Start With the Reference, Not the Price
IW938402 does not appear in IWC's public catalog listings. Search results for the number return replica storefronts and forum posts, not an official model page. That matters for pricing. A made-up reference lets a seller charge any number they like, and you have no original to compare against.
Ask the seller for a photo of the caseback engraving and the movement. Compare the layout to a real IWC of the same family. If the seller cannot show the number stamped on the case, stop. A $90 watch with a $700 price tag is a common outcome.
Price Bands for a Fake IW938402
- Under $100. Quartz or a low-grade automatic. Mineral glass, plated brass case, folded bracelet. Service life of 3 to 9 months.
- $120 to $250. Asian 2813 or 2824 clone movement. 316L steel case. Sapphire may be listed but is often glass.
- $300 to $550. The tier sellers call super clone. Cloned bridges and rotor engraving, 316L or 904L steel, sapphire with AR coating, solid end links.
- $600 to $1,200. Swiss ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200 inside. Hand-finished plates. These are rare in replica listings and hard to verify without opening the case.
Get three quotes for the same spec sheet. A quote far below the band for its parts list is a scam site or a bait listing. A quote far above it needs a movement photo before you send money.
Parts That Move the Price
- Movement: $25 clone versus $220 Swiss ebauche.
- Case steel: 316L costs less than 904L. Weight in grams is the tell.
- Crystal: sapphire with double AR adds about $25 to $40.
- Dial: applied markers and correct font cost more than printed ones.
- Box and papers: fake card and box add $30 to $60, and prove nothing.
Checks Before Paying
- Request a 15-second video of the seconds hand and the date flip.
- Ask for the case weight in grams and compare to the genuine spec.
- Confirm the return window in days, in writing.
- Ask who carries the loss if customs seizes the parcel.
- Avoid wire transfer and crypto-only checkout. Use a method with a dispute process.
Pitfalls
- Stock photos lifted from a dealer site.
- "Swiss made" printed on a $90 watch.
- Grades like AAA or 1:1. They are marketing terms with no standard.
- A shipping claim of 3 days from a warehouse that ships in 3 weeks.
- No address or phone number on the site.
Legal Note
In the US, 19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets Customs and Border Protection seize shipments of counterfeit goods. Trafficking in counterfeits carries civil and criminal penalties. A personal-use purchase still risks seizure with no refund, and the seller usually keeps the money.