What Is the IW371717?
The IW371717 belongs to IWC's Portugieser Chronograph line, a 41 mm stainless steel chronograph with a vertical subdial layout and the manufacture calibre 69355. It is known for a clean dial, a printed minute track, and slim feuille hands. Because genuine examples sell for thousands of dollars, it ranks among the most copied modern IWC references.
How Do You Spot a Fake IW371717?
Compare the dial architecture first. On a genuine watch the two subdials sit at 12 and 6 with sharp, evenly spaced concentric rings, and the printed text stays crisp under magnification. Fakes usually show fuzzy printing, registers that sit slightly off-center, and a date window placed too far from the dial edge.
Dial and Hands
- Fonts: genuine IWC script is thin and consistent, while fakes often use heavier, wider lettering.
- Subdial spacing: check for uneven gaps between the two registers and the central pinion.
- Hands: feuille hands are polished on both faces on real pieces and flat or brushed on many fakes.
- Lume: applied indices should glow evenly and match the hand lume color in daylight.
Case, Crown, and Caseback
Genuine cases have crisp bevels, a polished-to-brushed transition that follows the lug line, and a signed crown that screws down smoothly. Caseback engraving is the next checkpoint, since reference numbers, serials, and the IWC medallion are laser-sharp on authentic pieces and shallow or doubled on fakes. Weight is a fast tell too, because a solid steel case feels noticeably denser than plated brass or alloy.
Movement and Chronograph Feel
The calibre 69355 is a column-wheel chronograph, so the pushers start and stop with a short, defined click and the reset snaps back instantly. Cheap fakes use modular movements where the pushers feel mushy and the chronograph seconds hand stutters. A display caseback showing a decorated rotor with Geneva stripes points to a higher-tier build, though decoration alone never proves authenticity.
What Separates a High-End Replica From a Cheap Fake?
Grade is everything. A premium replica uses a 316L or 904L stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a Swiss or Japanese clone chronograph movement, and a dial printed with correct fonts. Budget fakes cut corners on crystal material, plating, and movement quality, and those shortcuts show within seconds.
- Case material: 904L steel versus chrome-plated alloy.
- Crystal: sapphire versus mineral glass or acrylic.
- Movement: clone column-wheel chronograph versus a generic quartz module.
- Finishing: hand-polished bevels versus uniform brushed surfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a replica IW371717 worth buying?
For daily wear and visual accuracy, a top-tier replica delivers most of the look at a fraction of the price. It will not hold value or match the service life of a genuine watch, so treat it as a fashion purchase.
Can a jeweler tell a good replica from the real thing?
Yes, usually within minutes. A watchmaker opens the caseback, checks the movement architecture, and inspects dial printing under a loupe. Serial number verification with IWC confirms authenticity definitively.
How much should a quality replica cost?
Expect to pay more for sapphire crystal, 904L steel, and a working column-wheel chronograph. Anything priced far below that range almost always uses plated alloy and a quartz or low-grade automatic movement.