A fake IW371431 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference IW371431, a 40.9 mm steel chronograph with a two-register dial. Copies come in three tiers: a cheap quartz or basic automatic at $120 to $200, a mid tier at $250 to $400 with cleaner dial printing, and a $500+ "super clone" with a decorated Asian chronograph movement. The tells that matter are the subdial layout, the dial printing, the caseback engraving, and the feel of the pushers.
What is the IW371431?
The reference belongs to IWC's Portugieser Chronograph family, a line built around a clean dial with two subdials and thin feuille hands. The steel case measures 40.9 mm across and about 12 mm thick, with sapphire crystal front and back plus 30 m water resistance. Applied Arabic numerals sit on the dial, with a subdial at 12 for elapsed time and running seconds at 6.
Watches from the 3714 generation run on calibre 79350, a Valjoux 7750 base that IWC reworked to suit this dial layout. That matters for spotting fakes, because the movement sits in plain view through the caseback.
How do you spot a fake IW371431?
Look at the dial first, then the case, then the movement. Most fakes fail at step one, and the same failures repeat across sellers.
Does the subdial layout match?
The genuine watch has two hands in the 12 o'clock subdial, one for elapsed minutes and one for elapsed hours. Fakes often fit a single hand there or use a 30-minute counter that stops early. Running seconds at 6 should sweep in a smooth arc, not jump once per second.
Is the dial printing crisp?
Real IWC printing sits sharp under a loupe, with even letter spacing and no ink bleed. Fake dials show thick, fuzzy text, a misplaced "Schaffhausen", and numerals that sit off-center in their plots. Check the minute track as well: fake tracks crowd the numerals or drift near the 12.
How does the case finish look?
Genuine Portugieser cases have brushed flanks with polished bevels that catch light in a straight line. Fakes polish the whole case or leave a soft, wavy bevel that shows under raking light. Lug edges on a fake feel thicker, and the crown often sits proud of the case.
What about the caseback and movement?
A sapphire caseback shows the movement, and this is where cheap fakes give up. Genuine calibre 79350 shows a signed rotor, striped bridges, and clean finishing on the plates. A fake shows a stamped rotor, a plastic movement ring, or a solid caseback hiding a quartz module.
Engraving depth matters too. Real reference numbers and serials are cut into the metal, while fakes print or laser-etch them shallow and light. Compare the font of "IW371431" against photos from IWC's own site.
What are the fake IW371431 tiers and prices?
- Budget, $120 to $200: quartz or a rough automatic, printed dial, hollow-feeling case, sharp edges on the lugs.
- Mid, $250 to $400: automatic with a chronograph module, better dial print, correct 40.9 mm size, weak pusher action.
- Super clone, $500 and up: cloned case, sapphire glass, decorated movement that copies the 79350 layout, close dial detail. Still not a genuine watch, and still not serviceable by IWC.
What does a real IW371431 cost?
Genuine steel Portugieser Chronographs trade in the thousands of dollars on the secondary market, and that gap is the reason fakes exist. A seller asking $300 for a watch that looks new should expect questions about the caseback and the movement. Price alone never proves a watch is real, but a price far below market is a warning.
What can a fake never copy?
Movement architecture and long-term service. A clone can mimic the look of the 79350, but the parts do not interchange with the real calibre, and no IWC service center will touch it. Case finishing also fades: brushed surfaces on a fake turn glossy after months of wear.
What should you check before you buy?
- Ask for a photo of the movement through the caseback, not a stock image.
- Ask for the caseback engraving in macro and compare the font.
- Run the chronograph: start, stop, reset, and watch the 12 o'clock subdial return to zero.
- Weigh the watch. A steel 40.9 mm chronograph should feel substantial on the wrist.
- Read the return policy and ask whether water resistance was tested.
Frequently asked questions
Will a fake IW371431 keep accurate time?
A decent automatic fake can run within 10 to 20 seconds per day. Cheap quartz copies run closer to zero but feel wrong in the hand. The chronograph is the weak point: many fakes lose reset alignment within weeks.
Can a watchmaker tell a fake IW371431 from a real one?
Yes, and fast. A watchmaker checks the movement finish, the dial printing under a loupe, and the feel of the crown and pushers. Any one of those three is enough to settle it.
Is a fake IW371431 worth buying?
If you want the look of a Portugieser Chronograph on a budget, a mid-tier replica with a real automatic movement is the sensible pick. If you plan to service it, resell it, or swim with it, save for a genuine watch instead.