The Short Answer
The v2 replica of the IWC IW323708 is a second-generation copy of the 42.5 mm Ingenieur Automatic. It corrects the two loudest faults of the first version: the end links that sat proud of the case and the date wheel with the wrong font weight. The v2 is the version worth buying. It is not a version you should judge from a dealer's product photo, because the same listing often covers three different batches.
Before You Start
- Know the original: 42.5 mm steel case, integrated H-link bracelet, IWC caliber 80111 with Pellaton winding.
- Confirm your wrist size. Integrated bracelets cannot be swapped for a strap, so half-links matter.
- Ask the seller for the batch date and QC photos before you pay.
- Set a budget that leaves room for a service within the first year.
How to Confirm You Are Getting a v2
- Ask the seller for the batch code and the production month in writing.
- Request a macro photo of the bracelet where it meets the case at 12 o'clock.
- Compare that photo to a v1 photo. On the v2 the end link sits flush; on the v1 a visible step remains.
- Request a straight-on dial photo and zoom into the date window.
- Check the date numerals for correct thickness and a centered position in the aperture.
- Ask for a photo of the caseback engraving under angled light.
- Confirm the clasp code matches the batch the seller quoted.
Inspection Routine When the Watch Arrives
- Photograph the parcel and the watch before you wear it.
- Set the time and date through a full 24-hour cycle and watch the date flip.
- Wind it 40 turns and note resistance. Gritty winding points to a dry movement.
- Check every bracelet screw with a correct-size driver. Loose screws are the most common out-of-box failure.
- Run a finger along the case flanks and the lug tops. Any sharp edge means the brushing was done by hand and rushed.
- Look at the dial printing under a loupe. Edges should be crisp, not feathered.
- Check lume evenness in a dark room after two minutes under a lamp.
- Time it over 24 hours on the wrist. Anything beyond plus or minus 20 seconds a day needs regulation.
What the v2 Still Gets Wrong
Case thickness runs roughly half a millimeter over the original, which you notice on the wrist more than on a desk. The movement is a decorated Asian automatic, so the rotor and bridges imitate the 80111 without the Pellaton winding system underneath. Crown engraving is shallower than the original, and the bracelet's inner link edges are softer. None of these are visible at arm's length.
Living With It
Have the watch serviced or at least regulated within the first year. Do not swim with it, even if the seller claims water resistance, because the gaskets are not certified. Wipe the bracelet with a soft cloth after wear; the polished center links show fingerprints and fine scratches faster than the original's finish.
Bottom Line
Buy the v2 only with batch confirmation and macro photos in hand. If the seller cannot supply either, the price advantage is not worth the risk, because a v1 sold as a v2 is the most common problem with this reference.