Short answer
A fake IW938604 is any watch sold as the IWC IW938604 reference that did not leave an IWC factory. The term covers a wide spread: stamped-case quartz knockoffs at the bottom, cloned automatics in the middle, and top-tier first copies with correct case geometry at the top. Grade shows up first in the case and dial, then in the movement, and last in the paperwork. A seller who will not send movement photos or offer a return window is selling you the bottom of that spread.
What "first copy" means for this reference
Sellers use first copy to describe the top tier: case dimensions taken from a genuine sample, 316L or 904L steel, a sapphire crystal with the correct anti-reflective coating, and a clone movement that winds and sets the same way as the original. Honest sellers name the factory and the movement. Dishonest ones post press renders from the brand site and ship whatever clears customs.
How to check a fake IW938604 before you pay
- Ask for the case diameter, thickness, and lug-to-lug measurement in millimeters, then compare them against the spec IWC publishes for the reference.
- Request macro photos of the dial shot at an angle, and check that the applied indices sit level and evenly spaced from the minute track.
- Ask for a clear photo of the movement through the display back, and confirm the rotor engraving, jewel count, and finishing match the caliber the seller claims.
- Inspect the caseback engraving and the reference number between the lugs: letter spacing, depth, and font weight are the first things a cheap case gets wrong.
- Test the crown action in person or on video: winding should feel smooth and the date should change with a clean click, not a grind.
- Weigh the watch head on a kitchen scale and compare it with the weight quoted by other buyers of the same batch.
- Ask for the case serial and the warranty card number, and confirm they match each other and the batch the seller claims.
- Pay through escrow or a card with chargeback rights, and keep the listing text and photos as evidence.
Red flags that end the conversation
- Photos that match the brand's own press kit pixel for pixel.
- No returns, no refunds, or "ships from overseas, buyer accepts risk."
- A price far under the going rate for first copies of the same reference.
- Refusal to photograph the movement or the caseback.
- Date wheel print that is too bold, too thin, or off-center in the window.
- Paperwork printed on stock card with the wrong font and a serial that does not repeat on the case.
Price and paperwork expectations
First copies of a reference at this level usually sit in the low hundreds of dollars, and the price tracks the movement inside. Anything under a hundred dollars is a quartz or a low-grade automatic with a decorative rotor plate. Boxes and cards are almost always aftermarket, so treat paperwork as a nice extra, not proof of anything. Judge the watch on the case, dial, and movement, and assume the documents are reproductions.
Legal note
In the United States, selling counterfeit goods infringes a trademark and is illegal, and US Customs can seize imported shipments. Buying for personal use does not make the import legal, and reselling one later carries real risk. Check your local rules before you order.