A fake IWC Big Pilot 46 is a copy of the 46mm Big Pilot's Watch, built to match the case shape, dial layout, and strap of the original. Copies sell from about $70 for a quartz model to $450 and up for a high-end clone with a decorated automatic movement. The tells that expose a copy sit in the case thickness, the date font, the crown, and the crystal coating.
What does the genuine 46mm Big Pilot look like?
IWC released the Big Pilot's Watch ref. 5002 in 2002, and the 46mm case has changed little since. It measures 46.2mm across, about 15.5mm thick, and carries a large conical crown that screws into the case band.
Inside sits a 7-day automatic, first the cal. 5011 family and later the cal. 52110, both using Pellaton winding. A soft-iron inner cage shields the movement from magnetic fields. The sapphire crystal carries anti-reflective coating on both faces.
- Case: 46.2mm steel, around 15.5mm thick
- Crown: conical, screw-down
- Water resistance: 60m
- Lug width: 22mm
- Dial: black, wide white numerals, date at 3 o'clock
- Power reserve: 7 days
Where do fake IWC Big Pilot 46 watches differ most?
Movement and sweep
The real watch beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, so the seconds hand glides. Quartz copies tick once per second, which is a quick way to spot a fake on a wrist. Most mid-range copies use a Miyota 8215 or a Seagull automatic running at 21,600 vph.
A reserve hand that tracks a full 7 days almost never shows up in a copy. Some fakes freeze it, and others link it to a gear that moves with the hour hand and means nothing.
Case, crystal, and weight
Thin steel and a small movement make budget fakes feel light and hollow. A solid copy lands within 10 to 15 grams of the original on the same strap. Under a lamp, the crystal on a cheap copy throws blue or purple glare, while IWC coating stays close to colorless.
Dial, hands, and date
Genuine numerals are wide and flat with sharp corners. Fakes print thin numbers, and the 12 and the 6 give the game away in photos. The date font on a copy often sits high in the window or uses a shape IWC never used.
Crown and caseback
A real conical crown screws down with a firm stop and holds 60m of water resistance. Copies tend to use a push-pull crown with a cosmetic tube, so the stem wobbles when you set the time. Caseback engravings on a fake are shallow, with the reference number in the wrong size.
Price tiers for a fake IWC Big Pilot 46
- $60 to $110: quartz, mineral glass, printed dial, case too thin
- $150 to $280: automatic movement, sapphire glass, decent dial, dead reserve hand
- $300 to $450: first copy tier, correct 46.2mm case, coated sapphire, smooth sweep
- $450 and up: clone with a decorated cal. 52110 plate, correct crown, matched weight
How do you check a copy before you buy?
- Ask for the case size in millimeters. A 46mm Big Pilot should read 46mm to 46.5mm wide and 15mm or more thick.
- Request a short video. A gliding seconds hand means automatic; a ticking hand means quartz.
- Confirm the crown screws down. Push-pull crowns show up on most low-tier fakes.
- Check the date window position. On the 46mm dial it sits at 3 o'clock, level with the index.
- Ask for a photo of the crystal under a lamp to check for blue glare.
- Confirm the lug width, which should be 22mm on the 46mm case.
First copy, super clone, or cheap fake?
A cheap fake copies the logo and little else. A first copy copies the outside: right case, right dial, right crystal, automatic inside. A super clone also copies the movement layout, with a plate shaped like the cal. 52110 and a rotor that mimics Pellaton winding.
For daily wear, the first copy tier gives the best balance. The outside looks correct from arm's length, and a common Miyota or Seagull movement is cheap to service or swap.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fake IWC Big Pilot 46 have a 7-day power reserve?
Almost none do. Most copies run 38 to 42 hours on a standard automatic, and the reserve hand on the dial is decorative. A "7 days" print on a budget copy is a warning sign, not a feature.
Is the fake the same size as the genuine watch?
Top-tier copies match the 46.2mm by 15.5mm case. Budget models come in 44mm or 48mm with the same dial, so the proportions look wrong next to the real thing.
What should a first copy IWC Big Pilot 46 cost?
Expect $300 to $450 for a first copy with a correct case, sapphire crystal, and automatic movement. Under $150 you get quartz or a rough automatic. Past $600 you pay for details few people will ever see.
What matters most on a Big Pilot copy
Size and silhouette carry the look. A 46mm case with a large conical crown reads as a Big Pilot from across a room, even when the movement inside is simple. Dial print, hand shape, and the date font come next, since those are the parts people see up close.
Inside, a smooth sweep and a screw-down crown make the watch feel right in the hand. Reserve accuracy sits last for most buyers, because few check it. Buy from a seller who answers spec questions in writing and shows real photos of the piece you will receive.