Short answer
A replica Saxonia Automatic is a copy of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic, a slim dress watch with a 38.5 mm case, a silver dial, baton markers, and a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. Copies sold online use Asian or Swiss automatic movements instead of the in-house L086.1 caliber. The case on most copies stands between 10 mm and 11 mm tall, about 1 mm to 1.5 mm more than the original. These watches are not produced by A. Lange & Söhne, and the brand has no connection to them.
What the original sets as the benchmark
The genuine Saxonia Automatic runs the L086.1, an automatic movement with a 72 hour power reserve and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Its rotor is solid gold, and the bridges carry hand engraved finishes under a sapphire caseback. The case measures 38.5 mm across and about 9.6 mm thick, which is why the watch slides under a shirt cuff. A copy aims at that silhouette: thin case, stepped bezel, long lugs, and a dial that stays clean.
How to check a replica Saxonia Automatic before you pay
- Ask for the case diameter and thickness in millimeters. 38.5 mm wide matches the original. Anything past 11 mm tall sits high on the wrist.
- Get the movement name in writing. A Miyota 9015 or an Asian 2824 keeps the case thin and serviceable.
- Watch a video of the seconds hand. A smooth sweep points to a mechanical movement. A one step per second tick points to quartz.
- Request a close photo of the dial print. Marker edges, the logo, and the text under the subdial show how the dial was made.
- Ask for a caseback photo. A sapphire display back with an engraved rotor and striped bridges marks the higher grade build.
- Confirm the lug width. 19 mm and 20 mm straps are common and easy to replace.
- Check the crown action. It should set the time and wind with no grit and no wobble.
Movement choices
- Miyota 9015: 24 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, about 42 hours of reserve. Thin, and spare parts are common.
- Asian 2824: a copy of the ETA 2824 layout. Same 28,800 rate and about 38 hours of reserve. Most watchmakers can service it.
- Decorated clone: a base automatic with a plate and rotor shaped to echo the Lange bridges. It reads closer through the caseback and adds height.
Case, dial, and finish
Steel is the common case metal on copies. Look at the bezel step, the lug bevels, and the gap between the crystal and the case. On a good build those lines stay even around the full circle. The dial should read as silver white, not gray, with applied markers that catch light at an angle. The small seconds subdial sits at 6 o'clock, and its hand should match the tone of the hour and minute hands.
Fit and wear
At 38.5 mm, the Saxonia Automatic suits a wrist from about 6 inches to 7.5 inches. A 20 mm strap in alligator grain or calf leather matches the dress look. Keep the strap thin, since a padded strap fights the slim case. This is not a sports watch, and no copy of a dress watch should see water past a splash.
Price bands
- Entry tier, basic automatic: about $80 to $150. Thickest case of the group.
- Mid tier, Miyota 9015 or Asian 2824: about $180 to $350. The value pick for daily wear.
- Top tier, decorated clone with sapphire front and back: $400 and up. Closest to the original profile.
Care and service
Wind the watch at the same time each day if you keep it in rotation. Keep it away from magnets, speakers, and laptop lids. Have the movement cleaned every three to five years, or sooner if it starts to lose more than 20 seconds a day. Store it on a soft cloth, and wipe the case with a dry microfiber cloth after wear.