Short Answer

A fake Portofino 37 is a copy of the IWC Portofino Automatic 37, a 37 mm dress watch that sells at retail for roughly $5,000 to $7,500 depending on the bezel and strap. Copy sellers market their best examples as a "first copy," "AAA," or "1:1" watch to imply the piece matches the original. None do. Case finishing, caseback engraving, and movement construction are where copies fail first, and all three can be checked with a loupe in about ten minutes.

What You Need Before You Start

  • The full reference number from the seller, taken from the caseback or paperwork
  • A 10x jeweler's loupe
  • A bright, directional light
  • A scale that reads to 0.1 g
  • An IWC service quote or an appointment with a watchmaker if the deal is large

Confirm the Reference Number

  1. Ask the seller for the complete reference number, not a partial one, and write it down.
  2. Match that number against the manufacturer's published reference list for the Portofino Automatic 37 family.
  3. Check that the reference on the caseback engraving matches the reference on the warranty card and box label.
  4. Walk away if the seller cannot supply a matching set, since mismatched paperwork is the most common sign of a copy.

Measure the Case

  1. Measure the case across the bezel with calipers; the Portofino Automatic 37 is 37 mm wide, and copies often run 1 to 2 mm off.
  2. Weigh the watch on the strap; a genuine stainless steel example sits in the 45 to 60 g range, while plated brass copies feel light in the hand.
  3. Run a fingernail along the lug edges to feel for burrs, which polishing on a copy leaves behind.
  4. Turn the crown and check that it is fluted and seats flush against the case with a clean gap.

Inspect the Dial and Crystal

  1. View the printed logo under 10x magnification; genuine printing has crisp, solid letterforms, while copies show ragged or doubled edges.
  2. Check the date window for a sharp, centered aperture and a font that matches the reference.
  3. Look at the hands under the loupe for flat, polished sides and a seconds hand that reaches the chapter ring.
  4. Angle the crystal toward a light source; the sapphire on a genuine watch shows a faint blue anti-reflective tint, while mineral glass on a copy shows none or a heavy purple cast.

Read the Caseback

  1. Confirm the caseback is solid steel, since the Portofino Automatic 37 does not have a display back; a glass back means the watch is not that reference.
  2. Study the engraving depth under the loupe; genuine laser engraving is shallow, sharp, and even, while copies show deeper, softer cuts.
  3. Check the presence and spelling of the maker's name, the reference number, the serial number, and the Probus Scafusia motto.
  4. Photograph the serial number and send it to the manufacturer's service department for a records check.

Test the Movement

  1. Wind the watch fully and note the feel; a genuine crown gives smooth resistance instead of grit or slack.
  2. Set the watch to a known time and leave it for 24 hours to measure the rate against a reference clock.
  3. Check the stated power reserve for the reference you are viewing, since current Portofino 37 references advertise a long reserve that cheap generic movements cannot reach.
  4. Have a watchmaker open the case and identify the calibre, which settles the question faster than any external check.

Compare Price and Papers

  1. Compare the asking price against current retail and used market listings; a sealed "new" watch at a third of retail is a copy.
  2. Inspect the warranty card for correct reference, serial, and dealer stamp.
  3. Check whether the seller describes the watch with replica trade terms such as first copy, mirror quality, or 1:1, which is an admission in itself.
  4. Request a written return right before paying, since a genuine seller with nothing to hide will agree.

When to Get a Professional Opinion

Any Portofino 37 offered above a few hundred dollars deserves an independent check. A watchmaker can open the case, read the calibre signature, and verify the serial against manufacturer records in one visit. That fee is small next to the cost of a copy sold as an original, and it is the only check that cannot be faked by better photography or a cleaner dial print.