Property of an Important Korean Collector
950
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Atmos Marqueterie “Gustav Klimt”, Proto 0
A prototype, exceptionally rare and exquisite wood marquetry, yellow sapphire and diamond-set Atmos clock with wood marquetry reproducing details from “Expectation”, created by Gustav Klimt for the Stoclet Palace, mother-of-pearl regulator-style dial, 24-hour, month indication and moon phases
Estimate
HK$780,000–1,560,000
€88,700–177,000
$100,000–200,000
Manufacturer
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Year
Circa 2013
Movement No
748’637
Case No
Proto 0
Model Name
Atmos Marqueterie “Gustav Klimt”, Proto 0
Material
Wood, gold leaves, yellow sapphire, diamonds, mother-of-pearl and glass
Calibre
Wound by changes in the temperature, cal. 582, 30 jewels
Dimensions
32cm length x 17cm width x 25.5cm height
Signed
Case, dial and movement signed
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
- Revolutionary clock mechanism running on ethyl chloride gas
- Prototype piece
- Fantastic depiction of Klimt’s “Expectation”
- Immaculate condition
In 1928, engineer Jean‑Léon Reutter developed a revolutionary clock mechanism capable of living quite literally “on air”. Placed into production by Jaeger‑LeCoultre in the 1930s, the Atmos quickly became a design icon, running on the smallest variations in atmospheric temperature. Nicknamed the “President’s Clock”, it was long adopted as the official diplomatic gift of the Swiss Confederation.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of its iconic Atmos clock in 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a limited-edition masterpiece: an Atmos housed within a crystal glass case and cabinet adorned with exquisite wood marquetry. Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s luminous 1907 portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the piece faithfully reproduced the artwork using over 1,200 individual wood veneers—a breathtaking fusion of horology and fine art. This marked the beginning of a lasting tribute, as the brand has since returned to Klimt’s oeuvre, reimagining celebrated works such as The Kiss and Judith I in intricate wooden inlay. Phillips was pleased to offer the edition depicting “Judith I” in our Fall 2025 Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXI.
In 2013, the Swiss maison introduced another homage to Klimt, drawing from his celebrated 1905 mural cycle for Brussels’ Stoclet Palace—a trio of mosaics portraying the standing figure “Expectation” (featured on the left cabinet panel), the swirling “Tree of Life”, and the embracing couple “Fulfilment” (on the right). Phillips previously offered the “Fulfilment” edition in our Spring 2026 Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXII and we are now honored to present this edition depicting “Expectation”.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans translated this opulent mosaic entirely into the language of wood. Without a single stroke of paint, they rendered Klimt’s luminous palette and intricate details through a selection of rich veneers, such as walnut, Madrona burl and Pau Amarello, with each piece meticulously cut and placed by hand.
A hidden button opens the cabinet to reveal the Atmos mechanism, safeguarded by rhodium-plated crystal glass. The mother-of-pearl dial adopts a regulator display: hours at 12, sweeping minutes at center, and months and moon phases at 6. The ornamentation displays jeweled sophistication: a cushion-cut yellow sapphire at the 60-minute mark, petrified wood indexes set into mother-of-pearl and a diamond-set golden moon in the lunar aperture, finished with refined blue varnished hands.
At the heart of the clock beats the Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 582, distinguished by architectural elegance and mechanical poetry. Driven by a hermetically sealed capsule of gases that expand and contract with temperature changes, the mechanism winds the mainspring in a near-perpetual cycle. Its moon phases is astonishingly precise, deviating by only one day every 3,821 years. More than a timekeeper, this Atmos is stamped “Proto 0” on the back, indicating it is the prototype for this “Expectation” piece. It stands as a portable monument to artisanal devotion, where the warmth of wood meets the golden glow of Klimt’s vision.
- Revolutionary clock mechanism running on ethyl chloride gas
- Prototype piece
- Fantastic depiction of Klimt’s “Expectation”
- Immaculate condition
In 1928, engineer Jean‑Léon Reutter developed a revolutionary clock mechanism capable of living quite literally “on air”. Placed into production by Jaeger‑LeCoultre in the 1930s, the Atmos quickly became a design icon, running on the smallest variations in atmospheric temperature. Nicknamed the “President’s Clock”, it was long adopted as the official diplomatic gift of the Swiss Confederation.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of its iconic Atmos clock in 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a limited-edition masterpiece: an Atmos housed within a crystal glass case and cabinet adorned with exquisite wood marquetry. Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s luminous 1907 portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the piece faithfully reproduced the artwork using over 1,200 individual wood veneers—a breathtaking fusion of horology and fine art. This marked the beginning of a lasting tribute, as the brand has since returned to Klimt’s oeuvre, reimagining celebrated works such as The Kiss and Judith I in intricate wooden inlay. Phillips was pleased to offer the edition depicting “Judith I” in our Fall 2025 Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXI.
In 2013, the Swiss maison introduced another homage to Klimt, drawing from his celebrated 1905 mural cycle for Brussels’ Stoclet Palace—a trio of mosaics portraying the standing figure “Expectation” (featured on the left cabinet panel), the swirling “Tree of Life”, and the embracing couple “Fulfilment” (on the right). Phillips previously offered the “Fulfilment” edition in our Spring 2026 Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXII and we are now honored to present this edition depicting “Expectation”.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisans translated this opulent mosaic entirely into the language of wood. Without a single stroke of paint, they rendered Klimt’s luminous palette and intricate details through a selection of rich veneers, such as walnut, Madrona burl and Pau Amarello, with each piece meticulously cut and placed by hand.
A hidden button opens the cabinet to reveal the Atmos mechanism, safeguarded by rhodium-plated crystal glass. The mother-of-pearl dial adopts a regulator display: hours at 12, sweeping minutes at center, and months and moon phases at 6. The ornamentation displays jeweled sophistication: a cushion-cut yellow sapphire at the 60-minute mark, petrified wood indexes set into mother-of-pearl and a diamond-set golden moon in the lunar aperture, finished with refined blue varnished hands.
At the heart of the clock beats the Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 582, distinguished by architectural elegance and mechanical poetry. Driven by a hermetically sealed capsule of gases that expand and contract with temperature changes, the mechanism winds the mainspring in a near-perpetual cycle. Its moon phases is astonishingly precise, deviating by only one day every 3,821 years. More than a timekeeper, this Atmos is stamped “Proto 0” on the back, indicating it is the prototype for this “Expectation” piece. It stands as a portable monument to artisanal devotion, where the warmth of wood meets the golden glow of Klimt’s vision.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Swiss | 1833Not all companies in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger LeCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker." Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named LeCoutre, the firm provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished mechanical movements with which they completed their watches.
In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out LeCoultre's help in creating the world's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the creation of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The duo decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know and adore it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.