Short answer

A "fake Portofino Automatic 40" is any watch built to look like the IWC Portofino Automatic 40, reference family IW3565. The real watch has a 40 mm stainless steel case, an IWC calibre 35111 automatic movement, a sapphire crystal with coating on both faces, and a solid caseback. Copies get the dial layout right and the rest wrong.

Genuine specs to compare

  • Case: 40.0 mm diameter, stainless steel, polished bezel.
  • Movement: IWC calibre 35111, 25 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, 42 hour power reserve. Base calibre is the Sellita SW300-1.
  • Crystal: sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides.
  • Water resistance: 30 m, or 3 bar.
  • Dial: applied indices, date window at 3 o'clock.
  • Strap: alligator leather with a steel pin buckle or folding clasp.
  • US retail: about $5,250 on leather in 2024.

Tells on a fake

Caseback

The real caseback is solid steel. A display back showing a rotor on a watch sold as a Portofino Automatic 40 is a copy. Genuine engraving is deep and even. Replica engraving is shallow laser work with soft edges on the reference and serial numbers. Many fakes reuse one serial across a whole production run.

Crystal

Cheap copies use mineral glass. It scratches and shows a white or green reflection. Sapphire with double coating shows a blue tint at an angle. A single coating on the inside face only is also a sign of a copy.

Movement

Most fakes run a 21,600 vph movement, often a Seagull ST2130, a Miyota 9015, or a DG2813. The seconds hand sweep looks less smooth than 28,800 vph. Rotor engraving on the copies inside is light and thin.

Dial and hands

Real indices are applied and set into the dial. Fake indices sit on the surface or are printed. Date fonts differ in weight and height. Printing on the dial is thicker on copies.

Strap and buckle

Genuine straps are alligator. Copies use embossed calf leather with a plastic feel. Buckle engraving is faint and the pin is thinner than the genuine part.

Price signals

Genuine used Portofino Automatic 40 watches trade near $3,000 to $4,000. High-end replicas sell for $300 to $600. Anything new and boxed well under the used market price is not genuine.

Legal status in the US

Under 18 U.S.C. 2320, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime with prison terms. Under 19 U.S.C. 1526, US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at import. Buying one for personal use is not a trafficking charge in most cases, but the watch can be seized and destroyed.