Answer first
IW329022 sits inside the IWC number block 3290. IWC uses that block for the Aquatimer Automatic 42. Public IWC catalogs do not list a plain IW329022, so the code names a family, not a confirmed single model. A fake watch sold as IW329022 is a copy carrying that number. The checks below apply to any IWC Aquatimer Automatic 42 copy.
What the number covers
IWC writes references as IW plus six digits. The first four digits name the family. The last two name the variant. IW329022 reads as family 3290, variant 22. IWC catalogs list Aquatimer Automatic 42 variants in the low single digits for that block. I did not find variant 22 in any public IWC list. Treat the code as a lead, not proof.
Case and caseback checks
- Case diameter: 42 mm. Steel, with a unidirectional or internal rotating bezel.
- Water resistance rating: 300 m on the Aquatimer Automatic 42.
- Caseback engraving: reference number, serial number, and Swiss Made stamp. Letters sit deep in the metal. Laser etching looks shallow and grey.
- Serial: 6 to 8 digits. It must match the warranty card and the movement.
Movement checks
IWC lists caliber 32111 for recent Aquatimer Automatic 42 models. That caliber runs at 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, and holds a 120 hour power reserve. Copies use ETA 2824 clones, Sellita SW200, or Seiko NH35. Those movements run at 3 Hz with a 38 to 41 hour reserve. Pull the crown, set the watch, and let it sit. A copy dies in two days. A 32111 keeps running for five.
A rotor engraved with IWC text over a 25 jewel base movement is a common sign. Real IWC rotors carry the caliber number and a gold medallion or openwork design.
Dial, hands, and bezel
- Applied indices, polished on top faces, with lume fill level with the metal.
- Date window with a clean cut edge. Copies show white plastic rings around the aperture.
- Bezel click: sharp and even at each detent. Copies feel loose or gritty.
Papers, box, and serial
IWC ships a warranty card, a booklet, and a box with a matching label. The card holds the reference, the serial, and the sale date. Numbers on the card, the caseback, and the movement must match. A seller who blocks a serial check ends the deal. Ask for photos of all three.
Price signals
Replica sellers list copies at $150 to $600. Genuine Aquatimer Automatic 42 watches trade on the secondary market in the four figure range. Ask prices on Chrono24 for steel references sit near $3,500 and up. A $400 offer for a steel IWC dive watch with box and papers does not match the market.
Where to verify
IWC service centers confirm reference and serial data. IWC can state the original model and sale date from its records. Independent watchmakers can open the case and identify the movement in minutes. Bring the watch to one before you pay.
Unknown
I did not confirm that IWC produced a reference numbered IW329022. If a seller names that code, ask for the IWC catalog page or a service record that shows it.