The 3 best, most ornate table clocks at Watches and Wonders 2022: these creations by Van Cleef & Arpels, Patek Philippe and Jaeger-LeCoultre prove that timepieces are true works of art

Apr 29 , 2022

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Fontaine aux Oiseaux was one of the stunning table clocks on show at Watches and Wonders 2022. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Fontaine aux Oiseaux Automaton features two birds that perform an elaborate dance, adorned with diamonds, sapphires and other jewels

Meanwhile, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atmos Tellurium celebrates Copernicus’ discovery that the Earth revolves around the sun, with a disc inlaid with material from a meteorite

The timepieces shown at Watches and Wonders went beyond those worn on the wrist, with these table clocks also impressing with their mechanical complexity, artistry and elegance.

1. Van Cleef & Arpels Fontaine aux Oiseaux Automaton

Automatons could be described as mechanical theatre, and few today can rival the creations of Van Cleef & Arpels, exemplified by the Oiseaux Automaton, which took more than 25,200 hours to complete. On demand, you can activate the golden male and female birds that are adorned with precious and semi-precious gemstones including sapphires, diamonds, mandarin garnets and turquoise. Then they perform a courtship dance before uniting in a kiss above an idyllic pond with water lilies made of lacquered yellow gold floating on moving water of chalcedony, rock crystal and aluminium. And yes, you can also see what time it is: discreetly mounted on the base of this poetic object, a little feather blows with the winds of time along a retrograde scale of hours and minutes.

2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Tellurium

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos derives its power from changes in temperature and offers a model of the solar system calibrated so as to keep time with exquisite accuracy. Photo: Jaeger-LeCoultre

Ever since its invention back in 1928, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos has fascinated all who see it. It literally runs on air with a one-degree Celsius change in temperature affecting the air pressure enough to give the movement 48 hours of power reserve. It is even possible the Tellurium is the most complex timekeeper to date. As the name suggests, it celebrates Copernicus’ heliocentric breakthrough back in 1543, which led to the creation of three-dimensional mechanical mobiles called telluriums showcasing the relative positions of the sun, moon and Earth. The Atmos Tellurium, made of 443 components, does exactly that: the Earth-and-moon disc – suitably inlaid with material from a meteorite – orbits the central sun, making a complete rotation in one year. In fact this movement is so precise that you will not need to touch it for 390 years – as long as you don’t care to observe daylight saving time.

3. Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts Swan

This Patek Philippe timepiece celebrates the swans of Lake Geneva and can be worn in a pocket when not resting on its delicate plinth. Photo: Patek Philippe

This timepiece can be worn in a pocket, but comes into its own when placed on its ornate stand made of white gold resting on a foot of silver sheen obsidian. Part of Patek Philippe’s annual Rare Handcrafts collection, this timepiece celebrates the proud swans of Lake Geneva, a body of water on which the brand’s honorary president Philippe Stern has won seven regatta trophies. The avian, symbolising grace, beauty, love, trust and loyalty, is assembled from 223 pieces of veneer and 30 inlays shaped from 23 species of wood, to recreate the sheen of the plumage and reflections off the water. The black enamel dial features white gold Breguet numeral appliqués, while a sunset-hued Spessartine cabochon adorns the crown.

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