Short answer
IW323705 is a reference number in the IWC Aquatimer line, the Automatic 2000 family (ref. IW3237). A replica IW323705 is a copy made in China and sold as an IWC. It is not an IWC. The genuine watch carries a 2000 m depth rating, a titanium case listed at about 44 mm, and an IWC automatic movement. Replica versions at $150 to $600 match the look. They do not match the case metal, the movement, service support, or the depth rating.
What the genuine reference covers
- Line: IWC Aquatimer, dive watch.
- Family: Automatic 2000, ref. IW3237.
- Case: titanium in most versions, about 44 mm.
- Depth rating: 2000 m, set by IWC.
- Movement: IWC automatic, calibre 80110 listed for this family in most references.
- Strap: rubber in most versions, some on a bracelet.
IWC holds the service records and the parts supply. Confirm the variant data with IWC before you trust a spec sheet from a seller.
What replica versions change
Three parts differ in most replica IW323705 offers.
Case metal
The genuine case is titanium. Most replicas use 316L stainless steel. Steel is denser, so a replica weighs more. Titanium also has a different surface tone: darker, less reflective.
Movement
Replicas use a Seagull ST2130, a Miyota 9015, or a decorated Asian automatic. Power reserve, beat rate, and date change timing differ from the IWC calibre. Rotor engraving copies the IWC text.
Dial, hands, and lume
Lume on replicas glows less and fades faster. Date font and window cut differ by a fraction of a millimeter. Bezel action feels lighter.
Water resistance
Sellers quote 30 m or 50 m for replicas. Those numbers come from the seller, not from a pressure test. Gaskets are often absent or dry, and crown threads vary. Do not swim with a replica dive watch. The 2000 m figure on the genuine watch is a factory test result.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize a shipment and destroy it. A single watch in a personal shipment can be seized as well. This is not legal advice.
How to read a listing
- Price under $700 for a titanium IWC points to a replica.
- Caseback photos with soft engraving point to a replica.
- Sellers who use the words mirror or 1:1 sell replicas.
- No IWC service card and no movement photo: ask for both.
Value and service
A replica has no resale market with verified prices. IWC will not service a counterfeit and will not supply parts for it. Repairs go to a local watchmaker who sources generic parts. A genuine IW323705 sells on the used market and keeps a record of past sales.