A replica Lange 2 is a counterfeit A. Lange & Söhne watch, almost always built to imitate the Lange 1 and sold under a "Lange 2" nickname. A. Lange & Söhne has never cataloged a model called Lange 2, so the label is a vendor shorthand for a second generation or updated Lange 1 clone. Judge any such watch on case size, dial layout, hand finishing, and movement type, not on the nickname.
Is there a real Lange 2 from A. Lange & Söhne?
No. The Saxony manufacturer launched the Lange 1 in October 1994 and has since added the Lange 1 Moon Phase, Time Zone, and Perpetual Calendar, but no Lange 2. Sellers use the number to signal an updated or "v2" version of an existing Lange 1 replica.
That matters because spec sheets get recycled across listings. Ask the seller which genuine reference the watch copies, then check the real dimensions of that reference before you compare.
How are replica Lange 2 watches graded?
- Entry grade: quartz or basic automatic movement, mineral glass, cheap plating, stamped dial furniture, and printed subdials.
- Mid grade: Asian automatic with added plates and blued screws, sapphire crystal, decent case brushing, approximate dimensions.
- Top grade: hand wound clone movement or a decorated automatic, sapphire on both sides, correct 38.5 mm case, applied markers, and heat blued screws.
Grade labels come from the sellers themselves, so treat "Swiss made" or "1:1" as marketing until photos prove it.
What details separate a convincing replica from a poor one?
Case and dimensions
A genuine Lange 1 measures 38.5 mm across and about 9.8 mm thick, in gold or platinum. A replica that runs 42 mm or sits 13 mm tall is instantly wrong on the wrist, regardless of dial quality.
Check lug shape, crown size, and whether the case back engraving is crisp or shallow and laser etched.
Dial and outsize date
The Lange 1 dial is asymmetric: time at 9 o'clock, outsize date at the top right, power reserve at 3, and small seconds at 5. Replica dials often misalign the date frame, use flat printed numerals, or mismatch the subdial spacing.
The outsize date should show two separate discs with a clean vertical seam and no gap at the top of the window.
Movement and finishing
The genuine hand wound calibre has a Glashütte three-quarter plate in untreated German silver, a hand engraved balance cock, gold chatons, and blued screws. Replicas rarely reproduce the engraving by hand; most use stamped or laser etched decoration that looks shallow under magnification.
Ask for a movement photo with the case back removed, not just a stock image.
How much do replica Lange 2 watches cost?
Typical asking prices run roughly $150 to $300 for entry grade, $400 to $800 for mid grade, and above $900 for the best finished examples. Anything priced near a genuine Lange 1 is a warning sign, since real examples trade in the tens of thousands of dollars.
What are the biggest red flags?
- Stock photos instead of dated, hands on images of the actual watch.
- No movement photo and no returns policy.
- Dimensions left off the listing.
- Pressure to pay by untraceable methods only.
Are replica Lange watches legal to buy?
In the United States and most of Europe, selling or importing a watch that copies a trademarked design is trademark infringement. A replica is not a genuine A. Lange & Söhne product, carries no factory warranty, and cannot be serviced by the manufacturer. Buyers who care about long term value should put the same money toward a legitimate pre owned piece instead.