Short answer
A replica Portugieser Small Seconds copies the case shape and the subdial layout of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40. It does not contain IWC's calibre 82200. Most copies use a Chinese automatic movement behind a rotor engraved with the IWC name. Prices run from about $80 to $500. In the United States, selling one is a federal crime.
The watch being copied
IWC started the Portugieser line in 1939. The reference 325 put a pocket watch movement in a wristwatch case. The current Portugieser Automatic 40 keeps the small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock and adds no date window.
- Case diameter: 40.4 mm
- Movement: calibre 82200, automatic
- Winding: Pellaton system, rotor winds in both directions
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Crystal: sapphire on the front and the back
- Subdial: small seconds at 6, no date
Steel references in this family start with 3583. Gold versions carry the same dial layout with a different case code.
Movement inside the copies
Replica Portugieser Small Seconds watches use 21,600 or 28,800 vph Asian automatics. Sellers call them "1:1 clone" or "super clone." The rotor gets engraved and the bridges get stripes. No copy uses the Pellaton winding system or parts that fit an 82200.
Case and dial differences
Replica cases measure 40 mm to 41 mm. Thickness runs 12 mm to 14 mm. The genuine steel model sits near 12 mm. Points to compare:
- Subdial hand length and finish
- Print weight on "IWC" and "Schaffhausen"
- Subdial position against the center line
- Caseback engraving depth and font
- Strap material, most copies ship with cowhide rather than alligator
Where the copies are sold
Listings sit on independent sites, marketplaces, and social accounts. Payment goes through cards, wire, or crypto. Many sellers ship from China or Hong Kong with tracking. Product photos are often taken from IWC's own catalog.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. Section 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. Trademark owners can sue under the Lanham Act and recover statutory damages of up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of goods when the use is willful. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments at the border.
How to compare a listing against the real specs
- Ask for case diameter and thickness in millimeters.
- Ask for a photo of the caseback and the movement.
- Check the subdial position and the hand length.
- Check for a date window. The genuine model has none.
- Ask for the strap material in writing.