What is the Tourbograph replica 510.105?
The Tourbograph replica 510.105 is a 1:1 copy of the A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Mérite, a hand-wound watch that stacks a tourbillon, a chronograph and a perpetual calendar in one movement. In the replica trade, 510.105 is the listing code sellers attach to their closest build, so the number matters less than what sits inside the case. This model costs more than most replicas because three complications have to run at the same time.
The tourbillon is the part buyers care about. On a real build, the cage holds a balance wheel and turns once a minute. On a cheap build, the cage is fixed or glued under the dial and there is no tourbillon at all.
tourbograph replica 510.105 watch
What does the 510.105 replica copy?
- Open tourbillon cage cut into the dial, in most versions at 6 o'clock.
- Chronograph counters and pushers placed to match the original case layout.
- Perpetual calendar display for day, date, month and moon phase.
- Sapphire crystal front and back on the better builds, mineral glass on the cheap ones.
- Hand-finished bridges, blued screws and an engraved balance cock on the top tier.
- Steel case with platinum-tone plating, or solid 18k gold on the small number of high-end copies.
One detail almost never copied is the fusée-and-chain drive that gives the original constant force. Replicas mirror the look of that mechanism without the chain itself.
How does the movement in a 1:1 Tourbograph replica work?
Most 510.105 replicas run a hand-wound mechanical caliber with a true tourbillon carriage plus stacked modules for the calendar and chronograph. The base is often a Chinese movement that has been re-bridged and decorated to imitate the Lange layout. It keeps time, and the complications work, but the finishing and the rate are not in the same league as the original.
Wind it once a day and set the calendar with the pushers, never by force. A calendar module can jam if you set the date while the mechanism is mid-jump.
Case, dial and finishing checks
- Measure the thickness. Copies that squeeze a tourbillon into a slim case run thicker than the original, sometimes by 2 mm or more.
- Study the dial printing under a loupe. Sharp edges and even spacing separate a good print from a fuzzy one.
- Check the hand polish on the case bevels. Flat, dull edges point to a stamped case rather than a finished one.
- Turn the watch over. A display back with decorated bridges signals a higher grade build.
- Compare the weight in your hand. Gold-plated steel feels light next to the platinum original, but it should still feel solid.
How much does a Tourbograph replica 510.105 cost?
Asking prices fall into three bands. A fake-cage copy on a quartz or plain automatic movement sells for under $200. A mid-tier build with a working tourbillon runs about $500 to $900. A 1:1 build with a decorated hand-wound tourbillon, a working calendar and sapphire on both sides sits between $1,000 and $2,500.
Anything far under those numbers is a warning sign. A real tourbillon carriage costs money to make and to regulate, so a $120 listing that claims a tourbillon is almost always selling a static decoration.
How to spot a low-grade copy
- Ask for a video with the watch running, not a stock photo.
- Watch the cage for 60 seconds. It should complete one full turn.
- Set the date forward and confirm it flips near midnight instead of noon.
- Run the chronograph, stop it, then reset it. The hand should snap back to zero.
- Zoom in on the caseback engraving with a phone camera. Soft, filled letters mean a cheap case.
- Buy from a seller who offers a return window of at least a week.
Service, wear and care
A tourbillon replica needs more attention than a plain three-hand fake. Avoid knocks on the case side, keep it away from magnets and water, and have it serviced every three to five years. Winding it at the same time each day keeps the torque steady and the rate stable.
Water resistance on these builds is a claim, not a guarantee. Take the watch off before you swim or shower, even when the listing says 50 meters.
FAQ
Is the tourbillon in the 510.105 replica real?
On mid-tier and high-end builds, yes. The carriage holds a balance wheel and rotates once a minute. On cheap versions the cage is cosmetic and a standard movement drives the hands.
Can a Tourbograph replica be serviced?
Most watchmakers can clean and oil a hand-wound replica movement, but parts for the calendar and chronograph modules can be hard to source. Ask your seller about spare parts before you pay.
How close is the 510.105 replica to the original?
From arm's length, a good copy looks close: same dial layout, same case shape, same complications. Under a loupe, the engraving, the movement finish and the calendar mechanism give it away.
Does the perpetual calendar work on the replica?
On the best copies, the day, date and month advance with the crown and pushers. No replica tracks leap years the way the original does, so you reset it at the end of February.
Check your local law before you buy. Selling or importing counterfeit branded watches is illegal in the United States and much of the European Union.