Short answer

IW329038 is an IWC reference number in the 3290 block. That block is the Aquatimer Automatic 42, a steel dive watch IWC put on sale in 2014. The case is 42 mm wide and 14 mm thick. Water resistance is rated at 300 m. The movement is IWC calibre 30120, an automatic with a power reserve near 42 hours.

The last two digits of an IWC reference mark a dial, strap, or market variant. IWC does not list IW329038 on its current product pages, so the dial color and strap for this exact reference should come from the seller. Ask for photos of the caseback and the hang tag.

Stock specs for the 3290 block

  • Case: stainless steel, 42 mm diameter, 14 mm thick
  • Bezel: outer rotating ring linked to an inner dive scale, which IWC calls SafeDive
  • Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both faces
  • Dial: applied markers filled with Super-LumiNova
  • Depth rating: 300 m
  • Movement: calibre 30120, 28,800 vph, 42 hour reserve

What replica versions get wrong

Replica Aquatimer cases come from a small number of factories. Four faults show up on most samples.

  1. Bezel action. The SafeDive link between the outer ring and the inner scale is hard to copy. On replicas the inner scale turns on its own or stays fixed.
  2. Movement. Most replicas use a Miyota 9015 or a Chinese copy of the 8200 series. Both run at 28,800 vph, so the sweep looks close, but the date flips at a different hour and the rotor engraving is wrong.
  3. Dial print. The gap between IWC and SCHAFFHAUSEN is wider on replicas. Marker edges are thicker.
  4. Water resistance. Sellers claim 300 m. Most replicas fail a 5 atm pressure test. Gaskets sit dry or missing at the crown.

Checks before you pay

  1. Ask for a photo of the caseback. Reference number, serial, and font should sit level.
  2. Ask for a video of the bezel turning. The inner scale must move with the outer ring.
  3. Ask for a timegrapher shot. A rate within plus or minus 10 seconds a day is normal for a Miyota 9015.
  4. Ask for a pressure test result. If the seller cannot supply one, treat the watch as splash proof.
  5. Confirm the strap type. Rubber and steel bracelet versions of one reference sell at different prices.

Price range

Replica Aquatimer Automatic 42 samples sell for about $280 to $520. Price tracks the movement and the bezel function, not the case finish. Used genuine examples of the steel Aquatimer Automatic 42 sit around $3,000 to $4,500 from dealers and auction houses.

Note

A replica carries no IWC warranty and no service from IWC. US Customs can seize shipments of counterfeit goods. IWC does not publish a per-reference archive, so confirm calibre and depth rating against the physical watch, not a listing text.