Quick answer
A fake Saxonia 380.022 copies the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic: a 38.5 mm rose gold dress watch with a silver dial, small seconds at 6 o'clock and the L086.1 automatic calibre. Genuine examples carry a hand engraved balance cock, Glashütte ribbing on the three quarter plate, a 72 hour power reserve and a hallmarked 18k case. Most replicas fail on three points: the engraving looks stamped instead of cut, the movement shows no real finishing under a loupe, and the case weight and hallmarks do not match solid rose gold.
What the reference 380.022 actually is
The 380.022 sits in the Saxonia Automatic line. Expect a rose gold case, a silvered solid silver dial, applied gold baton markers, a small seconds subdial, sapphire crystal front and back, and a self winding movement with a 72 hour reserve. Lange built several Saxonia variants over the years, so confirm the exact dial layout and case metal against the maker's reference page before you compare anything.
How to check a suspect 380.022 step by step
- Measure the case across the bezel, crown excluded, with a caliper. The real measurement is 38.5 mm. Copies often run 39 to 40 mm because they reuse a stock case.
- Weigh the watch head in your hand and on a scale. A solid rose gold case at this size feels dense. A plated brass or steel copy feels light for the volume.
- Flip the watch over and study the balance cock through the caseback. Genuine engraving is cut freehand with a burin, so the floral scroll has depth and slight variation.
- Read the hallmarks on the inside of the caseback. Look for the gold purity stamp, the maker mark and a case number that matches the number on the movement bridge.
- Inspect the dial printing with a loupe. Lettering and the small seconds track should be thin, sharp and free of ink bleed or thick edges.
- Wind the watch fully, set it down and check it after 24 hours. A healthy L086.1 keeps running well past that mark. Cheap clones usually stop or lose minutes within a day.
- Check the subdial hand alignment. It should sit centered on the track at every position, not drift toward the outer ring.
- Request macro photos of the movement, the caseback engraving and the hallmarks before you send any money.
Movement tells
Finishing is where replicas give themselves away. A real Lange movement shows Glashütte ribbing, blued screws, polished bevels and a gold rotor or a decorated micro rotor depending on the version. Fakes show flat graining, painted stripes and screws with soft slots. If the seller cannot show the balance cock in focus, treat the listing as unscreened.
Case, dial and paperwork
Gold plating wears at the lugs and crown, and it leaves a yellow tint next to genuine rose gold. Look for tool marks around the caseback notches, mismatched polishing and a crown that sits proud of the case. On paperwork, a box and a booklet prove nothing on their own. Serial photos and a service record carry more weight than packaging.
Questions buyers ask
- Is the case size the fastest check? Yes, and it needs no tools beyond a caliper.
- Can a fake hold a 72 hour reserve? Rarely. Clones trade runtime for lower cost.
- Should the balance cock engraving look identical across watches? No. It is cut by hand, so small differences are normal.