Novelties

L’Epée 1839 Presents The Football: Mastery of the Game, Mystery of Time

The high-horology clockmaker gets in the game with its latest mechanical sculpture, the Football.

By Rhonda Riche

September 3, 2026

L’Epée 1839 Presents The Football: Mastery of the Game, Mystery of Time

As the maker of wonderfully whimsical clocks that bring design, mechanics, and artistry to the rare (and extremely niche) art of high-end clockmaking, L’Epée 1839 is beloved for its collection of exceptional time-telling marvels, including miniaturized race cars, animated animals, scaled-down hot-air balloons, and even a fictional zeppelin.

At Geneva Watch Days, the Maison has given life to an object that, at first consideration, seems less expressive than the brand’s previous subjects: the classic football with its 32 pentagonal and hexagonal panels. But that doesn’t make this life-sized game piece any less exciting.

Let’s take a look.

Game Plan

Most of the physical objects L’Epée 1839 transforms into clockwork recreations already have moving parts. A football does not. But what the good ol’ soccer ball does possess is the promise of action.

Once in the air, a football seems to defy all the rules of physics and gravity. You can bend it like Beckham. Or score a decisive goal from outside the box like Messi. And then there was Ronaldinho – the magician of football – who could seemingly control the ball with his mind.

These skills take hours of practice; however, on the field, these feats produce time-stopping moments of anticipation. L’Epée’s creation of the Football required the same pursuit of practice and absolute precision, with the aim of bringing the energy of the beautiful game to life.

Although it is composed of 882 components, the clock itself starts out as a perfectly spherical sculpture. The football’s distinctive panels have been reinterpreted as an open architectural framework, with the timekeeping display at its center.

Even before the mechanics kick in, there is a feeling of kinetic energy created by light passing through the skeletonized movement. Once wound up, hours and minutes are displayed by two rotating cylinders, visible through dedicated panel apertures. The movement is wound and the time is set using a dedicated key positioned at the top of the ball.

Inside, the Football is powered by an eight-day movement, which is itself animated by the pulse of its visible escapement and the motion of its gear trains.

Team Colors

This globe-shaped sculpture comes in a variety of finishes: gold-plated, black PVD, or diamond-set. It is presented, like a trophy, on a finely crafted wooden base. Whether displayed on a desk or mantel, the Football looks good from any angle because its spherical architecture, time display, and intricate mechanics are visible from multiple perspectives.

And while we mentioned superstars above, any winning squad requires teamwork. A multitude of specialized métiers worked together to create the L’Epée 1839 Football, each contributing its craftsmanship to a sculpture that celebrates movement, form, and function.

For more information, check out the L’Epée 1839 website.