Short answer
A replica IW323732 copies the IWC Aquatimer Automatic 2000, a 42 mm dive watch rated to 2,000 meters. The reference points to one specific case and dial combination inside the IW3237 family, so the watch you are shown should match that variant and not a generic Aquatimer. Replicas range from crude look-alikes to well-built homage-level watches. The difference shows up in the case profile, the bezel action, the dial printing, and the movement inside.
What the genuine watch does
The Aquatimer Automatic 2000 was built for saturation diving. IWC lists a stainless steel or titanium case, a screw-down crown, and an internal rotating dive bezel driven by a second crown on the case flank. The dial carries large applied markers, a date window at 3 o'clock, and the depth rating printed in meters. The movement is an automatic caliber beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Any replica claim about this watch starts with those numbers, because they set the case size, the weight, and the sweep of the seconds hand.
Specs to compare side by side
- Case diameter: 42 mm across the case, crowns excluded.
- Lug width: measure between the lugs before you order a strap or bracelet.
- Case thickness: compare with the reference sheet, since copies often run thick.
- Water resistance: treat any rating on a replica as a claim, not a fact.
- Movement: look for a smooth sweep at eight beats per second, not six.
Step-by-step buying checks
- Ask the seller for the exact reference engraved on the caseback and compare it with the IW3237 spec sheet.
- Request dial photos straight on and then at 45 degrees, so you can judge the crystal and marker height.
- Measure the case diameter when the watch arrives and compare it with 42 mm.
- Turn the bezel through a full rotation and count the clicks, since uneven spacing points to a low-grade assembly.
- Unscrew the crown and check the threads for burrs or cross-threading.
- Charge the lume for 30 seconds under a lamp and check the glow after one hour.
- Watch the date window flip at midnight, then confirm the number sits centered at noon.
- Weigh the watch and compare it with the steel or titanium figure for the genuine reference.
- Have a watchmaker pressure-test it before you swim, and never trust the factory claim.
Tells on cheap copies
Start with the bezel insert printing. Blurry numerals, a flat font, or paint that sits above the surface are common. Next, check the caseback engraving: shallow laser marks and wrong text spacing show up fast under a loupe. Crown guards on low-grade copies are often too thick, and the lume reads weak and green instead of blue-white. A bracelet that sounds hollow when tapped and a rotor that wobbles when you shake the watch point to a cheap movement with loose tolerances.
Care and service
Service intervals depend on the movement fitted. A clone of a Swiss automatic benefits from a clean and oil every three to five years, plus new gaskets each time the caseback comes off. Rinse the watch in fresh water after contact with salt water, dry it with a soft cloth, and store it away from direct sun. Replace a rubber strap once it hardens, because a stiff strap pulls on the spring bars.
Legal note
Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks. Selling them is illegal in the United States, and shipments can be seized at the border. Buying a replica for personal use carries risk as well: no warranty, no parts support, and no resale value.