Short answer

The code IW329080 points to an IWC Pilot's Watch in the Mark XVIII family. The watch has a 40 mm steel case, a black dial, a date at 3 o'clock, and an automatic movement. IWC's public catalog lists Mark XVIII references in the IW3270xx block. IW329080 does not appear there. Treat the number as a seller code and match the photos against the real watch.

A replica runs $90 to $450. The gaps show in the dial print, the date wheel, the crown threads, the case back engraving, and the movement.

Specs to match

  • Case: 40 mm across, about 11 mm thick, stainless steel, brushed on the sides with a polished bezel.
  • Lug width: 20 mm.
  • Dial: matte black. White printed numerals for the hours. Triangle marker at 12. Minute track on the outer ring.
  • Hands: sword shape, white lacquer, luminous fill.
  • Date: aperture at 3 o'clock, black disc, white numerals.
  • Movement: IWC calibre 35111, based on the Sellita SW300-1. 25 jewels. 28,800 vibrations per hour. 42 hours of power reserve. Automatic winding, bidirectional rotor.
  • Crystal: sapphire, anti-reflective coating on both faces.
  • Case back: solid steel, engraved with reference, serial, and water resistance.
  • Water resistance: 6 bar.
  • Inner case: soft iron for magnetic shielding.
  • Strap: black calfskin with a steel pin buckle. Some versions ship on a steel bracelet.

What replicas get wrong

  • Dial print. The IWC logo and the PROBUS SCAFUSIA line sit sharp and thin on the original. Copies run thick, with uneven spacing between letters.
  • Date wheel. On the original the number sits centered in the window with flat white paint on a matte disc. Copies show off-center numbers and a glossy disc that throws light.
  • Hands. The original hands carry polished bevels along the edges. Low-tier copies use stamped steel with burrs.
  • Crown. The original crown needs 4 to 5 turns to seat. Copies seat in 2 to 3 turns and rock on the stem.
  • Case back. Laser engraving on the original cuts deep and even. Copies show shallow, wavy text.
  • Lume. Original Super-LumiNova glows for hours. Copies fade in 1 to 2 hours.
  • Sweep. A 21,600 vph movement ticks in visible steps. The genuine calibre at 28,800 vph sweeps.
  • Case thickness. Many copies add 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm because the movement spacer is taller.

Replica tiers and prices

  1. Low tier, $80 to $150. 21,600 vph movement. Mineral glass on some units. Wrong case thickness. Flat dial print.
  2. Mid tier, $150 to $260. 28,800 vph clone. Sapphire crystal. Closer dial and hands. Date font still off.
  3. Top tier, $260 to $450. Sellita or ETA clone. Correct crown position and depth. Case back matches the original layout.

The strap changes the price. A steel bracelet adds $40 to $80. A leather strap with a signed buckle adds $20 to $40.

Checks before you pay

  • Ask for a video, not photos. You need to see the second hand sweep and the date flip at midnight.
  • Ask the seller to measure the case with calipers. 40.0 mm across the bezel. 20 mm between the lugs.
  • Check the crown position in the photos. It sits at 3 o'clock, level with the date window.
  • Ask for a scale photo. A steel case on leather runs about 75 g to 85 g. A light watch points to a plated case.
  • Confirm the return window in writing. 7 days minimum.
  • Pay with a method that allows a chargeback. Skip bank transfers and gift cards.

What no copy matches

The soft iron inner case. The factory pressure test at 6 bar. The service record. IWC service centers will not touch a replica, and a watchmaker can spot a copy in hand in under a minute. Resale value on a copy is close to zero.

Price gap

A used Mark XVIII on leather sells for $3,000 to $4,500. New retail sits above $5,000. The replica sits at $90 to $450. That gap is the reason the copies exist, and it is also the reason the cheap tiers cut corners on the movement.