Short answer
"Fake IW93806" is a search term with two uses. One group looks for a replica watch sold under the reference IW93806. The other group wants to know if a watch listed as IW93806 is genuine. IWC Schaffhausen prints references in the form IW plus five digits, so IW93806 fits the pattern. I found no IWC model with that reference in the IWC catalog or in public watch reference databases. Treat a listing that uses the number as unverified until the seller supplies a model name and a case diameter.
How IWC reference numbers work
The string starts with the letters IW, then five digits. Examples: IW371617, IW500710, IW327006. The leading digits group the model family. Pilot watches sit in the 32xx and 38xx ranges. Portugieser models sit in the 37xx and 50xx ranges. A "93" prefix does not appear in the current lineup that I could check. Reference numbers get reused by sellers on marketplace sites, and a wrong digit is common in typed listings.
Checks on a watch in hand
- Case back: IWC engraves the reference and a serial number. Look for crisp edges and even depth.
- Movement: IWC stamps its own calibers. Third-party movements show a different bridge layout and finish.
- Size and weight: measure the case with calipers and weigh it. Compare against the published spec sheet for the model name.
- Dial: check font, letter spacing, and subdial position against a factory photo at the same angle.
- Crown: check thread feel and the depth of the logo relief.
- Lume: charge the dial under a lamp, then check for an even glow across all markers.
Papers and records
Ask for the invoice, the warranty card with a dealer name and date, and any service paperwork. Call the dealer named on the card. IWC does not run a public serial number lookup. A service estimate at an IWC service center is the practical way to confirm a serial number, because the watch goes to the manufacturer.
Price signals
A steel IWC chronograph on a strap sells in the range of 4,000 to 8,000 US dollars on the secondary market. A gold case pushes the figure higher. An offer at 300 dollars is not a discount. It is a different product.
First copy, AAA, and other grade labels
Replica sellers use terms such as first copy, AAA, 1:1, and mirror. No standards body defines these labels. First copy names a middle grade: a steel case, a decorated third-party movement, and dial print that matches at arm's length. The label comes from the seller, not from a factory spec, so it tells you nothing about the unit you receive. Ask for photos of the actual watch, the case back, and the movement.
What is not known
No catalog page, auction record, or press release confirms that IWC made a reference IW93806. If the number came from a listing, the listing is the only source. Ask the seller for the model name, the case diameter, and the movement caliber, then search those three facts together.