A fake IW371615 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm stainless steel watch with an in-house column-wheel chronograph movement. Three checks catch most fakes: the display case back, the subdial layout, and the sharpness of the dial printing. Everything past that is detail work that separates a rough copy from a close one.
This guide covers the real specs, the tells that give a counterfeit away, and the questions to ask before money changes hands.
What Is the IWC Portugieser Ref. IW371615?
Ref. IW371615 belongs to the Portugieser Chronograph line that IWC updated in 2019. The stainless steel case measures 41 mm across and about 13 mm thick, with brushed flanks and polished edges. Inside sits the calibre 69355, an in-house automatic chronograph with a column wheel and a 46 hour power reserve.
- Case: stainless steel, 41 mm, 30 m water resistance
- Movement: calibre 69355, automatic, column wheel, 46 hour power reserve
- Crystal: sapphire on the front and the back
- Dial: two subdials (chronograph minutes at 12, small seconds at 6), date at 3
- Strap: alligator leather or a steel bracelet, depending on the variant
IWC ships several dial and strap combinations inside this reference block, so match the exact dial color and bracelet before you compare two watches. A blue dial on leather and a blue dial on steel are different references. A seller who mixes them up deserves a second look.
How Do You Spot a Fake IW371615?
Counterfeits of this watch run from $60 quartz junk to $500 replicas that pass at arm's length. The gaps show up in the movement, the case back, and the small parts.
The Case Back and Movement
The genuine watch carries a sapphire display back, so the 69355 is on show. A signed oscillating weight, clean finishing on the bridges, and a visible column wheel are the giveaways. Many fakes close the case with solid steel or hide a generic automatic behind a printed rotor. If the back is solid, or the rotor says anything other than IWC, it is not genuine.
Subdial Layout
Portugieser Chronographs have two subdials: chronograph minutes at 12 and running seconds at 6. Copies built on a stock Valjoux 7750 base carry a third subdial at 9, which the real watch does not have. Three subdials means a counterfeit, every time.
Dial Printing and Hands
Dial text on the real watch is thin, sharp, and spaced with care: the IWC wordmark, "SCHAFFHAUSEN", "AUTOMATIC", and "CHRONOGRAPH". Fakes show thick or blurry lettering, crooked spacing, and a date font that does not match the window. Leaf hands on the genuine piece are polished on the edges and satin on the top face.
Weight and Case Finish
The steel case and bracelet carry real mass, and a genuine bracelet has solid links with tight play at the joints. Cheap copies use folded links and hollow end pieces, so the watch rattles and feels light in the hand. Pushers on the real piece click with firm, short travel.
Genuine vs Fake IW371615: Fast Comparison
- Case back: sapphire display on the genuine watch, often solid steel on a fake
- Subdials: two at 12 and 6 on the real piece, sometimes three on a copy
- Crystal: sapphire front and back on the real watch, mineral glass on budget fakes
- Bracelet: solid links and a signed clasp on the real watch, folded links on cheap copies
- Date font: matched to the dial on the real watch, generic on most fakes
What Separates a Cheap Fake From a High-Grade Replica?
Replica quality moves in tiers, and the tier decides how the watch looks on the wrist and how long it lasts.
- Quartz copies ($40 to $90): battery movement, mineral glass, printed dial, and a ticking seconds hand. The 6 o'clock subdial steps once per second instead of sweeping.
- Mid-tier automatics ($150 to $300): a generic Asian automatic, sapphire or mineral glass, and decent case work. Subdial spacing and date fonts often miss.
- High-grade builds ($350 to $600): a clone or decorated movement, sapphire on both sides, applied markers, and brushed and polished surfaces that hold up under a loupe.
Those figures are ranges you will see in the replica market, not fixed prices. No replica carries a real calibre 69355, because IWC does not sell that movement to outside buyers.
Why Is This Reference Faked So Often?
The Portugieser Chronograph has a clean, dressy case with no rotating bezel and no lume plots, which makes it easier to copy than a dive watch. Its dial is simple to print, and the case shape suits standard 41 mm parts. Demand from buyers who want something other than Rolex keeps the reference on the counterfeit market, so supply follows.
Checklist Before You Buy a Replica IW371615
- Ask for photos of the case back and the movement, not just the dial.
- Count the subdials. Two is right, three is wrong.
- Check the date font and how the date sits inside the window.
- Ask about the crystal. Sapphire front and back on anything sold as high grade.
- Confirm the lug width and whether the bracelet has solid links.
- Ask for a video of the chronograph start, stop, and reset.
- Get the return policy in writing before you pay.
FAQ
Does the IW371615 have a see-through case back?
Yes. The sapphire back shows the calibre 69355, so a solid back points to a fake or a watch that has been altered.
How many subdials does the real watch have?
Two. Chronograph minutes sit at 12 and small seconds at 6. Any watch with a subdial at 9 is a counterfeit.
Where is the date window?
At 3 o'clock, with a font that matches the dial text. Blurred or oversized date numbers are a common flaw in copies.
Can a fake IW371615 use a real IWC movement?
No. IWC does not supply the calibre 69355 to third parties, so any watch sold as a replica with that movement uses a copy or a generic automatic.
Judging a fake IW371615 comes down to a short list: two subdials, a sapphire display back, and tidy dial printing. Get those three right and you filter out most of what the market offers.