Introducing the Panerai Jupiterium

Every once in a while, a brand steps so far outside the lines of traditional watchmaking that it makes you stop, rewind, and take a second look. That’s exactly what Panerai just did at Watches & Wonders 2025 with the unveiling of the Jupiterium. And let’s be clear, this isn’t a wristwatch. It’s a 110-kilogram mechanical planetarium clock.

This isn't about complications in a case or lume on a bezel. It’s about Galileo, the moons of Jupiter, perpetual timekeeping until the year 9999, and building a horological art piece that feels more like a monument than a timekeeper. The Jupiterium is a philosophical flex, a technical marvel, and a tribute to the astronomical observations that changed how we understand the universe. It also happens to be beautiful.

The Basics

Dimensions: 75cm wide, 86cm tall, ~110kg weight
Movement: Manual-winding mechanical; 18,000 vph; 8 barrels; 1,650 components; 97 jewels
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, second time zone, AM/PM indicator, linear power reserve, perpetual calendar (linear), celestial display of Earth, Sun, Moon, Jupiter and its 4 moons, and retrograde motion
Power Reserve: 40 days
Materials: Titanium planetary mechanism; Super-LumiNova® polymer planets; sapphire dome with constellations; black aluminum exterior; mahogany base

The Juice

So what is this thing, exactly?

The Panerai Jupiterium is a mechanical planetarium. In other words it’s a towering installation that replicates the geocentric perspective of Galileo Galilei. At its core is Earth, surrounded by the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter along with its four largest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto: the Galilean moons, naturally).

All of these celestial bodies are driven by an eight-barrel mechanical movement with 1,650 components, including 32 meters of mainspring. That’s enough torque to keep the entire installation running for a 40-day power reserve. And this isn’t just an animated sculpture. The Jupiterium also houses a full perpetual calendar, accurate until the year 2099 (and capable of tracking until 9999 AD with minimal intervention).

There’s even a patented retrograde mechanism that recreates Jupiter’s apparent backward motion in the night sky, paying tribute to the phenomenon Galileo himself documented. Panerai’s system simulates this with a network of precision gears and counterweights, creating a visual display of planetary retrogradation that’s both technically mind-blowing and astronomically accurate.

And because it’s still a timekeeper at heart, there’s a proper display dial tucked beneath the celestial sphere — complete with luminous hour markers, a second time zone, small seconds, and a 40-day linear power reserve marked “40 giorni.” The time and perpetual calendar readouts are presented in clean, minimalist lines reinforcing the connection to Galileo and Panerai’s Florentine roots.

Final Thoughts

This is Panerai looking back through the telescope of time, honoring one of history’s greatest scientific minds with a piece that bridges mechanical mastery and celestial storytelling. It’s an ode to the idea that horology isn’t just about minutes and hours: it’s about understanding motion, time, and our place in the cosmos.

Is it niche? Absolutely. But it’s also incredible. The attention to detail — from the luminescent constellations to the titanium movement and polished mahogany base — shows just how deep Panerai is willing to go to bring an idea to life. And in a world where most watchmaking innovation is measured in microns, the Jupiterium reminds us that sometimes, going big is exactly the move.

Find out more about this timepiece here.