Answer

Fake A. Lange & Söhne watches are replicas of the German brand. Real A. Lange & Söhne watches start at about $15,000. Most fakes sell for $200 to $800. The gap is a first clue. Every real Lange movement is made in Glashütte, Germany. Fakes use Swiss or Chinese movements. No fake matches the finishing.

Movement

Real A. Lange & Söhne watches use in-house movements. The brand engraves the balance cock by hand. The engraving is deep and sharp. Fakes use laser engraving. It looks flat. Real movements have a 3/4 plate made of German silver. Fakes use brass with rhodium plating. German silver tarnishes over time. Brass does not. A magnet test can help. German silver is not magnetic. Brass is not magnetic either, but the plating can flake.

Case and Dial

Real Lange cases are 38.5mm to 41mm for most models. Fakes often measure 40mm to 42mm. The lugs are different. Real lugs are soldered and polished. Fake lugs are cast. The crown on a real Lange has a signature. Fakes have a plain crown or wrong logo. Dial printing on real watches is sharp. Fakes have blurry printing. The hands on real Langes are polished and beveled. Fakes have stamped hands with rough edges.

Outsize Date

The Lange 1 outsize date uses two separate discs. Real digits are aligned to the crossbar. Fakes use one disc or misaligned digits. The date font on a real Lange is engraved. Fake date fonts are printed. The date jumps at midnight on a real watch. Fakes often change slowly or stick.

Caseback and Serial Numbers

Real Lange casebacks have a sapphire crystal. The movement is visible. The serial number is engraved on the caseback and the movement. Fakes often have mismatched numbers. Real serial numbers are 6 digits. Fakes use random numbers. The brand name is engraved on the balance cock. Fakes sometimes misspell "Glashütte" or use wrong font.

Price and Seller

Real Lange watches hold value. A used Lange 1 sells for $20,000 to $30,000. A fake sells for $300 to $600. If the price is under $10,000, it is not real. Sellers on social media use stock photos. Ask for a video with a time stamp. Check the seller's history. Real dealers provide papers and box. Fakes often come with fake papers.

What Fakes Get Wrong

• Movement finishing: fake has no hand engraving.
• Outsize date: fake digits are misaligned or printed.
• Case metal: fake uses 316L steel, real uses 18k gold or platinum for most models.
• Weight: real gold Lange weighs 80g to 120g. Fake steel weighs 60g to 90g.
• Sound: real movement ticks at 21,600 vph. Fake ticks at 28,800 vph or 21,600 vph but sounds rough.