Generally speaking, the latest big releases from Panerai happened to come in the paradoxical form of the brand’s smallest fake watch ever, a simple automatic Luminor that measures 38mm across, and an update at its entry-level Luminor Base Logo. However, if you know something about Panerai, you know the brand always makes a point of presenting a talking piece or two at SIHH. What we have here is a 50mm tourbillon with displays for the equation of time, a second time zone, and, for the first time in a Panerai, the phases of the moon.
Actually, this is not the first time that the replica Panerai watches has combined this tourbillon with an equation of time display. That replica watch was manufactured on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s celestial observations made as a result of the invention of the telescope. The real defining factors of this year’s L’Astronomo are the fact that the movement is now skeletonized and that an interesting moon phase display has been included on the rear side of the movement. The earlier version came with a closed dial and a sky map on its back.
As you can see, it’s a totally modern interpretation of a skeletonized movement, which comes in handy visually because it allows an open look onto the many, and I mean many, displays to be found on this watch’s front and back. The movement alone comprises some 451 components.
The dial of this replica watch – actually “dials” of this replica watch – effectively are the movement, front and back. Beginning from the central axis, we see the hours and the minutes, as well as a GMT hand. Just below the axis is a linear scale that shows the difference between solar time and means solar time, according to the equation of time.  
At the same time, the back of the dial is fitted with a twist on the traditional moon phase display. The upper disk is a day/night indicator that performs one rotation every 24 hours and clearly shows the day as a radiant sun and the night as a starry sky.
I’ve never had a wristwatch that’s 50mm in diameter, and to be honest, it’s difficult to imagine someone wearing a cheap replica watch this large regularly. The case material can be customized when ordering this watch, so a lightweight titanium version seems like it would make the most sense, from a purely ergonomic standpoint. But steel and precious-metal options are available for those who might want them. The color of the hands and the choice of the strap are also subject to customization.