Short answer
A replica Portugieser 40mm copies the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40, reference family IW3583. The genuine watch has a 40.4 mm case, caliber 82200, 60 hours of power reserve, and 30 m of water resistance. Replica versions use the same 40 mm case shape and a different movement inside. No replica carries an IWC caliber. Prices run from about $60 to $450, set by the factory tier and the movement.
Genuine specs to compare against
- Case diameter: 40.4 mm
- Case thickness: about 12 mm
- Movement: IWC caliber 82200, automatic, Pellaton winding
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Water resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
- Layout: small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, leaf hands
- Retail price: about $7,700 in stainless steel
Movements used in replicas
Three movement types show up in 40mm Portugieser replicas. First, a Miyota 9015 from Citizen, made in Japan: 28,800 vibrations per hour, 24 jewels, 42 hours of reserve. Second, a Chinese automatic with a decorated rotor plate stamped to imitate caliber 82200. Third, a basic Chinese 8215-style automatic with a lower beat rate and no hacking. The Miyota 9015 is the most serviceable of the three. Seller pages that say "clone 82200" describe decoration on the rotor, not the mechanism under it.
Case and dial materials
Most cases are 316L stainless steel. Some sellers claim 904L. Both are steel alloys; 904L costs more and takes a polish closer to the original finish. Crystals are sapphire on mid and high tiers and mineral glass on cheap tiers. Dials are painted or printed, and the printed minute track on a low tier shows thickness under a loupe. The leaf hands and the small seconds subdial are the two spots where a replica reads as a replica at arm's length.
What a listing should state
- Case diameter and thickness in millimeters
- Movement name and beat rate
- Crystal material
- Strap material and buckle type
- Water resistance rating, or a statement that there is none
A listing that omits the movement name is a listing with a cheap movement. Ask for a photo of the caseback and the winding rotor before payment.
Legal position in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 sets prison terms up to 10 years for a first trafficking offense, with higher penalties when the goods cause harm. CBP can seize a shipment and the buyer receives no refund. Personal possession and resale are treated as separate matters, and state codes differ. A seizure means the money is gone.
What cannot be verified
Factory names change. ZF, APSF, and similar labels are trade names, not registered companies, and no factory publishes serial numbers. Nobody outside the trade can confirm which line produced a given watch. Weight, engraving on the balance cock, and rotor finish vary between batches of the same model.