Luxury brand Jaeger LeCoultre have long been producing Atmos clocks - timepieces powered by small temperature changes in an encapsulated environment which can run for years without human intervention. Their power source is a hermetically sealed capsule containing a mixture of gas and liquid ethyl chloride, which expands into a chamber as the temperature rises, compressing a spiral spring; with a fall in temperature the gas condenses and the spring slackens. It's clever stuff, and now also beautiful stuff as to celebrate the 80th annniversary of Jaeger LeCoultre's line, they've released the 561. This special edition is the work of Australian designer Marc Newson who approached the company as a long-term fan of the mechanism. Suspended in a block of Baccarat crystal, Newson's sleek aesthetic is evident, and for horological and design enthusiasts alike, very desirable.
