A. Lange & Sohne has no model named Lange 2. The calendar watches from this Saxon maker sit in the Lange 1 range. Listings for a "fake Lange 2 perpetual 725.038" come from replica sellers. I could not confirm reference 725.038 in the maker's published catalog. Treat the number as a seller code, not a factory reference.
Where the number comes from
A. Lange & Sohne uses six digit reference numbers. Each line and metal gets its own block of numbers. Replica sellers mix real reference patterns with invented ones, so a listing can look official at a glance. Ask the seller for the catalog page that shows 725.038. If none exists, the number is marketing copy.
What the real watch does
The closest genuine model is the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar. It shows the time, an outsize date, day, month, a moon phase, and a leap year indicator. The case measures about 41.9 mm across and 12.1 mm thick. A perpetual calendar tracks months of 28, 30 and 31 days and corrects for leap years until 2100. That mechanism holds hundreds of parts.
What replica listings show
- Case dimensions copied from the genuine watch.
- Subdials that turn but do not track month length.
- Gold plating in place of solid gold.
- Printed markers in place of applied gold.
- Caseback engraving that does not match the movement inside.
Checks before you pay
- Ask for a photo of the movement with the caseback off.
- Confirm the metal and any hallmark stamp.
- Check that day, date, month and moon advance together.
- Ask how the leap year indicator moves.
- Read the return window and the payment terms.
Legal note
Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments of counterfeit goods at the port. A buyer who pays for a seized parcel can lose the money and the watch.
Limits of this guide
I cannot verify sellers, prices or stock. Listing photos can come from the genuine watch. Request dated photos of the exact item that will ship, then decide.