The top answer for anyone searching "fake IW93806" is verification before purchase. IW93806 does not match the format IWC uses for its own watches, so a listing that carries it is either a mistyped or truncated code, or an invented SKU built to survive trademark takedowns. The pick here is the verification-first route: confirm what the reference should be, then choose between a genuine IWC, a licensed homage, or a replica with the tradeoffs written down. The criteria that decide the outcome are reference accuracy, movement disclosure, border and legal exposure, and whether anyone will service the watch in five years.

What the code IW93806 most likely is

IWC publishes its references as the letters IW followed by a six-digit block. A five-digit string breaks that pattern. Three explanations cover almost every listing that uses it:

  • A truncated or scrambled IWC code. A seller drops or reorders one digit so the ad stays live and comparison shopping gets harder.
  • A typo that spread. One buyer mistypes a reference in a forum thread, and scrapers copy the misspelling into product titles.
  • A parts number. Five-digit numeric strings show up on case, crystal, and bracelet part bins, and they get recycled into titles because they look official.

None of those three means the watch in the photo is what the title claims. That gap is the whole problem with short codes.

Route 1: the genuine reference

Pros

  • The reference number, caseback engraving, and paperwork agree with each other.
  • Factory service exists, so the movement can be repaired instead of replaced.
  • Resale value holds because the watch is verifiable.

Cons

  • Cost is an order of magnitude above any replica.
  • Specific references can be hard to find at retail.

Best for: a buyer who wants the design language plus long-term ownership and a clean customs record.

Route 2: a licensed homage

Pros

  • Legal to buy, import, and resell in the United States.
  • Usually comes with a real warranty and a serviceable movement.
  • Pilot-watch styling is widely available without copying a logo.

Cons

  • Proportions and finishing will not match the original.
  • Resale is weak compared with an established brand.

Best for: someone who wants the look at a mid-range price and does not want to think about customs seizures.

Route 3: the replica

Pros

  • Visual match at a fraction of the price of the genuine reference.
  • Wide availability, including listings that hide behind codes like IW93806.

Cons

  • Importing counterfeit trademarked goods is prohibited in the US, and shipments get seized.
  • No warranty, no parts network, and plating or finishing that wears through.
  • The movement inside often has no relation to what the listing describes.
  • A caseback code that matches no real reference makes later resale or authentication impossible.

Best for: nobody who needs service, resale value, or a clean import history.

How to read a listing that hides behind a code

  1. Search the exact string against the brand's own catalog. If nothing matches, treat the title as marketing, not identification.
  2. Check whether the caseback photo shows the same number as the listing title. Mismatches are common.
  3. Ask what movement is inside and whether the seller will name it in writing.
  4. Compare crown position, date window shape, and dial text against factory photos.
  5. Ask about customs handling. A seller who cannot answer that is telling you something.

Legal picture in the United States

Counterfeit goods infringe registered trademarks, and US customs authorities can seize and destroy shipments of them. Selling them exposes a seller to civil claims and, in repeat cases, criminal charges. Buying one for personal use is lower risk than selling, but the parcel can still be stopped, and there is no recourse when it is.

Bottom line

IW93806 is not a reference you can verify against IWC. That makes it a poor basis for a purchase decision, whether the watch is genuine, a homage, or a replica. Find the real reference first, confirm the movement, and price the legal and service risk into the decision. If the answer still points to a replica, at least you will know exactly what you are accepting.