What the term means

"Fake portugesian" is a misspelling. The correct word is "Portuguese." Searches with this spelling point to replica IWC Portugieser watches. IWC Schaffhausen has made the Portugieser line since 1939. Sellers and buyers use "Portugieser" and "Portuguese" for the same watch family. Related misspellings include "portugese," "portugease," and "portugiser." Search engines correct close misspellings in most queries, so a search for the wrong spelling still returns results for the correct one.

Reference numbers and sizes

  • Portugieser Automatic 40, reference 3583: 40.4 mm case.
  • Portugieser Automatic 42, reference 5007: 42.3 mm case.
  • Portugieser Chronograph, reference 3716: 41 mm case, IWC caliber 69355.
  • Portugieser Chronograph, reference 3714, built 1998 to 2019: 40.9 mm case.

Replica listings quote these numbers. A listing that states 42 mm for a reference 3583 does not match the original.

Movement types inside replicas

Replica Portugieser watches use three movement sources. Chinese factories build copies of the IWC caliber 52010 and 69355. These copies run at 21,600 or 28,800 vibrations per hour. Japanese Miyota 9015 movements sit in mid-grade cases. Swiss ETA 2892 and Sellita SW300 movements sit in the higher price bands. Price ranges in 2024 run from about $80 for a quartz model to $900 or more for a case with a Swiss movement.

Case and crystal checks

Original Portugieser cases use 316L or 904L stainless steel, or 18k gold. Replica cases use 316L steel in most examples. Gold replicas use plated brass or plated steel. The original crystal is sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both faces. A single-sided coating shows more glare under light. Case back engraving on the original uses a laser etch with defined edges. A stamped back with soft edges does not match the original.

Legal status in the United States

18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine. A second offense carries up to 20 years. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 and 15 U.S.C. § 1124 bar import of goods that carry a counterfeit trademark. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize the shipment. The personal-use exemption does not apply to counterfeit items. CBP destroys seized goods.

Unknown figures

No public agency publishes the number of replica IWC watches sold each year. Industry estimates vary by source and method. Search volume for the misspelling is lower than for the correct spelling.