Short answer
IW93806 does not appear in IWC Schaffhausen's public product catalog. IWC reference numbers use the form IW plus digits, for example IW3777, IW5007, and IW3270. A code of IW93806 fits that pattern but matches no documented model. Sellers that list "IW93806" use it as an internal SKU. Ask the seller for the source model name, the case diameter, and a photo of the caseback engraving before you buy.
How IWC reference numbers work
IWC assigns a reference to each case and dial combination. The first digits point to a family: 32xx covers Ingenieur and Aquatimer, 35xx covers Portofino, 37xx covers Pilot's Watch chronographs and Portugieser chronographs, 50xx covers Portugieser and Big Pilot. Older references carry six digits, such as 3706. Replica sellers mix these codes, add digits, or invent new ones.
What the listing describes
Most listings under an unverified code describe a super clone of a 40mm to 42mm stainless steel IWC. Standard specs: sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces, 316L or 904L case, screw-down crown, 21mm or 22mm lug width, and a claimed water resistance of 30m to 50m. Claimed water resistance on a replica is not tested at the factory. Treat it as splash resistance.
Movements inside replica IWC watches
No replica contains an IWC in-house caliber such as the 52010 or 69370. Replicas use one of these: Asian 7750 chronograph, Seagull ST19 manual chronograph, Seagull ST2130 (ETA 2824 pattern), Miyota 9015, or a Swiss ETA or Sellita movement in the top tier. The Asian 7750 runs at 28,800 vph and has a 40 to 44 hour power reserve. Ask which movement is installed. "Swiss movement" without a caliber name is a sales term, not a spec.
Price tiers in US dollars
- $60 to $150: quartz or low-grade automatic, mineral glass, printed dial, hollow bracelet links.
- $200 to $450: automatic clone movement, sapphire, fair dial, uneven QC.
- $500 to $900: Swiss or high-grade clone movement, 904L case option, deeper engraving, tighter bracelet fit.
A price above $900 does not buy a genuine watch or a better guarantee.
QC checklist
- Case diameter and thickness. Compare to the source model, not to the listing text.
- Dial print. Look at 3x zoom. Check index alignment and logo spacing.
- Date wheel. Check font, centering in the window, and the date flip at midnight.
- Movement rate. A timegrapher should show 28,800 vph, amplitude above 250 degrees, and rate within 10 seconds per day.
- Hands. Check the sweep at 8 beats per second and the hand stack height.
- Crown. Wind and set the date. Gritty action points to a short stem or a dry seal.
- Bracelet. Check end link gaps at the lugs and the clasp closing force.
- Caseback. Engraving depth and spelling. Misspelled text appears on low-tier units.
Legal status in the United States
Replica watches are counterfeit goods. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320, with up to 10 years in prison for a first offense. Importing counterfeit goods is prohibited under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches and can destroy them. Buying for personal use carries lower risk than selling, but the item can be seized with no refund.
Verify the code before you pay
Search the code on IWC's site. Check watch forums for the same string. Ask for the reference engraved between the lugs and a photo of the caseback. If the seller cannot name the source model, the code is a SKU and the listing price reflects that.