarm func...

Circa 1960s LeCoultre Rue De La Paix Paris Street lamp Clock. Measuring 11 inches in height and finished in High Polish Bronze and Black Enamel. Mech...

From Jaeger-LeCoultre, circa 1960's, a fabulous brass zodiac desk clock. This model features emerald green acrylic and gilt brass, with 8-day going visible movement. The 5-3/8" w x...