Reference Check

IWC uses an IW prefix plus six digits. Published IWC catalogs show groups such as IW3716xx, IW3881xx and IW5007xx. IW938801 does not appear in those catalogs. The string shows up in first copy product listings instead. Treat it as a seller code, not a factory reference. Ask for the movement caliber, case diameter, case thickness and case weight before payment.

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First Pick: Three-Hand Miyota 9015

Start with a 40 mm steel case and a Miyota 9015 inside. Miyota lists the 9015 at 28,800 vibrations per hour, 24 jewels and 42 hours of power reserve, with hacking and hand winding. That equals 8 beats per second. A quartz movement in the same case ticks once per second. The sweep hand gives the movement away before the dial does.

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Numbers to demand from the seller: 40 mm diameter, 11 mm thick, 20 mm lug width, 316L steel, sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating, screw-down caseback, 50 m water resistance. Weight on a steel bracelet lands near 130 g. A 2813 grade copy weighs near 100 g because the case walls are thinner.

fake iw938801 compared to

Options, Ranked

  1. Miyota 9015, sapphire crystal, 40 mm case. Sweep seconds, 42 hour reserve. Highest price of the four.
  2. Seagull ST2130 or Hangzhou 6300. ETA 2824-2 layout, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 38 hour reserve. Parts interchange with 2824-2 clones.
  3. DG2813. 21,600 vph, 6 beats per second, 21 jewels, no hacking. The seconds hand stutters at low power reserve. Cheapest automatic.
  4. Quartz. 1 beat per second. Skip it when the dial has a central seconds hand.

Checks on Arrival

  • Time the sweep hand against a phone stopwatch for 60 seconds. Count 8 ticks per second for the 9015 and the ST2130.
  • Measure the case with calipers at 12 to 6 and at 3 to 9. Spec sheets round up. A listing that says 41 mm measures 39.4 mm in many cases.
  • Inspect the date window under a loupe. Crooked printing and a misaligned date disc are the two most common faults.
  • Weigh the watch. Under 90 g on a steel bracelet points to a hollow case or an aluminum core.

Service and Legal Note

First copy watches carry no manufacturer warranty. An authorized dealer will not service one. US customs can seize counterfeit goods under 19 USC 1526. Buy only what you can afford to lose.

Best Fake IW938801: How to Judge a Replica IWC Before You Buy