Independent watchmaker Marco Lang has just unveiled the Seven Spheres, a wristwatch containing a multi-axis central tourbillon. Diversifying away from his conservative style, the Dresden-based watchmaker presents an ambitious and dynamic mechanical sculpture that tells time. Inspired by the ideas of both Ptolemy and Carl Sagan, Mr Lang has achieved a rare feat with the Seven Spheres, building a watch that is both technically imaginative and artistically crafted.

Initial thoughts

We are seldom treated to multi-axis tourbillons, so Marco Lang’s entry to this niche and ambitious category is most welcome. The Seven Spheres is the his first tourbillon since leaving Lang & Heyne in 2019, and demonstrates the full breadth of his technical skill.

The theme of seven spheres was inspired by the geocentric universe model theorised by Ptolemy in the first century. The astronomer’s theory was built around having the Earth as the centre of the universe, orbited by seven planets. Inspired by this obsolete theory, Mr Lang created the Seven Spheres, which places the regulating organ inside seven turning rings, which comprise the complex multi-axis tourbillon cage.

The movement with its central multi-axis tourbillon vaguely resembles Vianney Halter’s Deep Space Tourbillon. However, the Seven Sphere’s architecture is even more interesting than that of the Deep Space, since the central tourbillon appears to be suspended in mid air. 

The Seven Spheres is one of the most complex multi-axis tourbillons to come to market, as the oscillator and escapement spin about a total of seven axis. The complete structure is not fast-turning, as the classical construction limits the rotational speed of the central cage(s). The rest of the design is oriented around the swiveling oscillator, so everything else — including the time-telling — takes second stage. 

Throughout his career, Mr Lang has crafted his fair share of interesting and technically challenging timepieces, but the Seven Spheres represents a new high water mark for his work in terms of imagination. That such complexity should emerge from an independent watchmaker is a welcome change of pace, at a time when the finishing-forward, time-only watch still reigns.

The pricing is necessarily high, at €250,000, but competitive as multi-axis tourbillons go. The Deep Space cost nearly as much, more than a decade ago, and the MB&F Legacy Machine Thunderdome, which is arguably similar in concept, retailed for even more.

Classic exterior

Futuristic movement aside, the Seven Spheres is a quintessentially classical timepiece. The polished case is crafted from platinum and has a traditional round shape with lugs that slope softy downwards. The case band can be ordered with a clean, polished finish, or optionally engraved with a wave pattern.

While the 42 mm case itself is just 10 mm in height, the apex of the domed crystal reaches 18 mm. Since the central tourbillon takes up so much space, two domed crystals were required to accommodate the broad construction. 

The Seven Spheres doesn’t have a traditional dial, but there is a slim minutes ring around the perimeter that aids legibility. The ring features an engine-cut pattern and a very ornate Saxon typeface. As a mechanical sculpture that deprioritises ruthless efficiency, the Seven Spheres may be forgiven its general lack of legibility.

A serious construction

Mr Lang’s credentials as a movement constructor were never in question, but the Seven Spheres represents his most ambitious work yet. Dubbed (somewhat awkwardly) caliber ml02/7sp, the movement ticking inside is among the more unique creations to come from the modern German watchmaking scene. 

Starting with the movement’s central feature, there are seven titanium rings cradling the 3 Hz oscillator, all of which comprise the complex tourbillon cage. Multi-axis tourbillons are always a complicated affair, but the Seven Spheres takes the concept to the extreme. 

In theory, multi-axis tourbillons should aid with chronometry, since they cycle the oscillator through a number of positions, thus cancelling any gravity bias. The Seven Spheres was not necessarily built with this principle in mind, but rather with the idea of crafting a mechanical sculpture. 

That said, the broad cage (which was surely a nightmare to balance) cradles a well-engineered oscillator. There is a free-sprung balance working in tandem with a blued hairspring. The spring also comes bent with a prominent Breguet overcoil. 

With a central tourbillon to draw the eye, the handset had to be re-engineered. Relying on a complex ring gear setup, the sharply polished blued-steel hands are mounted on posts and seem to almost hover over the movement, telling the time against an engine-turned minute ring integrated within the movement. 

The open architecture affords a generous view of the levers, springs and ring gears within. The donut-shaped movement runs for about 55 hours on four separate barrels, all acting in parallel. The four mainsprings are packed inside small-diameter barrels placed around the generous tourbillon cut-out. The small size format of the motor organs calls to mind Longines’ fast-spinning series-linked barrels inside the venerable cal. L.990. Portions of the barrels can be glimpsed under the minutes ring. 

Two winding clicks act in parallel within the movement, a departure from the norm — multiple-barrelled watches can usually manage with just one. The four mainsprings of the Seven Spheres, it seems, require both.

The elaborate click spring and the diamond setting.

There are a number of decorative elements that hint at both classical German watchmaking and to Mr Lang’s own personal style. For example, inside the graceful arches of the swan’s neck-style click springs are two chatons containing brilliant-cut diamonds — a nod to the watchmaker’s past use of similar stones for the oscillating balance pivots. 

The core plates of the movement are gilded and finished with soft graining, complemented by a mix of brushed and polished steel parts. Mr Lang went all in in terms of decoration, eluding the minimalist, monochrome aesthetic that seems popular at the moment.

A particularly interesting sight from the case back side is the winding train for the four barrels. A total of nine solarised gears dominate the view, sprouting symmetrically from the keyless works. While the layout is unfamiliar, the finishing is not. The architecturally imaginative movement is unmistakably classical in its details, with heat-blued screws and extravagantly beveled steelwork.

Key Facts and Price

Marco Lang Seven Spheres

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 18 mm
Material: 950 platinum
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: ml02/7sp
Features: Hours, minutes, and multi-axis tourbillon
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Hand wound
Power reserve: 55 hours

Strap: Alligator strap with platinum pin buckle

Limited edition: 18 pieces
Availability: Direct from Marco Lang
Price: €250,000 before taxes

For more, visit Marcolangwatches.com.

Episode 31 of the SJX Podcast digs into two major industry reports — one from Vontobel on the primary market and one from EveryWatch on the secondary — and what they reveal about where value is concentrating in the watch industry. SJX and Brandon discuss the K-shaped nature of the market, the dominance of F.P. Journe among independents, and Cartier’s remarkable ability to sell across every price tier.

The discussion also touches on the role of emotion in driving purchase decisions, the financialisation of the hobby, and why market reports have limited utility for collectors.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.