Passemant's astronomical clocks at Versailles.

I come back from Versailles where I was nightly visiting a temporary exhibition "Louis XV. Passions d'un roi." and wanted to share with you my delight at admiring his astronomical clock, conceived by engineer Claude-Siméon Passmant and crafted by horologist Louis Dauthiau, the gilded bronze elements being works of Caffieri, father and son (see pictures 1-2); the clock was being serviced until last October, with partial funding by Rolex.

The clock tells date, both mean and solar time, phases of the moon, and is fitted with a quarter and hour repetition function (on demand, to preserve the owner's sleep) as well an astronomical complication displaying in an armillary sphere the exact positions of then known planets of the solar system; it has been originally programmed to work exactly until year 9999. The pendulum is adjusted for temperatures by using two metals whose reactions to temperature variations compensate each other.

It was about twelve years in the making, being demonstrated before the Académie royale des sciences in 1749 and showed to king Louis XV. in 1750, who decided to buy it. The gilt bronze by Caffieri father and son was added in 1753 in order to protect the mechanism.

I have been moved to see it again, as my last encounter with this clock was years ago, when, as a young boy, I had been struck by its complexity and fragility. I has certainly been instrumental in strengthening my interest in watches.

Picture 1: Passemant's astronomical clock achieved in 1749, from front.

Picture 2: Passemant's astronomical clock achieved in 1749, from back.

Another clock designed by Siméon Passemant was also on display tonight and left a strong impression on me: a pendule astronomique indicating the earth's orb, its hourly rotation, the zenith's exact location and the variation of the polar axis, as well as moon phases and the orbs of the then known planets of the solar planets (see picture 3). Its silver and gold case evokes the Creation and the role of Light among the four elements. It was commissioned by Joseph François Dupleix as he was commandant général des établissements français de l'Inde and governor of Pondichéry, who intended it as a diplomatic present to the monarch of Golconda. As Dupleix fell into disgrace and the monarch lost his throne, the boat carrying the clock sailed back to France and Louis XV. acquired it in 1754. Its grand yet arbitrary, tragic case as well as its story left a strong impression on me.

Picture 3: Passemant's astronomical clock "The Creation" (credits: G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Pendule_de_la_cr%C3%A9ation_du_monde_C_S_Passemant_1504823.jpg).

You have noticed the low quality of my photographs; for this last clock (picture 3), I even had to resort to a Wikipedia file. But I am prone to believe my weak dexterity might partly be imputable to the strength of conflicting emotions tonight, and so, trust in your indulgence.

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You have all the reasons in the world to be impressed by these two. I do share your amazement for them, as a big fan of astronomical watches and clock. Merci pour le partage.

By: amanico : February 18th, 2023-23:56

I wasn't prepared for such an encounter tonight; the memory of me facing this clock in Versailles some fifteen years ago was not lost,

By: Volney. : February 19th, 2023-00:11

But had become somehow unfamiliar. That a clock - and such a clock - might underline how continuous yet changing my experiences have been over those years moves me almost inexpressibly.

Horological Meandering