Short answer
A fake IW323745 is a counterfeit watch sold as IWC reference IW323745. The reference is a six-digit IWC case code. IWC puts the model family in the first four digits and the case or dial variant in the final two. Replicas of this reference show up on wholesale sites, marketplaces, and social media listings. No replica uses IWC parts or carries an IWC warranty.
One gap to note: IWC assigns a new number for each dial and case variant, and the exact model behind IW323745 is not listed on every dealer page. Check the number on IWC's own site before you compare a watch to photos. A seller who cannot name the model is a seller with a data gap.
What the reference tells you
The IW prefix marks an IWC reference. Digits 3237 place the watch in one IWC family. The final pair, 45, marks the variant. A listing that shows IW323745 but ships a caseback with a different number is selling a mismatched piece. Genuine IWC casebacks carry a unique serial that does not repeat across a production run.
Common replica builds
- Case: 316L stainless steel, often 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm thicker than the genuine case.
- Movement: Chinese clone of the Valjoux 7750 at 21,600 vph (3 Hz), or a Swiss ETA 7750 or Sellita SW500 at 28,800 vph (4 Hz).
- Crystal: sapphire on top-tier replicas, mineral glass on budget builds.
- Weight: 20 g to 40 g lighter than the genuine watch when the bracelet is hollow.
Checks that work
- Count the beat. Film the seconds hand at 60 fps and count steps per second. A 3 Hz movement shows six; a 4 Hz shows eight.
- Read the dial print at 10x. Genuine IWC print edges are sharp. Replica print bleeds.
- Look at the date window. Replica date wheels sit off-center or use the wrong font.
- Check the crown. Genuine crowns thread in 3 to 4 turns with no wobble.
- Weigh the watch. Record the number and compare it to the published spec.
- Open the caseback with a watchmaker only, then compare rotor engraving depth and font.
Price and paperwork signals
Replica wholesalers list these watches at $200 to $600. Genuine IWC watches in this family sell for several thousand dollars used. A seller who claims Swiss made, 1:1, with box and papers at $350 is selling a counterfeit. Genuine boxes ship with a matching serial on the warranty card, and IWC service can verify that number.
Legal position in the US
Importing counterfeit watches into the United States violates 19 U.S.C. 1526. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the shipment. Trafficking in counterfeit goods carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A personal-use purchase does not make the item legal, and the item has no resale channel.