Short answer
A replica IW371601 copies the IWC Portugieser Chronograph. The genuine watch has a 41 mm steel case, two subdials, no date, and the in-house calibre 69355 behind a sapphire caseback. Good replicas match the case width, dial layout and leaf hands. They miss on movement, case thickness and caseback finish. Check those three points before you pay.
The reference in numbers
IWC lists the Portugieser Chronograph at 41 mm across, about 13 mm thick, with 30 m water resistance and sapphire crystal front and back. Calibre 69355 is an automatic column wheel chronograph with a 46-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph balance. The dial carries a 30-minute counter at 12 and small seconds at 6. There is no date window.
Dial variants share one case
The IW3716 family covers several dial and strap combinations. The last digits of the reference change with dial colour and hand finish. Match the exact suffix to a catalogue photo before you compare a replica listing. A seller who shows a blue dial photo under a silver dial reference has a listing problem.
Four checks on the watch
1. Case thickness
Ask for caliper photos of width and thickness. Many replicas run 1 mm to 2 mm over the genuine 13 mm because of a spacer ring and a thicker movement. Extra thickness shows at the lugs and at the caseback rim.
2. Subdial function
Start the chronograph and watch the counter at 12. It must step one minute at a time. If it sweeps or stays still, the subdial is printed decoration. The small seconds at 6 must run with the crown pushed in.
3. Hands and markers
Leaf hands are narrow at the tip, wide at the base and flat in profile. Applied numerals should sit level with even polish. Look for glue at the base of markers and for paint that spills past the edge of a hand.
4. Caseback and movement
The genuine back is sapphire with the 69355 in view: column wheel, decorated bridges, clean perlage. Ask for a straight-on photo of the movement. Replica movements show stamped plates, a different balance bridge and engraving that sits shallow.
Strap, buckle and weight
Genuine ships on alligator leather with a steel pin buckle or folding clasp. Check stitch spacing, edge paint and engraving depth on the buckle. Ask the seller for the head weight in grams and compare it against a weighed genuine from a dealer or an owner thread.
Price context
The steel Portugieser Chronograph on leather lists in the $8,000 to $9,000 range in the US. Figures move with the year and the market, so confirm with an authorized dealer. Replica prices depend on factory and version. A quote well under the going rate for a named factory points to a lower tier watch or a bait listing.
What a replica does not give you
- IWC service. The brand will not work on a replica, and parts do not cross over.
- Water resistance you can trust. Do not swim with a replica even if the caseback says 3 bar.
- Resale. Replica resale runs at a fraction of the purchase price.
- Pusher feel. The column wheel start and stop has a crisp click that a modified 7750 does not copy.
Questions for the seller
- Which factory and version is this?
- Send a video of start, stop and reset on the chronograph.
- Send caliper photos of width and thickness.
- Send a straight-on photo of the movement through the caseback.
- Send the head weight in grams.
- Confirm the return window and the payment method.
Answers to those six questions decide most of the risk. A seller who cannot send a movement photo is not a seller to trust.