The IW327013 is the IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince, a 40mm stainless steel flieger with a deep blue dial. When people search for fake IW327013 similar watches, they usually want two things: which genuine watches come closest to that look, and how to tell a replica IW327013 from the real watch if one turns up for sale. This guide answers both.

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What the IW327013 Actually Is

Knowing the real specifications makes the differences easier to see later.

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  • Reference: IW327013, Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince
  • Case: 40mm stainless steel, roughly 11mm thick, 20mm lug width
  • Movement: IWC calibre 35111, an automatic widely documented as based on the Sellita SW300-1, with about 42 hours of power reserve
  • Dial: blue with white numerals and hands, date window at 3 o'clock
  • Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides
  • Production: introduced in 2016 and later replaced by the Mark XX, so most examples on the market now are pre-owned

Watches Similar to the IW327013

If the blue dial and the clean flieger layout are what you actually want, these are the closest genuine options, from the same family down to budget territory.

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  • IWC Mark XVIII with a black dial: the same case, crystal and proportions, just a matte black face. Often the cheapest route into the exact silhouette.
  • IWC Mark XX: the successor, still 40mm, with an in-house calibre and higher water resistance. The closest current-production match.
  • IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Le Petit Prince: the same blue theme and the same story, but 43mm and a chronograph layout.
  • Stowa Flieger Klassik 40: a genuine historical flieger maker with a plain dial, thin bezel and a fraction of the price.
  • Laco Augsburg or Aachen: another original flieger supplier, with the classic Baumuster A or B dials.
  • Archimede Pilot 39 or 42: similar proportions, excellent legibility, straightforward servicing.
  • Sinn 556 I: not a flieger by name, but the same compact tool-watch feel with an uncluttered dial.
  • Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot: affordable, easy to find, and close in spirit for daily wear.
  • Oris Big Crown ProPilot: a step up in finishing with a similar instrument-panel look.
  • Longines Spirit 37 or 40: vintage pilot styling and strong finishing for the money.
  • Homage brands such as San Martin or Baltany: these build flieger-style watches with blue dials as their own designs, not counterfeits, and they cost a few hundred dollars.

How to Spot a Fake IW327013

Replica IW327013 watches vary a lot in quality, so no single detail settles it. Check several at once.

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  1. Caseback engraving. Genuine engraving is crisp and evenly cut, with sharp edges on the lettering and the reference number. Replicas often look shallow, rounded or slightly blurry under a loupe.
  2. Movement and rotor. A genuine calibre 35111 beats at 4Hz and carries proper IWC rotor finishing and markings. Many fakes hide a Miyota or a generic automatic behind an engraved rotor, and the engraving quality gives it away.
  3. Dial print and lume. Look at the numeral edges and the date aperture. On fakes the printing can be thick, the date font wrong, or the lume fill uneven and a different shade from the hands.
  4. Crown and threads. The crown should screw down smoothly and sit flush. Rough threads and a crown that wobbles point to a replica case.
  5. Crystal and reflections. Double-sided anti-reflective coating gives the genuine watch a faint blue or purple cast and very little glare. Fakes typically show heavy reflections.
  6. Weight and finishing. Feel the transitions between brushed and polished surfaces. A real IWC case feels dense and consistent, while cheap replicas feel light or overly sharp at the edges.
  7. Price and paperwork. A new or near-new IW327013 for a few hundred dollars is not a bargain. Unverifiable serial numbers and vague service history are the same warning sign.

Why Lookalikes Usually Beat a Fake

A replica gives you the shape but not the ownership. It cannot be serviced by the brand, its water resistance is a guess, and resale value is close to zero. A Stowa, Laco or Hamilton delivers the flieger look with a real warranty and a movement any watchmaker can work on. If you want the blue dial specifically, saving for a used Mark XVIII or Mark XX is the more durable decision.

Quick Checklist Before You Buy

  • Compare caseback engraving and reference number against known photos of the IW327013
  • Ask for movement photos and a timed rate reading, not just wrist shots
  • Check the serial number and original papers with the brand or an authorized dealer
  • Have an independent watchmaker open the case before money changes hands
  • Treat any price far below the secondhand market as a red flag

Decide first whether you want the exact IW327013 or simply a blue-dial flieger. That answer tells you whether to save for the genuine reference or buy a well-made alternative instead.