Short answer
"Portofino 27" is not an IWC reference number. IWC Schaffhausen makes the Portofino. The line started in 1984. Official IWC reference codes begin with the letters IW and run four to six digits, such as IW3565 or IW4581. No IWC catalog lists a "Portofino 27." The "27" in marketplace listings comes from one of three sources: a seller's internal SKU, a stated case size, or a factory batch code. Sellers mix those three labels.
One point of confusion: the Portofino is IWC, not Rolex. A fake Portofino copies an IWC watch. A Rolex replica site may still list it, but the underlying brand is different.
Price tiers for counterfeit watches from China
Counterfeit watches ship in tiers. Listings from Chinese sellers fall into three bands: low grade at $30 to $80, mid grade at $120 to $300, and "super clone" at $400 to $900. A Portofino is a three-hand dress watch with a leather strap. It costs less to copy than a dive watch with a ceramic bezel and a date window. Fake Portofino listings sit between $60 and $250. Genuine IWC Portofino Automatic models list from $5,000 at US authorized dealers, and prices rise with case size and complications.
How to inspect one
- Movement: genuine Portofino Automatic models use an IWC calibre. Earlier versions use the 35111; later versions use the 32111. Fakes run a Miyota 9015, a Seagull ST21, or a quartz module.
- Case back: genuine engraving shows an IW reference number and a serial that match IWC records. Fakes show mismatched numbers or shallow laser etching.
- Dial: genuine models use applied indices with polished edges. Fakes show printed indices or misaligned markers.
- Strap: genuine alligator straps carry a signed buckle. Fakes ship with embossed leather and a plain buckle.
- Thickness: a genuine Portofino Automatic measures about 9 mm. Many fakes measure 11 mm or more.
Legal status in the United States
US law bans import and sale of counterfeit goods. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments. 18 U.S.C. 2320 sets criminal penalties for trafficking, with up to 10 years for a first offense. Trademark holders can sue for damages under the Lanham Act. A single-watch buyer faces lower risk than a reseller, but border seizures do happen.
What is unknown
No public record ties the number 27 to the Portofino. Factory batch codes are not published. Any spec sheet for a "Portofino 27" repeats a seller's copy or a guess.