Short answer
“Fake IW93857” is not an official IWC reference number. It is a listing code, most often a seller catalog or batch number, attached to a replica that copies an IWC-style case. No string matching IW93857 appears in the IWC catalog, so any page selling it is a replica listing, not a genuine watch listing. Treat the code as a stock tag, not as a model identity.
Where the code comes from
Replica sellers invent internal SKUs so they can track inventory across batches, factories, and photo sets. Those SKUs often borrow the visual shape of a real reference prefix, which is why the string starts with IW. The digits that follow usually encode the factory batch, the case size, or the date the listing was created. Two sellers can use the same string for two different watches, and one seller can reuse it after a spec change. That is the main reason a code search returns contradictory results.
Before you start
- A spreadsheet or notes file for listing details, prices, and dates
- The genuine model name and its retail price for comparison
- A payment method with a documented dispute process
- A basic understanding of the movement type you are being offered
How to vet a fake IW93857 listing
- Search the code against the official IWC reference list. If nothing matches, classify the item as a replica and stop treating the listing as authentic.
- Read the spec block line by line and write down every claim: case diameter, case material, crystal type, movement, water resistance, strap, and clasp.
- Request dated photos of the actual unit, not factory renders. Ask for the caseback, crown, dial at an angle, and the clasp engraving.
- Confirm the movement. Ask for the caliber name and whether it is a clone, a modified Chinese movement, or a genuine Swiss ebauche.
- Compare the listed diameter and thickness against the genuine model. Replica cases often run thicker, and that shows on the wrist.
- Check the seller history across at least two independent forums or community threads, with dates.
- Price the genuine model, then compare. A replica priced near retail is a markup problem, and a replica priced far below the batch norm is usually a bait listing.
- Get the return window, the warranty terms, and the shipping liability in writing before payment.
- Pay with a method that allows a chargeback, and keep the full chat log and invoice.
Red flags
- Stock photos only, with excuses about factory secrecy
- Pressure to pay by wire, gift card, or crypto with no dispute path
- Claims that the code is a rare or discontinued IWC reference
- No serial, no movement photo, and no caseback photo
- A price that changes after you ask a technical question
Legal and practical notes
Counterfeit branded watches are illegal to import and sell in the United States, and shipments can be seized with civil penalties attached. Buying a replica also removes any warranty support, parts availability, and resale value you would get from a genuine piece. If the code is the only thing you can verify, you do not have enough information to buy.