Short answer
A fake Portofino Automatic 46 copies the outline of an IWC Portofino. It does not copy the caliber, the case finishing, the dial print or the service record. Three checks settle most comparisons: the reference number against IWC published specs, the movement through the caseback, and a pressure test of the case.
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Confirm the model before you compare
IWC publishes the Portofino range by reference number and case size. Automatic references sit at 34 mm, 37 mm and 40 mm. Hand-wound references sit at 45 mm. I cannot confirm a current IWC reference sold as Portofino Automatic 46. Ask the seller for the four-digit reference, IW3565 for example, and check that number, the diameter and the thickness on iwc.com. A listing with no reference number describes a replica, and the size in the title may be invented.
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Movement
Earlier Portofino automatics use caliber 35111: 25 jewels, 28,800 vph (4 Hz), about 42 hours of reserve. Newer references use caliber 82200 with Pellaton winding and about 60 hours of reserve. Replicas use a Sellita SW300 copy, a Miyota 9015 or an unbranded Chinese automatic. Look at the rotor engraving, the bridge decoration and the screw slots under a loupe. Genuine finishing shows sharp, even bevels. Replica finishing shows soft edges and shallow engraving.
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Ask for a timegrapher photo with rate, amplitude and beat error. A healthy automatic shows a rate inside about plus or minus 10 seconds per day at full wind. A replica often shows wide beat error and low amplitude.
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Case, crystal and caseback
- Case: polished steel, sharp lug facets, even brushing on the caseback rim.
- Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating on one or both faces on most references. A faint blue or purple tint at an angle is normal. A strong tint or no tint points to a replica.
- Caseback: solid steel on several automatic references, sapphire display on hand-wound references. Engraved reference and serial should be crisp and centered.
- Water resistance: most Portofino references are rated 3 bar. A replica case may not hold that. Ask for a pressure test result from a watchmaker.
Dial, hands and strap
Check the printing at 6x. Genuine dial text has clean edges and consistent stroke width. Date window edges are chamfered. Hands are polished and flat, with no burrs. Straps on many references come from Santoni in alligator, with a signed buckle. Replica straps use embossed calf, and the buckle engraving is shallow.
Price and paperwork
A steel Portofino Automatic lists near 5,000 to 6,000 USD from an authorized dealer. Confirm the current figure with the dealer, since prices change. A replica sells for a few hundred dollars. The gap buys a documented caliber, a service network and a serial number that IWC can check. Box, papers and a service invoice with a matching serial carry more weight than any photo.
What replicas get right
At arm length a replica can pass: case diameter, dial color, date position, weight on the wrist. The differences appear at the crown (thread quality), at the lugs (edge sharpness) and on the movement. A buyer who needs the look for a photo shoot may not care. A buyer who plans to service the watch should.
Checks before paying
- Reference number matched to iwc.com specs.
- Case diameter and thickness measured with calipers.
- Timegrapher printout with rate, amplitude and beat error.
- Pressure test at 3 bar by a watchmaker.
- Serial and reference engraving compared under magnification.