What Is a Fake Da Vinci Automatic?

A fake Da Vinci Automatic is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Da Vinci Automatic, the round-cased three-hand watch IWC relaunched in 2017 in 36mm and 40mm sizes. Most copies pair a third-party automatic movement (Seagull ST18, Miyota 9015, or a cloned ETA 2892) with a case that copies the outside shape but not the tolerances. The tells sit in case thickness, dial printing, date font, and the markings inside the clasp.

The model ranks among the easier IWC lines to copy. There is no chronograph, no perpetual calendar, and no exotic case shape to fake. A three-hander with a date window is the simplest thing for a counterfeit workshop to assemble.

Which Da Vinci Models Get Copied?

Replica makers target the 2017 round-case models, not the vintage tonneau-shaped pieces from the 1980s and 1990s.

  • Da Vinci Automatic 36 (ref. IW4583xx): the most copied version, in steel and in gold plating that mimics the red gold case.
  • Da Vinci Automatic 40 (ref. IW356601): fewer fakes exist, but steel copies turn up on the secondhand market.
  • Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph: copies exist, but the extra functions do not work and the pushers feel wrong.

Older Da Vinci Automatics and the 1969 Beta 21 quartz models are not copied at scale. The tooling cost does not match the resale price of the originals.

How Do You Spot a Fake Da Vinci Automatic?

Start with the case, because counterfeits cut corners there first. Then work inward to the dial, the movement, and the paperwork.

Case size and thickness

IWC lists the Automatic 36 at 36mm wide and about 10mm thick, and the Automatic 40 at 40mm wide. Many fakes run 1mm to 1.5mm thicker because the movement and spacer sit taller inside. A caliper reading beats a photo every time.

Dial, hands, and date

  • Genuine dials use applied markers with polished bevels. Fakes glue on stamped markers with flat tops.
  • The date disc on a real Da Vinci is thin and crisp. Fake date fonts run bold and wide.
  • Hands on the genuine watch are polished and faceted. Replica hands look dull or show rough edges under a loupe.
  • Sapphire crystals on the genuine watch carry anti-reflective coating on both sides. Most fakes use coating on one side, or mineral glass.

Movement and caseback

The Automatic 36 and 40 use IWC cal. 35111, a Sellita SW300-1 base with a 42-hour power reserve and 28,800 vibrations per hour. Open the caseback and you see Geneva stripes, perlage, and blued screws on a real one. Fakes show coarse finishing, plastic spacers, or an unmarked rotor.

Bracelet, clasp, and crown

Genuine IWC clasps carry the "Probus Scafusia" motto stamped into the metal. Replica clasps often skip it or use the wrong letterforms. Check the crown as well: it should be signed and screw down without grit.

What Movements Sit Inside Fake Da Vinci Automatics?

The movement decides the price and the feel on the wrist. Three levels show up in the market.

  • Budget: a basic 21-jewel Chinese automatic with a rough rotor. The second hand stutters instead of sweeping.
  • Middle: Seagull ST18, Hangzhou 6460, or a Miyota 9015. These beat at 28,800 vph and run close to the genuine rate.
  • High end: a cloned ETA 2892-A2, which shares its architecture with the Sellita base inside the real 35111. Finishing still gives it away.

A stuttering seconds hand at 21,600 vph or lower is the fastest one-second check. Real Da Vinci Automatics beat eight times per second.

How Much Do Fake Da Vinci Automatic Watches Cost?

Prices track the movement and the case finish. Budget copies with mineral glass sell for under $150, mid-tier versions with a Miyota or Seagull movement sit in the $150 to $350 range, and cloned-movement "super clones" ask $400 or more.

For comparison, a genuine steel Da Vinci Automatic 36 lists in the high four figures. That gap is the whole reason the fakes exist, and it is also why a fake has almost no resale value.

Is Buying a Fake Da Vinci Automatic Illegal?

Yes, in most markets. Selling counterfeit watches violates trademark law in the United States and the European Union, and importing one can lead to seizure at customs. US Customs and Border Protection destroys counterfeit goods, and the buyer has no recourse.

  • No manufacturer warranty and no parts support.
  • Many watchmakers refuse to service counterfeit movements, and some will not return the watch.
  • Gold plating wears through at the lugs and clasp within a few years.
  • Resale value sits near zero, and online platforms remove fake listings on sight.

FAQ

Is a fake Da Vinci Automatic the same as a "super clone"?

No. A super clone copies the movement architecture and case dimensions to a close degree. A standard fake copies the look from arm's length. Both are counterfeits and both carry the same legal risk.

Can a watchmaker service a fake Da Vinci Automatic?

Some will swap in a matching ETA or Sellita unit. Few will service the clone itself, because spare parts are not available through normal channels.

How do I check a Da Vinci Automatic before buying secondhand?

Ask for the reference number, the movement number, and the original box and papers. Then ask for photos of the caseback and clasp markings. A seller who cannot supply all three is a seller to skip.

Does the Da Vinci Automatic hold value?

It holds less than IWC's sports lines. The Da Vinci Automatic is a dress watch, and demand for it on the secondary market trails the Portugieser and the Pilot's watches.