Short answer
A "fake Portofino 39" is a counterfeit version of the IWC Portofino Automatic built with a 39mm case. The 39 is a case diameter, not a model name. IWC does sell a Portofino Automatic 39, so the nickname matches a real size in the catalog, and that is why replica sellers lean on it. Inside, you get a Chinese-made automatic movement, a case meant to pass as steel or gold plating, and dial work that ranges from surprisingly close to obviously wrong.
Where the number comes from
Replica listings use diameters as shorthand because buyers shop by wrist fit. A 39mm case sits between the older Portofino Automatic sizes, so a seller can call a copy "39" and sound precise without claiming a specific reference number. When a listing never names a reference and only says "39mm Portofino," treat that as a sourcing label, not a spec sheet.
Dimension drift is common. A case sold as 39mm often measures 38.4mm or 39.6mm with calipers. Lug-to-lug is the number that actually decides how it wears, and replica listings rarely publish it.
Tells I check first
- Dial printing. On the real thing, the brand name, the "Automatic" line, and the country of origin sit on a clean baseline with consistent letter spacing. Copies drift, thicken, or crowd the text toward the date window.
- Date window. Look at the opening edges and how the numerals sit. Crooked apertures and off-center dates are the most common giveaway.
- Crown and stem. The crown should sit flush, with correct engraving depth and a smooth, low-effort wind. Gritty winding is a movement tell, not a cosmetic one.
- Crystal. Genuine sapphire with anti-reflective coating goes nearly invisible at an angle. Cheap copies show a blue or purple haze, or none at all.
- Caseback. Engraving depth, font weight, and reference text are where most fakes fall apart under a loupe.
- Plating. Two-tone copies wear through at the crown, lugs, and buckle within months. Solid gold does not rub off.
Compare against the real specs
The fastest way to judge any copy is to pull the actual figures from IWC's own site and write them down before you look at a listing. Case diameter, movement family, water resistance rating, crystal material, and strap width all become a checklist. If a seller cannot match three of those numbers, the rest of the pitch does not matter.
The legal side in the US
Counterfeit watches are not a gray-market product. They are infringing goods. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit merchandise at import, and trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime carrying real penalties. Buying one for personal use is a lower-risk act than selling one, but the shipment can still be stopped and destroyed, and you have no recourse. Repairs are the other problem: no authorized service center will touch a counterfeit, so a broken movement means finding a gray-market watchmaker willing to work on an unknown Chinese calibre.
Practical takeaway
If your goal is a 39mm dress watch on a budget, a used genuine piece from a brand with honest service support will hold value and stay repairable. If your goal is to spot a fake Portofino 39 in the wild, ignore the story and study the dial, the date window, and the caseback engraving. Those three areas carry most of the evidence.