A fake Portofino Moon Phase 35 is a replica of the IWC Portofino Automatic Moon Phase, listed by sellers with a "35" tag that points to a 35 mm-class case, a batch code, or a version number. The genuine watch is 37 mm, so the "35" label never matches an official IWC reference. Before you pay, confirm the case size, the movement inside, and whether the moon phase disc runs on a true 29.5-day cycle.
What does "35" mean in these listings?
Sellers attach numbers to replica listings for their own tracking, not for buyers. On Portofino Moon Phase copies, "35" shows up in three ways.
- Case diameter. Some factories build a 35 mm copy of a 37 mm watch, which suits narrow wrists and smaller budgets.
- Batch or version code. A v35 or 35 mark can mean the 35th revision of a dial, case, or clasp.
- Listing shorthand. Marketplaces that cannot name IWC use codes so the listing survives keyword filters.
Ask the seller to measure the case with calipers and send a photo of the engraving on the caseback. If they cannot, treat the listing as unknown.
How the real Portofino Moon Phase compares
IWC sells the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37, reference IW459011, in stainless steel with a 37 mm case and a moon phase display at 12 o'clock. The movement is the calibre 35800, an automatic with a 42-hour power reserve that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. IWC fits sapphire glass, an alligator strap, and rates the case to 3 bar.
The moon phase disc on the real watch completes one turn in about 29.5 days, which keeps the display accurate for years. That single detail is where most replicas fail. A copy that costs less than a strap for the real watch cannot carry the same module.
Real moon phase or day/night disc?
Cheap copies fit a disc that turns once every 24 hours and shows a sun and a moon. It looks right in photos and wrong on the wrist after two days. Test it this way.
- Set the watch to a known time and note the moon position.
- Wait 24 hours and check again. A real moon phase moves about 12 degrees, close to the width of the moon graphic.
- Wait another 24 hours. A day/night disc returns the moon to the same spot at the same hour. A true moon phase keeps drifting forward.
On a genuine moon phase the date and moon indicators stay independent. If the moon jumps only when the date changes, you are looking at a calendar wheel, not a lunar one.
What separates a careful replica from a rough one
- Movement. Automatic with a real moon phase module beats quartz or a day/night disc.
- Crystal. Sapphire against mineral glass. Edge reflections and a light tap tell you which one you have.
- Dial. Applied indices and a sunburst or lacquer finish against flat printing.
- Date font. Genuine Portofino date wheels use a light, narrow font. Copies often use a heavy one.
- Caseback engraving. Reference numbers and depth ratings should sit centered and cut clean.
- Weight. Ask for grams on a kitchen scale. Hollow cases and thin plating show up there, not in photos.
Request a video with the watch running, the crown pulled to set the moon phase, and the caseback in focus. Photos hide flaws that a scale and a loupe expose.
Price bands for Portofino Moon Phase copies
Listings cluster in three bands, and each one buys a different level of finish.
- Under $100. Quartz or low-grade automatic, mineral glass, day/night disc, printed dial.
- $150 to $400. Automatic movement, sapphire on better examples, day/night disc with a moon graphic.
- $400 to $800. Automatic with a moon phase module that tracks the lunar cycle, solid case finishing, and a real leather strap.
Prices move with factory reputation and currency, so read these as markers, not fixed rules.
Legal points before you order
US law treats counterfeit watch trafficking as a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments that carry a fake trademark. The personal-use exception is narrow and does not cover resale. Anyone buying a replica should understand that risk before clicking pay.
Questions buyers ask
Is the "35" the same as a 35 mm case?
Not always. Some sellers use 35 as a batch code on a 37 mm copy. Ask for caliper photos with the case in frame.
Can a replica moon phase keep pace with the real one?
Some automatic copies track the lunar cycle within a day or two per month. Quartz models with a day/night disc do not track it at all.
What should I ask before buying?
- Case diameter in millimeters, measured with calipers.
- Movement type and whether the moon phase runs on a lunar or 24-hour cycle.
- Crystal material.
- Weight in grams.
- Return policy and payment method.
Bottom line
The "35" in a fake Portofino Moon Phase listing is a seller tag, not an IWC reference. Match the case size to your wrist, confirm the moon phase is a true lunar disc, and budget for the tier where that function exists.