Pick First: 43.5 mm Steel Copy with Sapphire and a 6497
The pick is the 43.5 mm steel copy with a hand-wound 6497 movement, sapphire front crystal, and display back. It matches the genuine case size, the sub-seconds at 6 o'clock, and the thin bezel. The movement runs at 21,600 vph. Power reserve is about 46 hours. The genuine IWC calibre 59210 runs 192 hours. That gap is the main tell.
fake portugieser hand wound question
Price range for this copy is $180 to $320. Case thickness is 12.5 mm. Weight is 78 g to 92 g on a leather strap. The genuine weighs about 105 g.
Genuine Baseline: IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days
Reference IW510202. Case: 43.5 mm steel. Height: 12 mm. Movement: calibre 59210, 30 jewels, 28,800 vph, 192-hour reserve. Dial: silver-plated, applied numerals, sub-seconds at 6. Caseback: sapphire. Price: $8,900 to $9,500 on leather.
fake portugieser hand wound comparison
Copy Options Compared
Option A: 6497 Copy, 43.5 mm, Sapphire
- Case: 43.5 mm steel
- Movement: Asian 6497, hand-wound
- Reserve: 40 to 46 hours
- Crystal: sapphire front, mineral back
- Price: $180 to $320
This is the pick. The hand-wound feel is close. The crown is 6.5 mm. Dial print is sharp at 10x magnification. The sub-seconds hand sweeps at 6 beats per second.
fake portugieser hand wound compared to
Option B: Decorated 6498 Copy, 44 mm
- Case: 44 mm steel
- Movement: Asian 6498, hand-wound, decorated bridges
- Reserve: 38 to 44 hours
- Crystal: mineral front
- Price: $140 to $220
The 44 mm case sits 0.5 mm wider than the genuine. The decorated bridges look busy through the back. Mineral crystal scratches. Skip this option unless the price is under $150.
Option C: Quartz Portugieser Lookalike
- Case: 42 mm steel
- Movement: quartz
- Reserve: none
- Crystal: mineral
- Price: $90 to $140
Avoid. The seconds hand ticks once per second. The case is 10.5 mm thick. The crown does not wind a mainspring. It does not match the hand-wound action.
What to Check on Delivery
- Reserve test: wind 30 turns, let it run. A 6497 copy stops at 38 to 48 hours. A true 192-hour reserve at this price is not documented.
- Sub-seconds alignment: the hand sits at 6 o'clock, centered.
- Caseback screws: four slots, no glue.
- Dial print: the IWC logo and Schaffhausen text sit on one vertical center line.
Verdict
Buy the 43.5 mm 6497 copy. It matches the genuine silhouette and the hand-wound action. Skip quartz versions. Skip any listing that claims a 192-hour reserve for under $500.