A fake IW510501 is a counterfeit of the IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days. The genuine watch uses a hand-wound in-house movement with a 192-hour power reserve. Counterfeits copy the case shape, dial, and strap. They do not copy the movement. Steel models list near $12,000 USD at authorized dealers, and pre-owned examples trade below that. Replicas sell for a few hundred dollars.
What IW510501 identifies
IW510501 is an IWC reference number. The number points to a watch in the Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days family, which IWC builds around the caliber 59210 series. IWC records are the authority for case metal, case size, and dial color under a given reference. Resale listings for IW510501 disagree with each other on those details. Treat any single listing as unverified until you check it against IWC or an authorized dealer.
What the genuine watch has
- Hand-wound mechanical movement, caliber 59210 family, with an eight-day (192-hour) power reserve.
- One mainspring barrel. IWC places the power reserve display on the movement side, visible through the sapphire caseback.
- Small seconds at 9 o'clock. Date window at 3 o'clock on models that carry a date.
- Sapphire crystal front and back, with antireflective coating on both faces.
- Stainless steel or rose gold case. Alligator strap on most versions.
- Reference number and serial number engraved on the caseback.
Confirm the dial layout for the exact reference you are looking at. IWC has built more than one version of the eight-day hand-wound watch.
How fakes fail inspection
- Movement. Most fakes hide a low-cost movement behind engraved plates. Wind the watch and time it. A real 59210-series movement runs about eight days between windings. A fake runs 36 to 48 hours.
- Power reserve display. On a fake, the reserve needle may be fixed, or it may move without a mainspring behind it.
- Movement engraving. Genuine engraving is filled and sharp. Fake engraving looks shallow. Check the IWC name and the Probus Scafusia text.
- Caseback text. Compare font, spacing, and depth of the reference and serial numbers. Fakes often reuse one serial number across many units.
- Dial printing. Inspect the IWC logo and the SCHAFFHAUSEN line under a loupe. Check index alignment and hand finish.
- Weight. Steel and gold cases have known weights. Replicas feel light in the hand.
- Crown and strap. Genuine crowns carry crisp engraving. Genuine straps carry signed hardware.
- Papers. Counterfeiters copy boxes, booklets, and cards too. Paperwork proves nothing on its own.
Price and the "first copy" label
Terms like first copy, master copy, and AAA have no standard definition and no grading body. Sellers invent the labels. A $300 price on a watch that lists near $12,000 in steel is a counterfeit, not a discount. Legitimate pre-owned IWC watches come with a warranty card, a service history, and a price in the thousands.
Legal status in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and fines. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at import, and import of a counterfeit watch for personal use is prohibited. Seized items can be destroyed.
Checks before you pay
Ask the seller for movement photos and a clear caseback photo. Compare the serial number with IWC service records. Send the watch to IWC or an independent watchmaker for authentication. Buy from a seller with a written return policy. If the seller refuses an inspection, stop the deal.