There is no A. Lange & Söhne "Lange 3." Reference 101.037 belongs to the Lange 1 family, the asymmetric-dial, outsize-date watch that has anchored the brand's catalogue since 1994. A "fake Lange 3 101.037" is therefore a replica Lange 1, and judging one means judging a hand-wound 38.5 mm dress watch with an oversized date and a three-day power reserve.

What Is A. Lange & Söhne Reference 101.037?

Reference 101.037 sits inside the 101.xxx block, the numbering Lange uses for the classic Lange 1. That block spans dozens of metal and dial combinations produced from the 1990s onward, so two watches sharing similar numbers can differ in case metal and dial color.

Confirm the exact variant against Lange's own archive or a reference database before you compare a replica to anything. The constant across the family is the layout: offset main dial, small seconds at 4 o'clock, a power reserve arc at 3 o'clock, and the outsize date at 1 o'clock.

Is There a Lange 3 Model?

No. Lange's core families are the Lange 1, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange, Zeitwerk, Datograph, and Odysseus. Searches for a "Lange 3" almost always trace back to mistyped reference numbers or marketplace listings written by sellers who do not know the catalogue.

How Is a Replica Lange 1 101.037 Built?

Case and dimensions

The genuine case measures 38.5 mm across and roughly 10.2 mm thick. Entry-level copies use gold-plated steel and often run a millimeter or more larger, which throws off the lug stance on the wrist.

Better replicas copy the case profile closely but rarely match the lug curvature and the polish-to-brush transition on the flanks. Weight is the fastest tell: solid gold feels dense and warm, plated steel feels light and rings when tapped.

Dial and outsize date

The real dial is solid silver with applied gold markers. Replicas use lacquered brass or painted alloy, and the printing tends to look flatter under raking light.

The outsize date is the hardest part to fake. On a genuine Lange 1 it uses two separate discs and jumps instantly at midnight. Most copies use a single printed window or a slow-rolling disc that drifts for hours.

Movement and power reserve

The genuine L901.0 is hand-wound, runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour, and delivers 72 hours from twin mainspring barrels. Replica movements are usually Miyota, Seagull, or generic hand-wound calibers with 36 to 40 hours of real reserve.

Copy makers decorate plates to imitate the three-quarter plate, screwed gold chatons, and blued screws. The balance cock on a real Lange is hand-engraved by one person, so the scrollwork never repeats; stamped imitations look shallow and identical between units.

How Do You Spot a Fake Lange 1 101.037?

• Watch the date at midnight. A real outsize date flips both discs in one instant.
• Wind it and watch the power reserve arc. A decorative indicator never moves.
• Inspect the balance cock engraving under a loupe for hand-cut depth and variation.
• Compare caseback fonts and serial depth against Lange service records.
• Weigh the watch. Plated steel misses the heft of gold by a wide margin.

What Does a Replica Lange 1 Cost?

Cheap quartz versions sell for under $150 and get the silhouette wrong. Mid-tier decorated automatics run $250 to $500, while the best hand-wound copies with a working date and reserve arc reach $600 to $1,200 or more.

A genuine 101.037 trades on the secondary market in the mid five figures depending on metal and condition. That gap is what drives the replica market, and it also explains why resale value on any copy is close to zero.

Practical and Legal Notes

Branded copies can be seized by customs in the United States and most of the European Union, and shipping risk falls on the buyer. Servicing is another trap: independent watchmakers often decline replica work, and parts are not interchangeable with the original.

If you buy a replica, treat it as a costume piece, not an investment. If you are shopping for the real thing, buy from a dealer who provides movement photos and a written authenticity guarantee.