This year, the astronomical clock presented to Louis XV on January 15, 1754 will receive a special and historic restoration. Designed by mathematician Claude-Siméon Passemant, this monument of art and engineering of French heritage will operate until… the year 9999!
A major restoration courtesy of Rolex France
Hans Wilsdorf’s passion for art and culture
Passemant Astronomical Clock – © Château de Versailles, Christian Milet
Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf passed on his passion for art and culture, and active patronage maintains that passion today. Evidence is that this brand’s subsidiary in France is helping Château de Versailles restore the Louis XV astronomical clock. An action that is sure to be successful.
The results will be presented at the opening of the Louis XV exhibition commemorating the three hundredth anniversary of his coronation on October 18, 2022.
The watch was disassembled and sent to the French Museum Research and Restoration Center – © Thomas GARNIER
While we wait, experts at the French museum research and restoration institute and the Louvre are taking care of the precious relic. First they will deep clean its mechanism because its motor often stops working. This is the first time; No one had ever popularized it before.
Astronomical clock: an engineering feat that took 36 years of rigorous and precise work to make
Passemant and Dauthiau, talented duo
Passemant, Dauthiau and Caffieri: the watchmakers who developed this watch – © Christian Millet
The mathematician Passemant spent twenty years developing the astronomical tables and designing the gears of this remarkable work. Then watchmaker Louis Dauthiau spent 12 years producing it. It took Jacques Caffieri another four years to complete the “rococo” style bronze cabinet. The French Academy of Sciences then approved the watch. It then took thirty-six years to complete this meticulous and technical feat. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long, but the results are right before our eyes, three hundred years later.
A very complex mechanism
A unique pine tree connects the world map, clock, calendar, pendulum and mechanisms. It displays: the sky with the zodiac signs, the movement of the planets around the sun (according to Copernicus), hours, days, months, years, moon phases and leap years. Basic details: a silvery crust appears during an eclipse and indicates whether it is total or partial.
On January 15, 1754, Louis XV acquired the watch. They installed in the King’s Small Apartments, which was called the clock room. Legend has it that they placed the white marble under the clock to insulate it because it had suffered the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. We will never know for sure. If only we could travel back in time…
