L’Epée 1839 unveils The Football, a full-scale spherical timepiece that treats the classic 32-panel icon as horology rather than memorabilia. Built from 882 components around an eight-day movement, it reads like a mechanical trophy – a measured salute to craft, rhythm and the moments that define both sport and time.
The exoskeleton reinterprets pentagons and hexagons as openworked architecture, each panel secured by visible screws. Light passes through the sphere, catching hand-polished facets while satin-brushed time discs offer quiet contrast. The result is depth without bulk, transparency without fragility.
Time is integrated into the geometry itself. Hours and minutes appear on two rotating satin-finished discs, revealed through hexagonal apertures that follow the curve of the sphere. It is a display that does not shout; it simply belongs.
At the center, an in-house manual movement sets the pace: 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), eight days of autonomy, 11 jewels, Incabloc shock protection and a visible escapement that provides the piece with a steady pulse. Winding and setting are performed with a dedicated key positioned at the top.
The object has presence: Ø 220, 4,2 kg, resting on a finely crafted wooden base that allows multiple display angles. Materials include stainless steel and brass with palladium or gold plating depending on the version, finished with a mix of polishing, satin-finishing and sandblasting. Movement components show polished gears and plates with satin-finished discs.
Edition discipline is clear. The Football is limited to 99 pieces per version and offered in four configurations: Full Gold-Plated, Full Palladium-Plated, Two-Tone with Black Numerals, Two-Tone with Gold Numerals.
As metaphor, it is apt. Football measures life in halves, added minutes and seasons; watchmaking counts beats, tolerances and power reserves. Both seek mastery while admitting uncertainty. Here, that tension becomes a calm, kinetic sculpture – more atelier study than desk toy, and better for it.
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