A replica Saxonia Big Date is a Chinese-made copy of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Outsize Date, a hand-wound gold dress watch with a two-disc date window at 12 o'clock. Copies sell for about $250 to $800. A genuine one costs more than $20,000.
What the real Saxonia Outsize Date is
A. Lange & Söhne built the Saxonia Outsize Date as a slim dress watch in 18k white or pink gold. The case measures 38.5 mm across and stands about 10 mm tall. Inside sits the hand-wound calibre L086.1 with a 72-hour power reserve.
The outsize date at 12 o'clock uses two separate discs that jump at midnight. The design borrows from the five-minute clock in Dresden's Semper Opera House, which is where the big date idea at Lange started. The model is out of production now, so buyers shop the used market.
How close are the copies?
Quality varies more on this model than on a Rolex Submariner, because fewer factories build it. Three areas decide whether a copy looks right on the wrist: the case, the date, and the movement visible through the sapphire back.
Case and dial
- Real: solid 18k gold, with the case head alone weighing 70 to 90 grams.
- Copy: steel with gold plating or PVD. The weight runs 20 to 30 grams lighter.
- Dial print, the "Made in Germany" text, and the applied Roman numerals are where cheap copies fall apart.
The outsize date
Genuine Lange date discs sit in one window behind a thin divider line and jump in a single motion. Many copies use a slow module that creeps over 20 minutes and leaves a visible gap between the digits. Check the font too. Lange uses a specific numeral shape that most factories get wrong.
Movement
No replica uses a Lange movement, and none ever will. The L086.1 has a German silver three-quarter plate, a hand-engraved balance cock, and a swan-neck fine adjustment, all finished by hand. Copies hide a decorated Asian calibre behind a caseback that mimics the look.
Any seller who claims a "Swiss ETA inside" a Lange-style copy is inventing it. Lange never bought third-party movements for this line.
Price tiers for a replica Saxonia Big Date
- Under $150: quartz, brass case, printed date. Avoid.
- $200 to $400: Asian automatic, uneven dial print, thick case profile.
- $450 to $800: the top tier. Closest case shape and date module, sapphire crystal, still plated steel.
- Over $1,000: rare and often a bait listing. Factory replicas do not reach that price.
What to check before you pay
- Ask for dated photos with the case measured. 38.5 mm is the target; many copies run 40 mm or wider.
- Request a shot of the date at 11:59 pm and again at 12:01 am. A jumping disc beats a creeping one.
- Study the balance cock engraving. Hand engraving has depth and uneven cuts. Stamped copies look flat.
- Weigh it. If the seller cannot give a gram figure, walk away.
- Read the caseback text. Wrong font, wrong spacing, or a missing reference number are common tells.
- Buy from a seller who shows the actual watch, not factory stock images.
Is a replica Saxonia Big Date legal in the US?
No. Counterfeit watches are illegal to import, and US Customs can seize and destroy a shipment. Selling one carries trademark liability under the Lanham Act. Personal use does not create an exception; the package can be held and the buyer can lose the money.
Common questions
How much should a good copy cost?
Between $450 and $800 for the best current builds. Paying more does not buy a better watch. Paying less buys a different product with a printed date.
Will it hold value?
No. Replicas resell for a fraction of the price and parts are hard to source. Treat the money as spent.
Can a watchmaker service it?
Some will, many will not. The date module is the weak point, and replacement parts come from the same factories that built the watch. Budget for a full movement swap if it fails.
What is a better use of $600?
A used entry-level dress watch from a real brand keeps time, carries a service history, and holds some value. Options include a Junghans Max Bill, a Seiko Presage, or a used Nomos Tangente.
Ownership notes
Water resistance claims on replicas are marketing, not testing. Plating wears at the crown, lugs, and caseback within a year or two of daily wear. Keep the watch away from moisture and treat the strap as a consumable.
Bottom line
A replica Saxonia Big Date copies a silhouette, not a movement. The top tier gets the case shape and the date window close enough for a photo. The hand finishing, the German silver plate, and the solid gold case are out of reach at any replica price.