Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils "Atmos Hybris Artistica Tellurium by Marc Newson"

Overview:

• Celestial spectacle reflected in glass: A sculpted map of constellations adorned with 539 cabochon-cut sapphires, representing major stars.

• A magnificent feat of mechanical engineering: Calibre 590 combines tellurium, moon, seasons, and constellation display functions.

• Unparalleled precision in moon phase display: Equipped with a moon phase function boasting exceptional accuracy, with an error of only one day in 5,770 years.

• Born from a collaboration with Marc Newson: The latest creation deepens the dialogue between Jaeger-LeCoultre and the iconic designer, reinterpreting the fusion of timekeeping and design through a unique vision.

Following the Atmos Hybris Artistica Tellurium Calibre 590, which debuted in 2022,

Jaeger-LeCoultre and renowned industrial designer Marc Newson have teamed up to create the second Atmos model, the most complex clock ever made. Housed within a sapphire-studded glass globe, Marc Newson's interpretation of the Atmos, the Tellurium Calibre 590, will be produced in a limited edition of just three pieces and will be unveiled at Jaeger-LeCoultre's "Atmos" exhibition, held in conjunction with Milan Design Week from April 21 to 26, 2026.

The Marvel of Perpetual Motion, Wound by Air

Conceived in 1928 by Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter and further developed for mass production by the watchmakers of LeCoultre & Cie (later Jaeger-LeCoultre), the unique mechanism of the Atmos allows it to run continuously without manual winding or external power supply. Known as a "clock with a floating design," it features a movement that achieves virtually perpetual motion by drawing energy from minute changes in ambient temperature.

This thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy, which then drives the balance wheel's movement. The secret lies in a sealed capsule containing gas. This capsule is connected to the clock's mainspring by a membrane. Slight temperature changes cause the gas volume to fluctuate, making the membrane "breathe" like an accordion bellows, expanding and contracting. This supplies the tiny amount of energy needed for the balance wheel to oscillate back and forth once every minute. A temperature change of just 1°C can keep the clock running for two days.

The technical requirements of the Atmos have defined the distinctive structure of its mechanism, which has underpinned its powerful aesthetic originality from the outset. Leveraging this uniqueness, the Atmos has become an ideal canvas for artistic creativity, and since the 1970s, Jaeger-LeCoultre has invited leading designers to reinterpret the clock in their own unique styles, working alongside master artisans of traditional crafts.

New Collaboration with Marc Newson

Jaeger-LeCoultre and Australian product designer Marc Newson have been collaborating since 2008, combining their expertise to reinterpret the Atmos, an object that the designer himself describes as "complex" and "magical." This creative dialogue has successively given birth to new calibres, with the first models of 561 in 2008, 566 in 2010, and 568 in 2016. Known for his multidisciplinary activities, Marc Newson has been fascinated by the Atmos for many years, ever since he first encountered it in his early teens. Guided by its timeless character, he adopts a precise design approach that respects and preserves the essence of the object.

His approach explores unexpected uses of materials and challenges technical conventions. His vision, rooted in a deep affection for analog objects, aligns with his commitment to enduring design, crafted with a timeless style in both function and form.

New Design Capturing the Beauty of the Solar System

Calibre 590 is the most complex Atmos movement ever created, reproducing the orbits of the Earth, Sun, and Moon with extreme precision in three dimensions. Jaeger-LeCoultre named this clock "Tellurium," an homage to the eponymous three-dimensional mobile invented during the Renaissance after Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model. A tellurium replicates the Earth's rotation and revolution around the Sun, and the Moon's revolution and rotation around the Earth. Since the 18th century, watchmakers have considered combining telluriums with intricate clocks.