What is a replica IW371642?
A replica IW371642 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph in a steel case, built to match the original's case profile, dial layout, and hand set. The genuine IW3716 series measures 41 mm across, 13.1 mm thick, and runs the in-house calibre 69355 with a 46-hour power reserve. Replicas copy the outside of that watch, not the engineering inside it.
That gap is the whole story of buying one. A good copy gets the case shape, dial print, and subdial spacing close. A weak copy gets the proportions wrong, and the watch looks off from across a table.
What the IW371642 looks like on the wrist
The Portugieser Chronograph is a dress chrono with a wide, open dial. Thin bezel, long leaf hands, applied Arabic numerals, and a fine railway minute track around the edge.
- Two subdials stacked in a line: running seconds at 6 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 12.
- 41 mm case that wears bigger than the number suggests, because the dial takes up almost all of it.
- 13.1 mm thickness, which is where most replicas cheat.
- 30 m water resistance on the original. That is splash protection, nothing more.
- Alligator-style strap with a steel pin buckle on most versions.
Dial color and numeral style change with the exact edition. Confirm the variant you want before you order, because sellers mix photos from different references.
How to judge a replica IW371642
Case shape and thickness
Ask for a caliper photo next to the caseback. A copy that measures 14.5 mm or more sits tall on the wrist and the thin-bezel look breaks. Lug shape matters too: the original lugs curve down, so the watch hugs the wrist instead of floating.
Dial print and subdial spacing
Look at where the subdials sit. On the original they leave a clean vertical gap in the middle of the dial and do not touch the numerals. Copies with subdials crowding the 3 and 9 markers are easy to spot.
Check the print under magnification. Sharp numerals with no bleed, and a minute track that stays crisp at the edges. Fuzzy print is the fastest tell on a cheap copy.
Hands and applied markers
Leaf hands should be flat, polished, and the right length, reaching just to the minute track. Applied numerals need to sit level with no glue visible at the edges. On low-tier copies the hands look stamped and the lume fill is uneven.
Crystal and reflection
The original uses a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces, so the dial stays readable at an angle. A replica with coating on one side only will flare under shop lights.
What movement runs inside a replica IW371642?
Most copies use a modified Asian 7750 or a decorated clone that imitates the look of the 69355. The decoration means nothing for accuracy. What matters is whether both subdials work and whether the chronograph starts, stops, and resets with a clean snap.
- Running seconds at 6 should sweep, not tick.
- The 30-minute counter at 12 should advance while the chrono runs.
- The reset should return both hands to zero in one push.
- Ask for a video with the chrono started and reset. Sellers who refuse are hiding something.
Quartz versions exist and cost less. The seconds hand ticks once per second, which anyone who knows the watch will notice.
What are the price tiers?
Pricing for this model falls into three bands, and the jump between them buys finish, not function.
- Entry, under $150: quartz or basic automatic, thick case, printed dial, hollow feel.
- Mid, about $250 to $400: automatic with a working chrono, better dial print, closer case profile.
- Top, about $450 to $700: best case finishing, sharp dial, decorated movement, matching thickness.
Above that range you pay for a name, not a better watch. Below it you buy a costume piece.
What a replica cannot do
Water resistance is the big one. A copy rated "30 m" on paper often has seals that were never tested, so keep it away from showers and pools. Servicing is the second: most watchmakers will not touch a copy, and parts are hard to source.
Resale is the third. Genuine Portugieser Chronographs hold value; replicas do not. Buy one to wear, not to flip.
Buying checklist
- Confirm the exact dial variant and reference in writing.
- Ask for real photos, not catalog renders.
- Request a caliper reading of case diameter and thickness.
- Ask for a video of the chronograph running and resetting.
- Compare the subdial spacing against a photo of the original.
- Confirm strap material and buckle type.
- Ask about the return window and who pays shipping.
FAQ
Is the replica IW371642 the same size as the original?
Good copies land within a fraction of a millimeter at 41 mm. Cheap ones run larger and thicker, often past 14 mm, which changes how the watch sits.
Does the chronograph work on a replica IW371642?
On mid and top tier copies, yes. Both subdials and the pushers work. On entry level quartz copies the chrono may run but the seconds hand ticks instead of sweeping.
Can a jeweler tell it is a replica?
A trained eye can, and so can a caseback photo. Movement finish, engraving depth, and hand polish give it away under a loupe. On the wrist at arm's length, a top tier copy passes casual looks.
Should I wear it in water?
No. Treat every replica as splash resistant at best unless a seller has pressure tested it and will say so in writing.