The Short Answer
A replica Portugieser 42mm is an unauthorized copy of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 42. It matches the original in photographs and shares none of its internals. The genuine watch has a 42.3 mm case and a seven-day in-house movement. The copies run on third-party movements with a 38 to 42 hour reserve, and many of them fake the power reserve display. Buying, importing, or reselling one in the United States carries legal risk that outweighs the savings.
What the Genuine Portugieser Automatic 42 Is
IWC built the line around a 1930s pocket watch made for two Portuguese merchants, and the Automatic 42 (reference family IW5007) is the flagship three-hand model. The case measures 42.3 mm across and about 14 mm thick, with sapphire crystal and antireflective coating on both faces, applied indices, a small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, a power reserve indicator at 3, and a date at 6. Inside sits the calibre 52010, a Pellaton-wound automatic with twin barrels and 168 hours of running time. List price on the steel reference sits above $12,000, and clean pre-owned examples trade in the $8,000 to $10,000 range.
Where Copies Fall Short
The gap shows up in four places. First, the movement. No copy uses the 52010, and no clone movement brings a seven-day reserve. Second, the power reserve indicator. On most copies it is a printed dial detail that never moves, or a hand that sweeps on a 40-hour cycle. Third, the case. A 42.3 mm diameter is awkward to copy, so many replicas come in at 41 or 43 mm and the lugs sit wrong on the wrist. Fourth, finishing. The anglage on the real bridges, the black polish on the screws, and the depth of the caseback engraving do not survive a price cut to a few hundred dollars. Add zero factory parts support, no warranty, and a resale value near zero.
How to Check a Portugieser 42 Before You Buy
- Measure the case across the widest point with calipers. A genuine Automatic 42 reads 42.2 to 42.4 mm.
- Wind the watch fully and set it down for 72 hours. The real 52010 keeps running past the three-day mark; a copy stops in under two days.
- Watch the power reserve hand at 3 o'clock during that test. On the genuine watch it drops in a steady arc that tracks the remaining hours.
- Turn the watch over and study the movement. Genuine 52010 bridges carry Geneva stripes cut into the metal, blued screws, and an engraved rotor. Copies show printed plates and a sticker-thin finish.
- Compare the dial printing under a loupe. Check the sharpness of the IWC and SCHAFFHAUSEN text and the concentric finish inside the small seconds subdial.
- Check the reference and serial number against IWC records, or ask a boutique or authorized service center to confirm them.
- Price the watch against the market. Anything under $5,000 for a steel Automatic 42 with papers is a copy.
Legal Exposure in the United States
Counterfeit watches are not a gray area in US law. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and a first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit merchandise at the border, and the importer can face a civil penalty on top of the loss. Trademark owners can also sue for damages under the Lanham Act. Resale is the riskiest part. Selling even one watch that carries a counterfeit mark is what turns a purchase into a case.
Alternatives Worth the Money
If the dial layout is what draws you, several makers build similar designs with real movements and real service networks. A pre-owned genuine Portugieser, bought from a dealer who documents provenance, costs more than a copy and holds most of its value. Lower-cost dress watches with a clean dial, a sub-seconds hand, and an entry-level Swiss or Japanese movement cover the same look. Those watches can be serviced, resold, and worn without a legal cloud.