Short answer
A replica Saxonia 202.026 is a counterfeit of an A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia. It is not made in Glashütte, Germany. Prices run from about $60 to $700. Copies use plated steel cases and third-party movements, not a Lange caliber. A genuine Saxonia in the same reference family sells on the secondary market for about $15,000 to $30,000. No replica matches the original in movement, metal, or finish.
What the reference number tells you
A. Lange & Söhne gives each model, case metal, and dial combination its own catalog number. Numbers inside a Saxonia family sit close together, so 202.026 marks one variant, not the whole line. Confirm the case metal, diameter, and dial color from the seller listing or a Lange catalog before comparing a copy to it. Sellers often label any Saxonia copy 202.026 while the photos show a different variant.
What the Saxonia line is
Saxonia is the entry line at A. Lange & Söhne, a German maker in Glashütte. The modern company restarted in 1990 after four decades of state ownership in East Germany. Saxonia watches use hand-wound or automatic movements, gold or platinum cases, and hand-engraved balance cocks. Bridges carry Glashütte ribbing and the screws are heat-blued. A $300 copy reproduces the outside shape and skips that work.
What copies get right
- Case shape and dial layout at arm's length.
- Sub-seconds hand at 6 o'clock on models that have one.
- Sapphire crystal on mid and top tiers.
- Strap, buckle, and box copies.
What copies get wrong
- Movement type. A rotor on a hand-wound original is a common error.
- Weight. Gold cases weigh more than plated steel. Ask for grams.
- Finishing. Engraving looks stamped or laser cut.
- Caseback text. Shallow engraving, wrong numbers, missing hallmarks.
- Dial print. Font weight and letter spacing change from batch to batch.
Price tiers
- $60 to $150: quartz or basic automatic, mineral glass, plated case.
- $150 to $350: Asian automatic, sapphire crystal, cleaner dial print.
- $350 to $700: super clone claims, cloned or modified movement. Still not a Lange caliber, and no Lange service center will touch it.
Inspection checklist
- Get the case diameter and thickness in millimeters. Compare them with the original spec.
- Get the weight in grams with the strap removed.
- Request a photo of the movement through the caseback.
- Check the winding action and crown feel.
- Get the return window in writing.
Legal and practical notes
Counterfeits that carry the A. Lange & Söhne name are illegal to import into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection can seize them. Repair is another problem. Cloned movements use non-standard parts, and independent watchmakers often refuse the work. Budget for replacement, not service.