JAEGER-LECOULTRE | ATMOS DU MILLÉNAIRE MARQUETERIE, REF 5523101WOOD CASED GILT METAL TIMEPIECE WITH 1000 YEAR CALENDAR AND MOON PHASESCIRCA 2002

Dial: white, Chinois numeralsCalibre: Atmos automaticMovement number: 694'392Case: wood, hinged door and side panels, secret draw to the baseCase number: 09Dimensions: H360 x D230 x W190mmSigned: dialAccessories: Jaeger-LeCoultre guarantee, manual, century capsules, pen, solidified ink, ink well, setting tool and presentation case 

MVT: Running at the time of cataloguing. CASE: overall in excellent condition with a only very minor crack to the varnish where the joint meets on the top of the case. DIAL: is in excellent condition. The watch has not been tested to determine the accuracy of its timekeeping. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and that a service may be required at the buyer's discretion.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The present lot is a fine example of the combination of artistry, workmanship and science. The case itself is beautifully crafted, and adorned with marquetry panels on either side that open revealing allegories of both day and night in the Belle Époque style. The marquetry was completed by two eminent master cabinet makers, Jérôme Boutteçon and Philippe Monti. The entire piece celebrates the vast longevity realised by the Atmos Clock, and beneath the movement is placed a secret draw containing cylinders representing each century the timepiece will live through. Within these cylinders are concealed parchments on which the multiple owners can record significant moments of their life. It does then, to some extent, become more than simply an instrument that measures time in seconds and minute and hours, emphasising also the significance and effect of the relationship between the passing of time and human experience. The concept of perpetual motion is one that has entered the thoughts of many great minds since some believe as early as the 5^th century. And, the idea that there might be a possibility of creating a machine that requires no energy to produce energy, while now known to be futile, has occupied perhaps the thoughts of many more.