In early 1588, Grand Duke Ferdinand I de' Medici commissioned Antonio Santucci to build a large-scale model of the universe. Many beechwood rings of different widths and diameters were used to support the gigantic and complex structure. The rings were then painted by Antonio's brother, Enea Santucci. A gold-beater, Taddeo Curradi, supplied gold leaf for the gilt decorations. Basilio Latini, the monk of Santa Trinita, supplied milled gold for painting miniatures. A craftsman, Annibale di Francesco, executed the intaglios and the decorations, while the turner Lorenzo di Domenico produced the small spheres for the mount.

On May the 28, 1593, after five years, the work was finally completed. The parts of the sphere were assembled in the Sala delle Matematiche of the Uffizi. The blacksmith Piero Casini forged the iron axis that runs through the machine. Another blacksmith, Francesco di Filippo, supplied the iron handle that was inserted in the spring to rotate the sphere.

The planetary spheres were initially positioned by hand. Then, by turning the handle, the sphere was set in motion—providing a vivid illustration of the motions of the celestial bodies in accordance with the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic system: the heavens of the planets and fixed stars rotated around the Earth, which remained fixed at the center of the universe. Numerous rings, marked with Roman numerals, indicated the "houses of the planets." The combined coats of arms of the Medici and Lorraines, sculpted in the wooden frame, referred to the wedding of Ferdinand I de' Medici and Christine of Lorraine. The image of God, painted at the top of the sphere, watches over the world machine.