The top pick for a fake IW93860 copy is a high-grade automatic example from a seller who publishes the movement caliber, the measured case diameter and the case thickness, because those three details are the only claims you can check before money changes hands. Every option below is judged on the same four criteria: whether the reference number checks out against IWC's own catalog, how the case and dial are finished, what movement sits inside, and what the seller can put in writing.
Fake IW93860 Copy Watch: What the Code Means
Start with the reference number, not the photos
IWC reference numbers use an IW prefix followed by digits, and the exact digit string decides which watch you are comparing against. The string "iw93860" as buyers usually type it is short and easy to mistype, so look the model up on the brand's official site first and note three things: case diameter, dial layout and movement family. If no model matches the string, treat the listing as a generic replica borrowing a plausible number. That is not proof of a scam, but it does mean the original watch places no constraint on the copy, so a seller has room to substitute a smaller case, a different handset or a cheaper movement without contradicting anything.
Fake IW93860 Replica Watch: What the Reference Number Means
Option A: High-grade automatic copy
This tier aims to match the original's proportions and uses an automatic movement with a decorated rotor. Sellers in this bracket usually quote a caliber number, a beat rate and a power reserve figure, which gives you something to test on arrival.
- Pros: case proportions and dial furniture usually track the genuine watch; sweep seconds instead of ticking; parts and servicing are easier to source; holds up to close inspection at arm's length.
- Cons: highest cost of the three tiers; quality varies sharply between batches; water resistance claims are often unverified and should not be trusted near a pool.
Use case: daily wear if you want the silhouette and hand-feel of the original and you accept that servicing will cost as much as the watch.
Option B: Budget quartz or low-grade automatic
This tier copies the outline and dial but cuts corners on finishing and the movement. Quartz versions are common, and low-grade automatics often use a rough, noisy rotor.
- Pros: low outlay; quartz keeps better time than most mechanical movements; sensible for a costume or display piece; low loss if it is confiscated or damaged.
- Cons: ticking seconds hand on a watch that should sweep; shallow engraving, soft case edges, printed rather than applied markers; plating that wears through at the lugs and crown.
Use case: a prop, a gift for someone who will not inspect the movement, or a first purchase to learn what the flaws look like before spending more.
Criterion: Case finishing and dimensions
Ask for caliper readings of diameter, thickness and lug width. Compare them to the numbers on the brand's site. Check the transition from brushed to polished surfaces: on a good case the line is crisp and straight, on a weak one it wanders. Run a fingernail along the caseback edge and the lug undersides. Sharp burrs mean the case was finished before assembly, not after. Look at the crown: it should sit flush, turn without grit and pull to distinct positions.
Criterion: Dial, hands and printing
Dial work separates the tiers more than any other single feature. Under a loupe, check that printed text is level, that indices are applied rather than painted, and that the hands are the right length, ending where the original's end. Look for dust under the crystal and for lume applied unevenly. A date window should sit centered in its cutout, with the numerals aligned to the frame.
Criterion: Movement and accuracy
Ask which caliber is inside and whether the rotor is decorated or plain. A seller who cannot answer is selling a watch they have not opened. On arrival, listen: a healthy automatic hums, a worn one rattles when tilted. Time it over 24 hours against a reference clock and accept roughly 10 to 20 seconds a day in this class. Anything wildly outside that range points to a dry or damaged movement.
Criterion: Crystal, caseback and engraving
Sapphire should pass a water-drop test, where a bead of water sits proud rather than spreading. Caseback engraving on a good copy is deep and even, with consistent letter spacing. Serial numbers should be unique to your watch; a seller shipping the same number on every unit is working from a template, and you can assume the same shortcuts extend to the rest of the build.
Criterion: Strap, clasp and packaging
Original-spec straps are where budget copies show first: thin leather, stiff stitching, a clasp that flexes. Packaging adds cost without improving the watch, so decide whether a box matters to you before paying for one.
Inspection checklist on delivery
- Measure case diameter and thickness against the published figures.
- Time it for 24 hours and note the daily gain or loss.
- Check the crown action and the date change at midnight.
- Inspect dial printing and hand length under magnification.
- Confirm the serial number is unique to your piece.
- Do not swim with it unless the seller states a tested water resistance rating.
Legal and practical limits
Counterfeit watches carrying another company's trademark are illegal to sell in the United States, and customs can seize imported fakes. You get no manufacturer warranty, no service network and no resale market. Treat the money as spent. Buy from a seller with a written return window, pay with a method that offers a dispute process, and keep the listing description so you can compare what arrived against what was promised.
Which one to buy for which use
If the watch will be worn often and looked at closely, choose the high-grade automatic and insist on caliber and measurements in writing. If it is a costume piece or a gift for someone who will not open the caseback, the budget tier does the job at a fraction of the cost. If the reference number itself does not check out against the brand's catalog, wait and identify the actual model first, because you cannot judge a copy against a watch that does not exist.