Quick Answer
A "fake Lange 2 perpetual" is a replica perpetual calendar watch sold under a model name that A. Lange & Söhne has never used. The Glashütte manufacturer builds the Lange 1, the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar, the Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, and the Datograph Perpetual. There is no Lange 2. When a listing uses that phrase, the seller almost always means a replica of the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar in its 41.9 mm pink gold or white gold case, or a replica of the older Lange 1 Moon Phase that has been mislabeled.
What arrives is a replica case and dial paired with a modified third-party movement. It is not the hand-finished, twice-assembled manufacture caliber of the original, and it will not hold value the way a genuine piece does.
Prerequisites
- Know your local law. Importing counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States and most of the European Union.
- Set a realistic budget. A genuine Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar runs into six figures. A replica runs into the hundreds.
- Decide what you want from the watch. If you need a working calendar complication, a replica may not deliver one.
- Ask for the exact reference the seller is copying before you compare photos.
How to Evaluate a Replica Lange Perpetual Calendar
- Ask the seller to name the source model. If the reply is vague or repeats "Lange 2," treat the listing as unverified.
- Request photos of the caseback and the movement, not just the dial. The movement finish tells you more than the dial print.
- Ask whether the perpetual calendar module is functional or decorative. Many replicas show a day, date, and month that must be advanced by hand.
- Test the moon phase. On a real perpetual calendar it tracks the lunar cycle. On a replica it is usually a printed disc that rotates once a day.
- Confirm the calendar change window. A genuine perpetual calendar will not let you set the date near midnight without risking damage. Ask how the replica handles it.
- Measure the case. Check the listed diameter and thickness against the original reference. Replicas often run 0.5 to 1.5 mm thicker to fit the substitute movement.
- Inspect the dial printing under magnification. Look for fuzzy text, uneven lume plots, and subdials that sit off center.
- Ask about the strap and clasp separately. Most replica listings show an aftermarket strap with a clasp that does not match the original engraving.
- Confirm the return window in writing before you pay.
What the Replica Gets Right
A mid-tier replica of a Lange perpetual calendar can capture the overall silhouette. The off-center main dial, the outsize date aperture, and the Roman numeral layout are all reproducible with modern printing and CNC case work. Seen across a table, the proportions read correctly.
What It Gets Wrong
The finishing does not survive close inspection. Lange applies a hand-engraved balance cock, black polished steel parts, and Glashütte ribbing on the three-quarter plate. Replicas use machine striping and laser engraving. The outsize date on a replica also tends to use two mismatched discs, so the numerals sit at slightly different heights. A true perpetual calendar also handles leap years automatically. Few replicas do.
Red Flags in Listings
- The title claims "Lange 2" or another model name the brand does not make.
- Photos are stock images or borrowed from a genuine auction listing.
- The price is unusually high for a replica, which suggests the seller is trying to pass it off as real.
- The seller refuses to show the movement or the caseback.
- Payment is requested by wire or gift card with no buyer protection.
Legal and Practical Notes
Buying a replica is not the same as buying a genuine watch, and reselling one as genuine is fraud. Keep the receipt and the seller's description. If you later want a real perpetual calendar, budget for service costs as well, since these movements need specialist attention every five to seven years.