The top pick for a replica Saxonia 380.022 is the thin automatic build with a correctly proportioned case, applied baton markers, and a dial layout that mirrors the reference rather than improvising on it. That pick comes from five criteria: case geometry and thickness, dial furniture and printing, hand and marker finish, the movement type you actually get, and how honestly the seller describes the watch. Everything below applies those criteria to the three versions most commonly sold.

Why the Saxonia 380.022 Gets Copied

The Saxonia sits at the quiet end of the A. Lange and Sohne catalogue. A round case, a clean dial, slim baton hands and a small seconds or central seconds layout depending on the variant. That simplicity is exactly what makes it a target for copy makers, because there is no busy chronograph to get wrong. It is also what makes a bad copy obvious, since a plain dial leaves nowhere to hide.

The reference number matters more than most buyers expect. Saxonia references differ in case metal, dial colour, size and whether the seconds hand sits in a subdial. Two copies of the same number can look nothing alike. Before ordering, pull up photos of the genuine reference and compare them side by side with the listing images at the same viewing size.

Top Pick: Thin Automatic Copy With Correct Dial Layout

This is the version that gets the silhouette right. The case is slim, the lugs curve down toward the wrist, and the dial carries applied markers with a polished finish rather than printed ones. On a dress watch of this type, the profile is the whole point.

Pros

  • Correct proportions read properly under a shirt cuff, which is where this watch lives.
  • Applied markers and slim hands catch light the way the original does.
  • Automatic winding means you can wear it daily without resetting it.
  • Caseback options let you choose between a closed back and a sapphire window.

Cons

  • Costs more than quartz alternatives and often more than hand-wound copies.
  • Decorated automatic movements are usually surface finishing over a generic base, not a true in-house calibre.
  • Thin cases are harder to produce well, so quality varies more between sellers.

Best for buyers who want one dress watch that looks right on the wrist and does not need winding every morning.

Runner-Up: Hand-Wound Style With a Display Back

Hand-wound copies of the Saxonia appeal to buyers who like the ritual of winding and want something to look at through the back. The trade-off is thickness and reliability.

Pros

  • Display backs show off decorated bridges and blued screws.
  • Usually thinner than automatic rivals when built on a slim manual base.
  • Often the closest match to the winding feel of a traditional dress watch.

Cons

  • You must wind it, and forget once and the watch stops.
  • Movement decoration quality is the first thing sellers cut to hit a price.
  • Cheap manual movements can run fast or slow out of the box.

Best for collectors who already own several watches and treat this one as an occasional wear.

Budget Option: Quartz Dress Copy

Quartz versions exist mainly to hit a low price. The case and dial can still look convincing, but the seconds hand ticks rather than sweeps, which is the giveaway on a watch with a running seconds display.

Pros

  • Lowest cost of the three and easy to replace if damaged.
  • Accurate timekeeping with no winding or servicing worry.
  • Fine as a prop, a gift, or a first dress watch.

Cons

  • Ticking seconds is visible from across a table.
  • Cases tend to be thicker than the reference, which breaks the profile.
  • Resale value is effectively zero.

Best for buyers who want the look for a single event and do not care about movement type.

What to Check Before You Order

  1. Compare the listing photos with genuine reference photos at the same size. Look at lug shape, crown size and dial text spacing.
  2. Ask for the case diameter and thickness in writing, then check them against the reference.
  3. Confirm the movement type, automatic, manual or quartz, and whether the caseback is solid or transparent.
  4. Request a real photo of the actual watch, not a stock render.
  5. Check the returns policy and the shipping terms before paying.
  6. Keep in mind that a copy is a copy. Never present it as genuine when selling or servicing it.

Which One Fits You

If you wear one dress watch regularly, take the thin automatic. If you enjoy winding and want something to look at through the back, take the hand-wound version. If the budget is tight and the watch is for a single occasion, take quartz and accept the ticking seconds. In every case, judge the copy by how it looks on your wrist and by how clearly the seller describes it, not by the number printed on the listing.