Short answer
Replica IW329117 sells for about $250 to $600 from established dealers. A price under $150 points to a low-grade build. Check four things before you pay: case thickness against IWC's published spec, dial print under magnification, movement maker and beat rate, and caseback engraving depth. Ask for dated photos of the actual watch, not catalog images.
What the reference is
IW329117 is a variant code inside IWC's 3291 reference family. IWC adds a two-digit suffix per dial and strap combination, so one case can carry several codes. Public documentation on the exact "-17" suffix is thin. Confirm case diameter, dial color and strap type with the seller, then compare those numbers to IWC's own listing for that variant. If the seller cannot state the diameter to the millimeter, stop there.
Case and dimensions
Measure thickness with calipers. Replica cases often run 0.3 mm to 1 mm thicker than the original because the movement spacer sits higher. On a 40 mm to 42 mm case, a 1 mm gain shows at the lugs and under a shirt cuff. Lug width and lug curve matter too: a 0.2 mm difference makes an original strap fit loose.
Dial and hands
Look at the printing at 3x to 5x. Genuine IWC dial text sits sharp, with no ink spread at the edges. Replica dials show rough minute tracks, uneven lume plots, and date fonts that run bold. Check that applied indices line up with the minute track, and that hour and minute hands reach the track without overshoot.
Movement
Most IWC replicas run a Miyota 9015, an A2824 or Sellita SW200 clone, or a Seagull ST21. Ask which one. The Miyota 9015 and the SW200 both beat at 28,800 vph and both hack. A 21,600 vph movement in a watch sold as a top tier build is a mismatch. Ask for a photo of the rotor engraving if the seller will not open the caseback.
Caseback and engraving
Engraving depth is the tell. Laser etching looks flat and light gray under a loupe. Factory casebacks carry deep stamped text with crisp edges. Reference numbers, serials and hallmarks should sit straight and centered. On replicas, text often sits off-center by a half millimeter or the font weight runs thin.
Crystal, lume and water resistance
Sapphire with double anti-reflective coating shows a faint blue or purple cast at an angle. Replicas often ship with single coating or none. Lume on low-grade replicas fades inside 30 minutes; genuine Super-LumiNova holds for hours. Treat any replica as not dive rated. Have the watch pressure tested before it sees water, and skip that step only if you never plan to swim in it.
Price bands
- Under $150: printed dial, mineral glass, 21,600 vph movement.
- $250 to $400: sapphire crystal, applied indices, Miyota 9015 or A2824.
- $450 to $600: better case finishing, clone SW300, tighter dial print.
Questions for the seller
- Measured case diameter and thickness in mm.
- Movement maker and beat rate.
- Crystal material and coating type.
- Photos with a dated card next to the watch.
- QC photo set before shipping, and the return policy.
What photos will not show
Three things: finishing between the lugs, crown thread feel, and rotor noise. All three need the watch in hand. Buy from a seller with a return window, then inspect those points on day one.