To judge whether an IW323774 is fake, the top pick is a hands-on inspection by an independent watchmaker, paired with macro photos you take or request yourself. That combination earns the top spot because no single photo can show case refinishing, a swapped movement, or reprinted caseback engraving, while a watchmaker who services Swiss automatics sees those details constantly. The criteria below cover the case, caseback, dial, movement, bracelet, and paperwork, so you know what any inspection is actually comparing.

Top Pick: In-Person Inspection by an Independent Watchmaker

You do not need a brand boutique. A watchmaker who services Swiss automatics can open the case, check movement finishing, inspect caseback threads, and weigh the head on a bench scale. Call ahead and ask whether they have handled IWC references before booking a slot.

• Pros: Catches what photos miss, including finishing on the bridges, stamping depth, thread quality, and gasket seating.
• Pros: Independent opinion with no seller involvement, and the fee is small next to the money at risk.
• Cons: Not every watchmaker knows this reference well, so general Swiss experience matters.
• Cons: Needs the seller to hand over the watch, which rules out distant private listings.

Best for local deals, or any seller willing to meet at a shop before payment.

Second Option: Macro Photo Comparison

Ask for 3x to 5x photos of the caseback engraving, the dial printing at 12 and 6, the crown, the clasp markings, and the movement through a display back. Compare letter shapes, stroke weight, and spacing against official reference photography rather than against other listings, since listings copy each other.

• Pros: Works for remote sellers and takes minutes to request.
• Pros: Letterform and spacing errors are the most common giveaway on counterfeit dials.
• Cons: Sharp photos can be borrowed from a genuine watch, so ask for a dated shot with the watch on a written note.
• Cons: Lighting and compression hide fine finishing differences.

Best for a first filter before you spend money on travel or an inspection.

Third Option: Documentation and Provenance

Ask for the original invoice, warranty card with matching reference and serial, service receipts, and the identity of the original owner. A watch with a traceable history is harder to fake than one with a loose box and a story.

• Pros: Paperwork ties a serial to a date and a dealer, which is hard to fabricate consistently.
• Pros: Service records show a real watch passed through a real workshop.
• Cons: Boxes and cards are themselves counterfeited and sold separately.
• Cons: Many genuine watches lose their papers, so a missing card is not proof of anything on its own.

Best when the price is high enough that provenance changes your comfort level.

Case and Caseback Checks

• Pros: Caseback engraving depth, font, and spacing are readable without opening the watch.
• Pros: Reference and serial formatting can be compared against published reference photos.
• Cons: A genuine case that has been polished or laser welded can look wrong for innocent reasons.
• Cons: A convincing case does not mean the movement inside matches it.

Use this check when the watch is in hand and you can tilt it under strong light.

Dial, Hands, and Date Checks

• Pros: Printing defects, misaligned markers, and flat lume are visible in good light.
• Pros: Hand lengths and the date window position are consistent on genuine examples of a reference.
• Cons: Genuine dials are sometimes replaced with service dials that differ in small ways.
• Cons: A phone camera hides texture and gloss differences.

Use this check on any listing before you contact the seller.

Movement Checks

• Pros: Rotor engraving, jewel settings, and finish are the strongest single indicator.
• Pros: An authorized service center can tell you when parts do not match factory specification.
• Cons: Requires opening the case, which voids nothing but does need a watchmaker.
• Cons: Some counterfeit movements are decorated to look close at a glance.

Use this check when the sum you are paying makes a bench fee trivial.

Bracelet, Clasp, and End Links

• Pros: Clasp stamping, link fit, and screw quality are easy to compare side by side.
• Pros: Weight and rattle tell you more than any photo.
• Cons: Bracelets are swapped between watches often, so a wrong bracelet is not proof of a fake head.
• Cons: Stretch from wear mimics poor tolerances.

Use this check when the bracelet is the part of the deal you care about most.

Which Route Fits Your Situation

Buying in person: book the watchmaker first, then meet there. Buying remotely: request dated macro photos, compare them against official reference images, and pay only through a method with buyer protection. Paying a serious sum: insist on a written return window and a service-center assessment, and treat a refusal as the answer to your question.