Atmos The Atmos clock was invented by Neuchâtel engineer Jean-Léon Reutter (1899-1971). From his youth, he was preoccupied by the idea of industrially producing a clock that could be wound by atmospheric fluctuations, and in 1928 he succeeded. Reutter?s patent was first licensed to a French company who exploited it until 1935. Subsequently, it was purchased by Jaeger LeCoultre. After difficult early years, by 1979 there were half a million such clocks which quickly became popular and prestigious gifts for the important heads of states during their visits to Switzerland. The keeping of aquariums in the home became very popular from the 1950?s and the use of tropical fish as decoration on all manner of things has become associated with the 1950s & 1960s. The Perspex panels have three-dimensional castings of fish and plants set into them and were no doubt inspired by the famous Dunhill ?aquarium? table lighters of the 1950s.