A replica IW329087 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Aquatimer Automatic 42, a stainless steel dive watch. The better copies get the 42 mm case, the blue dial, and the inner dive scale close to the real thing. They almost never match the caliber 32111 movement, the 120-hour power reserve, or the 300 m water resistance rating. Judge a replica on dimensions, dial print, and crown action first. Movement and water resistance come second, because those are the parts sellers fake most often.
Prerequisites
- Clear reference photos of a genuine IW329087 from the manufacturer catalog or a dealer listing
- Digital calipers or a steel ruler
- A jeweler's loupe or a phone macro lens
- A kitchen scale that reads to the gram
- A payment method you can cancel if the watch does not match the listing photos
What the Reference Number Tells You
The IW3290 family is the modern Aquatimer Automatic 42 line. That means a 42 mm stainless steel case, a screw-down caseback, sapphire crystal, and a dive scale built into the dial rather than printed on an outer ring. If a seller shows you a 45 mm case or a bezel you rotate by hand from the outside, the watch is a different reference or a loose imitation of the line. Ask for the caseback number in a photo before you pay.
How to Inspect a Replica IW329087
- Measure the case across the 9 and 3 o'clock sides without the crown. A true 42 mm copy lands between 41.8 mm and 42.2 mm.
- Measure the thickness from caseback to crystal. Anything above 15 mm sits tall on the wrist and points to a cheap generic movement inside.
- Compare the dial print against your reference photo. The logo, the depth rating text, and the minute track should match in font weight and spacing.
- Check the applied markers under a loupe. Real spec calls for polished metal surrounds with level lume fill, not painted rectangles.
- Turn the crown at 2 o'clock and watch the inner dive scale move. It should track smoothly and lock without back-play.
- Weigh the watch head on the scale. A stainless steel 42 mm diver with a bracelet should land near the genuine figure, usually over 100 g.
- Inspect the caseback engraving. Reference numbers and serials should be crisp and evenly spaced, not shallow and grainy.
- Wind the movement and set the date. A sweep that stutters or a date that flips slowly at midnight means a low-grade automatic.
- Check the lume in a dark room. Charge it for 30 seconds under a lamp and compare brightness and color with the catalog photo.
Red Flags
- A weight under 80 g for a steel 42 mm diver
- A caseback sticker instead of engraved markings
- Soft, rounded case edges from a poor polish
- A seller who will not send a timestamped photo of the actual watch
- A price far below the rest of the market for the same reference
Legal and Practical Notes
Buying or importing a counterfeit watch is illegal in the United States under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and US Customs can seize the shipment. Even if a replica passes every check above, it has no manufacturer warranty and no service network. Any water resistance claim from a replica seller is unverified. Do not dive or swim with one. Treat it as a costume piece, not a tool watch.