A fake Portugieser Small Seconds is a watch that copies the IWC Portugieser layout with the running seconds subdial at 6 o'clock but was not built by IWC Schaffhausen. The logo is the last thing to check. The first things are the case measurements, the subdial position, the dial printing, the crystal, and the movement under the back.

What Counts as a Fake Portugieser Small Seconds

IWC has built Portugieser references with the small seconds at 6 o'clock since the original ref. 325, and the modern lineup continues that layout in hand-wound and automatic forms. A fake is any watch sold as that model without IWC production. Copies fall into three rough groups: cheap quartz pieces with a glued-on dial print, mid-tier automatic copies with a generic Japanese or Chinese caliber, and high-end "clone" builds that copy the case and dial closely while using a decorated third-party movement. Only the last group fools anyone at arm's length.

Before You Inspect: What You Need

  • A 10x loupe or a phone macro lens
  • Digital calipers
  • Good daylight plus a single point light source
  • The published specs for the exact reference you are comparing against
  • Permission to see movement photos or open the caseback

How to Inspect One, Step by Step

  1. Write down the reference number of the genuine model and note its published diameter, thickness, and lug width.
  2. Measure the case diameter with calipers at 4 and 8 o'clock, then compare.
  3. Measure total thickness from the caseback to the top of the crystal.
  4. Measure lug width and confirm it matches the reference figure.
  5. Inspect the dial printing under the loupe, checking letter height, spacing, and the thickness of strokes in the brand name.
  6. Check the subdial at 6 o'clock for its true center point, ring diameter, and whether the seconds hand reaches the printed track.
  7. Study the hands for a polished bevel along the edges rather than a flat stamped profile.
  8. Tilt the watch under the point light and look at the crystal for a box profile and a blue anti-reflective tint.
  9. Examine the crown for embossed logo depth, correct diameter, and smooth threading.
  10. Read the caseback engraving and compare the depth, font weight, and the format of the reference and serial numbers.
  11. Request clear photos of the movement, then run it on a timegrapher to read beat rate and daily rate.
  12. Weigh the complete watch and check the strap hardware for the finishing and markings of the original.

Fast Tells on Cheap Copies

  • The subdial sits slightly off center or sits too low under the hands.
  • The dial print is flat and thick, with letters touching each other.
  • The crystal is mineral glass, so it scratches and shows no blue glare.
  • The second hand stutters instead of sweeping.
  • The caseback shows shallow laser etching instead of crisp engraving.
  • The watch feels too light and the case edges are sharp.

What Copies Cost and What That Buys

  • Under 100 USD: quartz movement, printed dial, mineral glass. Easy to spot.
  • 150 to 400 USD: automatic movement, sapphire crystal, better case finishing. Passes at a distance.
  • 400 USD and up: cloned case and dial, decorated movement. Hard to catch without a loupe and calipers.

Legal and Practical Notes

Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks, and customs agencies in the United States and the European Union seize them on entry. A copy carries no manufacturer warranty and no service network, so repairs depend on the seller. If you buy one knowingly, treat it as a lookalike and not as an investment. If you plan to resell it as genuine, you are committing fraud.

Bottom Line

Measure first, then read the dial, then look at the movement. Diameter, thickness, subdial position, and beat rate catch nearly every fake Portugieser Small Seconds before you spend money.