IWC Portofino 3565 by AF factory
The AF factory’s IWC Portofino watch is hailed as one of the best watches on the market, making it a challenging task to acquire one. At the time of writing this blog post, not many Trusted Dealers (TDs) carry the AF Portofino watch, and you may need to specifically request that a TD sources it for you. While the best watches tend to sell out quickly, even the finest replica watches have their flaws, which I will explore and share my thoughts on. The seller will be referenced at the end of this post.
Movement
The previous version of the AF Portofino utilized a Miyota movement, which received considerable praise for its resemblance to the genuine ETA2894 movement, albeit being thinner. However, it had its downsides, such as a noisy rotor and less durability. The AF factory has now adopted the A2892 movement, which offers improvements in noise reduction and durability over the Miyota, yet it is somewhat inferior to its counterparts, the A2824 and A2836 movements. It operates at 4Hz.
Flaw 1
A common flaw among top-tier IWC Portofino replicas is the strap. While it is made of rubber and accurately mimics the appearance of the authentic strap, it unfortunately smells like rubber. The genuine strap is made from alligator skin. It is possible to purchase a more authentic-looking strap separately from TDs, made from similar materials to the original, though it can be quite expensive.
Flaw 2
The AF factory’s backplate engraving is among the best I have seen to date. However, it’s important to note that while it closely resembles the genuine engraving, the font size and depth still differ. For me, though, it’s good enough.
Flaw 3
The IWC engraving on the metal buckles of both the replica and the genuine closely resemble one another, with the primary difference being the depth of the engraving. AF’s engraving is shallower than that of the authentic ones.
Flaw 4
AF factory has made an effort to engrave the top plate in the movement, a detail most factories overlook as it’s not visible to the naked eye. Thus, I will not criticize this flaw, even though the engraving font, position, and letters differ from the authentic. It’s simply a flaw worth noting.
Conclusion
The AF factory’s IWC Portofino ranks among the top watches in the market, if not the best. It is also listed on the NWBIG (Not Worth Buying In Gen) list on the RWI forum. I am captivated by the watch’s design and its understated yet elegant vibe. It doesn’t draw undue attention, yet exudes a classy elegance. This watch is on my purchase list, and I am still in the process of sourcing it. I will update this blog post with a more detailed review once I manage to acquire it. As always, peace out and stay vibey.
NOTE: The watch is not listed on the website, have to contact JTime personally and might take up to a few month to receive it.