What a Fake Saxonia Thin Is

A fake Saxonia Thin is a third-party copy of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin, a hand-wound dress watch offered in 37 mm and 40 mm cases about 5.9 mm thick. Lange does not make it, does not license it, and does not service it. The case, dial, hands, and movement in a replica come from other factories, and the calibre inside is a decorated substitute rather than the L093.1 the original uses. That gap is measurable, which is what makes this model easy to grade.

Genuine Reference Points

  • Case: 37.0 mm or 40.0 mm diameter, 5.9 mm thick
  • Movement: hand-wound L093.1, 72-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph
  • Dial: solid silver base, applied gold markers, gold hands
  • Lug width: 19 mm on the 37 mm model, 20 mm on the 40 mm
  • Caseback: sapphire crystal, hand-engraved balance cock

How to Evaluate a Replica Saxonia Thin

  1. Measure the case diameter and thickness with calipers. A copy that lands near 8 mm thick is not a close match to a 5.9 mm profile.
  2. Weigh the watch head on a small scale. Solid 18k gold in a 37 mm case sits far above a steel or gold-plated replica of the same size.
  3. Turn the watch over and inspect the movement. The L093.1 shows a hand-engraved balance cock, blued screws, and Glashütte ribbing on the three-quarter plate. Stamped or laser-etched plates are common on copies.
  4. Wind the crown fully and time the run. The specification is 72 hours. A copy that stops near 36 to 40 hours has a smaller mainspring or an automatic base under the decoration.
  5. Study the dial text under a loupe. The brand name and MADE IN GERMANY should sit on a solid silver base, not printed on a brass blank.
  6. Measure across the lugs and compare to the strap width. Expect 19 mm on the 37 mm and 20 mm on the 40 mm.
  7. Set both hands to 12 and check alignment. The hour and minute hands should meet the same marker at the same point.
  8. Read the caseback engraving. Reference and metal codes on replicas often use the wrong format or the wrong sequence.

Red Flags

  • A seconds hand. The Saxonia Thin is a two-hand watch.
  • A date window anywhere on the dial.
  • A visible rotor through the caseback. The original is hand-wound only.
  • Case thickness above 7 mm.
  • Soft or shallow engraving on the crown and caseback.
  • A strap labeled as alligator with a plastic or rubber backing.

Ownership and Shipping Notes

In the United States, importing counterfeit goods is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. § 1526, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments that carry a protected trademark. Buyers in the US should also expect that Lange will refuse service, parts, and authentication on any watch it did not produce, so any future repair work depends on the seller or an independent watchmaker. Keep the seller's written description of the movement, case metal, and dimensions. If the delivered watch does not match those numbers, you have a documented basis for a return.