Short answer
A fake IW938245 is either a replica sold under a real IWC reference, or a listing built on a number that matches no IWC model at all. The format looks right: IWC uses an IW prefix plus six digits. Format is not proof. Before you judge the watch, judge the number. Pull up IWC's own model list and a resale marketplace, search the reference, and see whether a matching watch appears. If nothing lines up, you have your answer.
Why the reference carries so much weight
IWC encodes family, case material, size and movement in those digits. A working reference resolves to one specific watch with one specific spec sheet. When a seller cannot name the model their number belongs to, they are not selling a replica of anything. They are selling a photo and a hope.
Where replicas in this tier give themselves away
- Dial text. IWC printing is thin, sharp and consistent. Thick or smeared lettering is the oldest tell there is.
- Date wheel. Check the font, the centering inside the window, and whether the numbers sit level.
- Hands and lume. Thin hands, flat polish on the top surfaces, lume sitting inside the frame instead of over it.
- Caseback. Look at engraving depth, screw heads, and whether the reference and case number are stamped or just etched.
- Movement feel. Wind it. A gritty crown or a rotor that rattles on the wrist says more than any spec sheet.
- Weight. A steel case should feel dense for its size. A hollow case is a giveaway.
What a straight replica listing tells you
Good wholesale listings name the movement (clone, modified ETA, Miyota, Seiko), give the case diameter to a tenth of a millimetre, note the crystal material and coating, and state whether the strap is leather or synthetic. When the movement is described as "high quality" with no name attached, treat the rest of the listing with the same suspicion.
Ask these before you pay
- Which IWC model does this reference belong to, and what years was it produced?
- What movement is inside, and can I see photos of it?
- Exact case diameter, thickness and weight?
- What does the return window cover, and who pays return shipping?
- How is the parcel shipped, and who handles customs if it is stopped?
The legal side
Counterfeit watches face trademark enforcement and customs seizure in most markets, including the US and the EU. That has not stopped the trade, but it does mean the border risk sits with the buyer. Budget for the chance that a parcel never lands, and never treat a replica as an investment.
If the number does check out
A real reference tells you what the watch should measure, weigh and run. Compare those figures against the listing line by line. A seller who gets the diameter wrong by two millimetres is either working from a stock photo or from a different watch than the one they are advertising. Either way, ask for fresh images with a dated note in frame.