Answer first: IW938100 is not a reference number published by IWC Schaffhausen, and search traffic around fake iw938100 points to counterfeit IWC watches rather than a real model. If you want that style on your wrist, the soundest option is a genuine IWC bought from an authorized dealer or a certified pre-owned program. Judge any candidate on four criteria: a reference number the brand can verify, a movement a watchmaker will service, documented provenance, and resale value that survives the transaction.

Why the reference number matters more than the listing photo

IWC reference numbers follow a consistent pattern, and the number on the caseback, the number on the paperwork, and the number in the brand's records should agree. A listing that uses a number the brand does not recognize, or that blends a real model name with an invented number, usually points to a counterfeit or to a franken watch assembled from mixed parts. Ask for the caseback photograph, the movement photograph, and the service history before money changes hands.

Option 1: Counterfeit listings built on that number

  • Pros: the lowest upfront price, and the outward styling can resemble a genuine piece in photographs.
  • Cons: trademark infringement makes import and resale illegal in the United States, so a shipment can be seized at the border; there is no manufacturer warranty; authorized service centers refuse counterfeit movements; many independent watchmakers decline the work; resale value is close to zero.

Use case: none that I can recommend. The saving holds only until the watch needs a service, a strap, or a buyer.

Option 2: Genuine IWC from an authorized dealer

  • Pros: confirmed reference number, full international warranty, service access for the life of the watch, and paperwork that supports resale.
  • Cons: the highest cost, and popular references can carry a waiting list.

Use case: a first serious watch purchase, or any purchase where long ownership and resale matter more than the entry price.

Option 3: Certified pre-owned or a trusted grey seller

  • Pros: genuine references at a lower price, dealer warranties on many listings, and the chance to inspect the watch before paying.
  • Cons: warranty terms vary, condition and completeness of box and papers affect value, and the seller's reputation carries most of the risk.

Use case: buyers who want the real thing on a tighter budget and are willing to spend an hour verifying the seller first.

Verification checklist before you pay

  1. Match the caseback reference to the brand's own records, not to the seller's description.
  2. Have the movement checked by a watchmaker who regularly handles that brand.
  3. Request the warranty card, service records, and daylight photographs of the case and dial.
  4. Get the return policy in writing before you send funds.
  5. Treat any price far below market as evidence rather than as opportunity.

Bottom line

If your search started at fake iw938100, the plain fact is that no genuine watch sits behind that reference. Put the same attention into a verifiable reference from a dealer or a certified pre-owned seller. A real watch keeps its value and its serviceability. A counterfeit keeps neither.