Short answer

A fake IWC Pilot's Watch IW3270 fails on four points: the movement, the soft-iron inner case, the caseback engraving, and the crystal coating. Reference IW3270 covers the Mark XVIII family, a 40 mm steel pilot's watch that IWC sold from 2016 to 2022. Copies sell for $250 to $600. Genuine used examples trade for about $3,000 to $4,500. A copy can read close in photos. It does not match the movement or the magnetic shielding.

What the IW3270 reference covers

IWC uses the IW3270 prefix across several Mark XVIII versions. IW327001 is the base model: black dial, calfskin strap. IW327004 is the Le Petit Prince: blue dial, steel case. IW327007 is the Tribute to Mark XI, a limited run of 1,948 pieces on a fabric strap. Other suffixes cover bracelets and regional editions. Genuine casebacks carry the full reference plus a serial number, so a listing that gives IW3270 alone leaves a detail unconfirmed.

Genuine specs to check

  • Case: stainless steel, 40 mm diameter, 11 mm thick
  • Movement: IWC caliber 35111, automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 42-hour power reserve
  • Soft-iron inner case around the movement
  • Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both faces
  • Water resistance: 6 bar
  • Dial: black, white printed numerals, date at 3 o'clock

Where copies differ

  • Movement: most replicas run a Miyota 9015 or a clone of a Swiss automatic. Beat rate matches at 28,800 vph, so a timing check proves little. Caliber 35111 is based on a Sellita SW300-1, and that base is sold openly, so a real Sellita inside a case is not proof of IWC assembly.
  • Magnetic shielding: the soft-iron cage inside the genuine case is not copied. A compass held against the case shows the difference.
  • Crystal: the genuine part is coated on the inner and outer face. Copies coat one side or none, and throw a stronger blue or purple reflection under a lamp.
  • Caseback: engraving depth, font, and the lettering of "PILOT'S WATCH MARK XVIII." Serial numbers on copies repeat across units. Genuine serials match between caseback and service records.
  • Dial: the strokes of the IWC and SCHAFFHAUSEN printing are thin and sharp on genuine dials. Copies show heavier strokes and misaligned markers at 12 and 6.
  • Crown: knurling depth and how far the crown stands off the case. Copies sit proud or sit flush in the wrong place.

Price signals

Used Mark XVIII examples list between about $3,000 and $4,500 at resellers, based on box, papers, and strap. A new-in-box IW327001 offered under $2,000 is a copy or a watch with replaced parts. Replica sellers price IW3270 copies at about $250 to $600, with the top tier claiming a Swiss movement.

What photos cannot show

A photo cannot confirm the movement, the magnetic cage, or a serial match. Ask for a caseback photo with the serial legible, a timed rate reading from a watchmaker, and a shot of the crystal edge under light. If the seller refuses, treat the offer as unconfirmed.