Direct answer
IW323708 is not a watch model IWC sells under that name. The string has three parts. "IW" is the IWC prefix. "3237" is the Ingenieur Automatic case family. "08" is a dial variant code. A fake IW323708 is a watch built to copy that family but not made or sold by IWC Schaffhausen.
IWC does not publish a full reference archive on its site. The dial code 08 does not appear in the sources checked for this guide, so treat any listing that uses it as unverified.
What the 3237 family is
IWC lists references in the 3237 block as Ingenieur Automatic. Reseller listings describe a stainless steel case, an integrated bracelet, and an automatic movement. Reported case sizes in the block run from about 40 mm to 42.5 mm. The movement in the 2010s versions is reported as calibre 30110, based on the ETA 2892. Case backs on these watches carry a reference number and a serial number.
What shows up in copies
Many copies of this family come from workshops in Guangdong province, China. Movement choices in the copies are third-party: Miyota 9015, Seiko NH35, and Chinese clones of the ETA 2892. Case and bracelet machining is the second gap. Genuine Ingenieur bracelets have tight end link gaps and brushed surfaces that meet the polished bevels on a straight line. Copies show uneven gaps and rounded edges on the bevels.
Checks for a used watch
- Serial and reference. Genuine case backs carry both. Copies repeat one serial number across a production batch, so two copies compared side by side can show the same digits.
- Movement. Ask for a photo through the case back. A rotor with unfinished edges, wrong engraving, or a balance wheel that does not match the IWC layout points to a copy.
- Dial print. Look at the "Schaffhausen" line under the logo with a loupe. Genuine print has sharp serifs. Copy print shows ink bleed or a soft edge.
- Weight and thickness. Copies in this family measure wider at the case and lighter on a scale. Numbers vary by batch, so weigh and measure against a published spec sheet.
- Papers and box. Service papers with a serial that matches the case carry more weight than a box.
Price tells
Genuine secondhand Ingenieur Automatic watches sell in the thousands of US dollars. Copies sell for tens to a few hundred. A steel watch with an IWC dial, a box, and papers at a price under about US$300 is a copy.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell in the US. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments and destroy the goods. Selling a counterfeit watch can lead to a federal charge under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Buying one for personal use is not a charge that prosecutors bring in most cases, but resale is a different matter.
If you own a watch and want an answer
Take it to an IWC boutique or an independent watchmaker. Ask for a movement inspection and a serial check. IWC service can confirm if a serial number belongs to a case the company made. That check costs less than a wrong purchase.