Short answer
"Replica Lange 2 401.021" is a seller label. A. Lange & Söhne does not list a model called Lange 2. The Lange 1 line sits in the 101 reference block. Lange 1 reference 101.021 is a yellow gold watch with a champagne dial and an outsize date. The number 401.021 does not match a Lange 1 case in Lange's public catalog. Before you pay, ask the seller three things: case diameter, movement name, return window.
What the number points to
A. Lange & Söhne sorts references by block. The 400 block holds chronographs, such as the Datograph at 403.035 and the Double Split at 404.032. Those watches carry two subdials and a tachymeter scale. They do not carry the Lange 1 layout with the off-center main dial, the small seconds at 4 o'clock, the outsize date at the top right, and the AUF and AB power reserve scale on the right side. A listing that puts 401.021 on a Lange 1 body is using an invented number or a misread of 101.021. Ask the seller which watch the photos show.
Case and dial facts to confirm
- Diameter: 38.5 mm for a Lange 1 copy. About 41 mm for a Grand Lange 1 copy. Ask for a caliper photo.
- Thickness: 10 mm on the original. A copy over 12 mm sits high on the wrist.
- Lug width: 20 mm on the Lange 1. Strap swaps are easy at that size.
- Dial text: "Made in Germany" at the bottom. The outsize date uses two discs.
- Crystal: sapphire with coating on both faces. Mineral glass scratches in weeks.
- Weight: a steel copy on a strap lands near 70 g to 90 g. A gold case runs heavier.
Movement in a replica
No replica carries a Lange caliber, and none will. A real Lange 1 runs caliber L901.0, a hand-wound movement with twin mainspring barrels and 72 hours of power reserve. Copies use an Asian hand-wind or automatic base with a decorative plate that copies the Glashütte ribbing and the engraved balance cock. On many copies the power reserve hand is fixed, or it moves on a scale that does not match the printed AUF and AB marks. Two price tiers exist: basic builds from $250 to $450, and higher grade builds from $600 to $1,200. The second tier buys a better case finish and a smoother winding feel. It does not buy a Lange part.
Red flags
- Photos pulled from Lange's site or from auction listings.
- Claims of a Swiss ETA inside a Lange 1 case, or of a genuine Lange movement.
- Wire transfer or crypto only, no card, no returns.
- No caseback photo and no movement photo.
- A seller who cannot name the case size in millimeters.
Care after delivery
Water resistance on these dress watches is 3 ATM or lower. Keep the watch away from sinks, pools, and rain. Wind a hand-wind copy at the same time each day and stop when you feel resistance. Store it on a soft cloth, not on a hard tray, since the case sides pick up marks. A local watchmaker can clean and oil a basic movement for $80 to $150. Parts supply is thin, so a broken date disc or crown may end the watch. Replica service from Lange does not exist. Buy the seller as much as the watch.
Bottom line
Treat "Lange 2 401.021" as a search string, not a model. The honest reading is a Lange 1 style replica with a wrong reference number. Get the diameter, the movement name, and the return terms in writing. If any answer is vague, walk away.