If you searched for a fake IW93806, the short answer is that no replica seller can deliver what that search promises. The reference belongs to IWC Schaffhausen, and a counterfeit copy reproduces a protected trademark, a protected case design, and a movement that replica factories do not manufacture to the same standard. This guide does not send you to a replica. It compares the routes that put a well-built IWC-style watch on your wrist, judged on four criteria: legality, movement quality, serviceability, and resale value.
What the IW93806 reference actually is
IWC reference numbers get mistyped, reused, and recycled across forum threads, marketplace listings, and replica catalogs. Before you pay anything for a watch sold as an IW93806, confirm the reference against IWC's own product archive or ask an authorized dealer. Counterfeit listings routinely attach a genuine reference number to a watch that shares almost nothing with the original, which makes any side-by-side comparison meaningless.
Option 1: A used authentic IWC
A pre-owned IWC from a reputable dealer is the closest thing to the real reference.
- Pros: genuine in-house movement, documented service history, factory parts availability, real resale value, no customs risk.
- Cons: higher entry price, waiting for the right reference to appear, service costs every five to eight years.
Best for: buyers who want the actual watch and intend to keep or resell it.
Option 2: A legal homage or microbrand alternative
Several independent brands build pilot and dress watches with the same proportions and dial language without copying the logo.
- Pros: new condition, warranty, Swiss or Japanese movements from established suppliers, prices far below a real IWC.
- Cons: no brand prestige, lower resale, some homages skim on finishing.
Best for: buyers who like the look and are not chasing the name on the dial.
Option 3: Build on a genuine base
Buying a used entry-level IWC and adding a genuine strap, buckle, or crystal through a service center keeps every part legitimate.
- Pros: full authenticity, upgradeable over time, retains warranty coverage for parts fitted by the maker.
- Cons: total cost climbs, some vintage references have thin parts supply.
Best for: collectors who want a specific look without crossing into counterfeit territory.
Checklist before you buy anything described as an IW93806
- Ask the seller for the full reference, case size, and movement number, then verify them with the brand.
- Request clear photos of the caseback engraving, crown, and clasp.
- Confirm whether the seller is an authorized dealer, a registered secondhand dealer, or an anonymous marketplace account.
- Check that the price sits in a plausible range for the reference. A number that looks too low is the first signal of a fake.
- Read the return policy before paying, and use a payment method with buyer protection.
Which route fits you
If the reference itself matters, buy authentic. If the design matters and budget is tight, buy a legal homage. If you want authenticity with a lower entry cost, buy used and upgrade with genuine parts. In the United States, importing counterfeit goods exposes the shipment to seizure, and counterfeit sales fund organized crime rather than watchmaking. That is the practical case against the fake IW93806, not just the ethical one.