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My new (to me) JLC... - probably one of the cheapest working JLC you can get
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17-01-2021 6:05pm#1And powered by witchcraft (temperature changes in the air) - beating at a very leisurely 120bph (instead of our 28800 watches) - the JLC Atmos clock.
Considering this example comes from 1969 it's in fantastic shape:
Brass plated with 24k gold lasts quite well as you can see.
You can see some of the inner workings here (it's a chain driven clock technically - a variation of 1 degrees in temperature can provide hours of "power" for the clock)
It comes with its own bubble level - with such a low oscillation rate it really is key that it is placed on a flat surface with minimal vibrations.
The serial number on top identifies it as a '69 model:
I took a gamble with an ebay listing - it is much safer to buy them from proper clock shops where they have been serviced and the seller knows what they are dealing with. The seller I bought from on ebay seemed to specialise in clocks and shipped it from the US perfectly protected... once I spent about 15 minutes removing all the packaging - released the pendulum brake and breathed a sigh of relief as it started moving on its own.
JLC says once it is moved from one location to another to let the clock run for a month to settle down before starting to regulate it.
This will be the last major watch/clock purchase for this a long time (famous last words) - but this was a semi-grail clock for me. I got it to celebrate a change in job - and so far it is keeping great time.
The one thing that really distinguishes this clock from others is the eery quietness of it - my other mantel clocks will be ticking along merrily but the Atmos just leisurely moves in absolute silence - mesmerising to look at with the openworked design too.
Oh and when I say it's a "cheap" JLC - it's around 600 euro so a bargain for a JLC, maybe less so for a clock
Kept right I would hope that it could run for another 20-40 years before needing a service
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Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭
Join Date:Posts: 59004
That's a bloody beauty TF. And IMHO one of the single best bargains in horology still out there. Plus if you buy vintage and hang onto it for a few years and then get tired of it you'll see your money back. Atmos clocks have been remarkably stable in values over the decades. Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.
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Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭ Join Date:Posts: 59004
I would say that our TF got that at a particularly good price. Fair play. Unless prices have dropped of late? Any time I looked at them down the years 1500-2000 was more the kinda price rate. Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.
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I would say that our TF got that at a particularly good price. Fair play. Unless prices have dropped of late? Any time I looked at them down the years 1500-2000 was more the kinda price rate.
I don't think they have necessarily dropped - but they were always cheaper in the US where they were more popular.
It was even a difference looking at ebay.ie and ebay.com - I found my clock from the .com website and needed to check if the seller would consider shipping abroad (many don't or use eBay's global shipping programme which prepays the VAT...)
The 600ish didn't include the VAT (which may or may n9t have been charged…). In the US apparently people can pick them up regularly for $500 from estate sales and around $700ish from stores.
The auction pieces were in worse condition and I topped out at £470 (pre-20% premium) so at 630 euro or thereabouts.
Here's a US atmos on ebay.com for less than $600 plus shipping:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-LECOULTRE-ATMOS-519-Brass-Glass-15j-Swiss-Perpetual-Motion-Clock-69873/174596156440?hash=item28a6bdec18%3Ag%3A5lEAAOSwOGtgAITI&LH_BIN=1
From the 50s and has blued screws instead of gilded screws. Seems like it's in good condition and in the description they said they checked that it runs... The regulator is in a good position in the photos (doesn't mean much - but always a warning sign if the regulator isn't in a good position) and service marks on the bottom of the clock.
It's certainly a cheap way to own a really lovely JLC timepiece in the home.0 -
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Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭ Join Date:Posts: 59004
Of my current stash three off the top of my head came from those parts(Chile and Argentina) and down the years I can think of three more. I've also sourced movements and bracelets. You would want to have your wits about you alright and really know the brand/model involved. Argentina was a very wealthy country back in the day and they had good taste in Swiss watches. Longines for example were huge over there(and in Latin countries in general actually). Patek and Zenith ditto. Girard Perregaux and Movado others. Quite a few American brands of course. Omega and Rolex not so many, if any show up as vintage.Have you made many purchases from the S. Americas?
Dead right with the Japanese. Very honest, or overly anal, you decide.
Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.
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artanevilla wrote: »I want ones of these clocks immediately.
I was considering buying from this UK seller (and even post Brexit as they are a shop they can remove VAT and it won't be much difference to import into Ireland - could even be a 20% savings if Irish customs don't levy VAT on the post
)
He gives some really good advice on the various Atmos models available and the differences between them - his prices for a store bought clock were very reasonable too.
https://www.clocksuk.co.uk/Atmos.html
https://www.clocksuk.co.uk/AtmosBuying.html
^His guide to Atmos buying.
He even addresses the fact that buying from the US may be cheaper - but you are definitely taking a risk (both that the clock is in good condition, and that the seller will ship it to you in secure enough packaging - I wasn't kidding when I said it took around 15 minutes to get through all the packaging used on my example).
And looking closely at my example I think I definitely lucked out - the seller didn't mention this but checking the stickers underneath one of the previous owners had seemed to service the clock once a decade (1999 and 2009) - that is probably why it runs so well.
With ebay listings sellers never guarantee performance - it's just (at best) - "tried it for a few hours and it is running" - so caveat emptor!
If sellers can post a video of the clock running - amplitude can be a quick way of seeing if the clock is still performing well or not - a freshly serviced Atmos should get around 540 degrees of amplitude...just checked mine and it's coming to around 500 so very happy with that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEVvOx97R4s - here's a 540 degree amplitude Atmos.
And they also do complications too - this one is gorgeous - but I imagine the cost will be very high:
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That is a lovely lovely thing...nice to see someone getting a genuine bit of value...I’d love to have it on my mantelpiece...well wear sirAnd powered by witchcraft (temperature changes in the air) - beating at a very leisurely 120bph (instead of our 28800 watches) - the JLC Atmos clock.
Considering this example comes from 1969 it's in fantastic shape:
Brass plated with 24k gold lasts quite well as you can see.
You can see some of the inner workings here (it's a chain driven clock technically - a variation of 1 degrees in temperature can provide hours of "power" for the clock)
It comes with its own bubble level - with such a low oscillation rate it really is key that it is placed on a flat surface with minimal vibrations.
The serial number on top identifies it as a '69 model:
I took a gamble with an ebay listing - it is much safer to buy them from proper clock shops where they have been serviced and the seller knows what they are dealing with. The seller I bought from on ebay seemed to specialise in clocks and shipped it from the US perfectly protected... once I spent about 15 minutes removing all the packaging - released the pendulum brake and breathed a sigh of relief as it started moving on its own.
JLC says once it is moved from one location to another to let the clock run for a month to settle down before starting to regulate it.
This will be the last major watch/clock purchase for this a long time (famous last words) - but this was a semi-grail clock for me. I got it to celebrate a change in job - and so far it is keeping great time.
The one thing that really distinguishes this clock from others is the eery quietness of it - my other mantel clocks will be ticking along merrily but the Atmos just leisurely moves in absolute silence - mesmerising to look at with the openworked design too.
Oh and when I say it's a "cheap" JLC - it's around 600 euro so a bargain for a JLC, maybe less so for a clock
Kept right I would hope that it could run for another 20-40 years before needing a service0 -
Here's an image of the packaging the seller used to get the Atmos to me - 7 separate layers of packaging (hence taking 10ish minutes to cut through everything (carefully!)).
I can imagine that not every seller (especially private sellers) would be this conscientious or aware of how to best pack this clock. An anniversary clock I got sent over to me from the UK unfortunately had the pendulum wire snap because the seller didn't know (and to be fair I didn't tell him) to apply the pendulum brake prior to shipping. I'm hoping to make the repairs myself as it's not economical to pay a watchmaker to repair it (bought the new wire - just need to find some time to disassemble the clock and attach the new wire - nice new project).0 -
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