The Short Answer
If you are looking for a fake Portofino Small Seconds 39 to get the look without the price, know what the trade really involves. A counterfeit IWC is an unlicensed copy of a protected design. It will not be serviced by IWC, it holds no resale value, and importing one into the United States can get the shipment seized. The smarter play at the same budget is a genuine used Portofino or a well-made dress watch from a brand that actually produced it. The rest of this guide covers what the reference is, what separates a real one from a copy, and how to avoid a bad purchase.
What "Small Seconds 39" Actually Describes
Portofino is IWC's dress line, positioned below Portugieser and Pilot in the catalog. The number in the nickname refers to case size, roughly 39 mm across without the crown. On the versions that carry a small seconds, the running seconds sit in a subdial at 6 o'clock instead of riding on the center pinion. That layout changes the dial balance, which is exactly why copies struggle: reproducing a subdial, its hand length, and its spacing against the printed minute track is harder than printing a plain three-hand dial.
How to Tell a Genuine Example From a Copy
Work through these checks in order. The first three catch most fakes on their own.
- Dial printing and subdial geometry. Genuine text is crisp under a loupe, with consistent stroke weight. Look at the subdial: on a copy it often sits a fraction too low, or the hand is too short and stops before the printed track.
- Case and hand finishing. Brushed and polished surfaces should meet on a defined line, not a soft blur. Hand bevels should catch light evenly along the whole length.
- Movement behavior. Set the time and watch the seconds hand for stutter or wobble. A genuine Swiss automatic sweeps smoothly and hacks cleanly when you pull the crown.
- Caseback engraving. Reference and serial numbers are cut deeply, with sharp edges. Copies use shallow laser marks that look gray rather than cut.
- Papers and serial match. The serial on the caseback, the warranty card, and any service record should agree.
Numbers Worth Knowing Before You Buy
- Case width: 38.5 to 39.5 mm on a 39 mm class dress watch, excluding the crown.
- Thickness: about 9 to 11 mm, which is what lets it slide under a shirt cuff.
- Lug width: commonly 20 mm in this size class, so straps are easy to source.
- Water resistance: typically rated for daily splash protection, not swimming.
- Power reserve: check the stated figure for the exact reference, since it varies by caliber.
Pitfalls That Cost Buyers Money
- Listings that show stock photos instead of the actual watch, including its serial.
- "Box and papers" claims with no photo of the matching card.
- Sellers who will not provide a movement shot or a video of the seconds hand running.
- Asking prices far below the established secondary market for the reference. That gap is the fraud.
- Buying a replica anyway and then paying a watchmaker to repair a movement that was never built to be serviced.
FAQ
Can a good replica pass a close inspection?
Not under magnification. Copies can look convincing in a phone photo at arm's length. Under a loupe, the dial print, subdial spacing, and engraving depth give it away.
Does a fake hold any value?
No meaningful resale market exists for counterfeits, and most watchmakers decline to service one because parts are unavailable.
Is it legal to import a counterfeit watch?
No. Counterfeit goods are prohibited from importation, and shipments can be seized and destroyed.
What is the best way to buy a genuine Portofino?
Buy the seller first: an established dealer or a private seller with verifiable history, a return window, and willingness to answer detailed questions. Then verify the reference against the brand's own published specifications.