26
ingly simple. In a hermetically closed capsule
is a gaseous mixture which expands when the
temperature rises and contracts when it falls.
Connected to the clock’s drive spring, the cap-
sule swells like the bellows of an accordion,
constantly winding up the clock movement.
Between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, a tempera-
ture fluctuation of a single degree is enough to
provide the clock with an operating autonomy
of about two days. The Atmos® clock is de-
signed so that there is no excessive resistance
opposing this minimum power. The Atmos®
balance wheel oscillates slowly, its lung breath-
ing in perfect harmony with temperature vari-
ations and its heart beating quietly twice a
minute, i.e. 60 times less quickly than that of
a traditional clock, 240 times less quickly than
a wristwatch movement, and 1,966,000 times
less quickly than a quartz watch movement.
To get an idea of the delicacy of this minute
energy transfer, consider the fact that 60 mil-
lion Atmos® clocks together would consume no
more energy than a weak 15-watt electric light
bulb. All the components of the Atmos® clock