Short Answer

IW93801 is not a reference number that appears in IWC's published catalog of current or recent models. A listing that uses it as the model number is mislabeled, misidentified, or built from aftermarket parts. Treat the number itself as the first warning sign, then verify the watch against the reference stamped on the caseback before any money changes hands.

Before You Start

  • A 10x jeweler's loupe
  • Digital calipers
  • Bright indirect light and a clean matte surface
  • A phone camera with macro mode
  • IWC's reference list and auction results from the last 24 months
  • The seller's full photo set, including caseback and movement

How to Check an IW93801 Listing

  1. Open IWC's official product archive and search the digits 93801. If nothing returns, the model number was invented for the listing.
  2. Ask the seller for a straight-on photo of the caseback and read the engraved reference out loud. Genuine IWC casebacks carry the full IW number, the case material, and a serial.
  3. Measure the case with calipers and compare width, lug-to-lug, and thickness to the factory figures for the reference the seller claims.
  4. Count the jewels and note the movement number through the display back, then cross-check that caliber against the reference.
  5. Inspect the dial print with the loupe. Indexes, the logo, and the minute track should sit on one plane with crisp edges.
  6. Turn the crown and feel the thread engagement. A short, rough thread is common on clone cases.
  7. Watch the date change at midnight. It should flip once and land centered in the window.
  8. Weigh the watch on a kitchen scale and compare to published specs. Solid gold references are heavy; plated steel is not.
  9. Compare the fonts on the dial, crown, and clasp. They should match each other and the factory typeface.
  10. Request the box, papers, and service history, then call an IWC boutique with the serial to confirm the watch exists in their system.

Red Flags Specific to IW93801

  • The reference appears nowhere except the seller's own page.
  • Caseback photos are missing, blurry, or reused across other listings.
  • The price sits far below the market range for the claimed model.
  • Movement photos show generic finishing with no brand engraving or perlage.
  • The description uses the words 1:1 or super clone.

What to Do Next

  1. Walk away if the reference cannot be confirmed by the brand.
  2. Get an independent written appraisal before payment.
  3. Report the listing to the platform and to the brand's protection team.

The reference number is the cheapest detail for a counterfeiter to copy and the easiest one for you to check. Verify it first, because every other claim in the listing rests on it.