The best pick for most people is a high-tier replica iw371651 built on the correct 41 mm Portugieser case with a movement finished to resemble IWC's calibre 69355, because that pairing gets the two details people actually notice right: the vertical subdial layout and the case profile on the wrist. I judged every option below on four criteria: case dimensions and finish, dial printing and subdial placement, movement type and how it reads through the display back, and strap quality. Prices move constantly, so I treat cost as a range rather than a fixed number.
What the IW371651 actually is
The reference belongs to IWC's Portugieser Chronograph 3716 family, the generation that moved to the in-house calibre 69355 and added a date window at 3 o'clock. The design language is fixed: a slim round case, a clean dial with applied numerals at 12 and 6, leaf-shaped hands, a railway minute track, and two subdials stacked vertically, chronograph minutes at 12 and running seconds at 6. Any replica that shifts those subdials, thickens the case, or prints the date in the wrong font is immediately readable to anyone who knows the watch.
Option 1: Entry-level automatic replica
These are the common listings built on a Valjoux 7750-derived automatic chronograph, usually with a stamped rotor and light decoration. They are the cheapest way into a working automatic chronograph with the right silhouette.
- Pros: real automatic chronograph movement, functioning pushers, low entry cost, easy to service at most watchmakers.
- Cons: case height often runs a millimeter or two thicker than the original's roughly 13 mm, subdial finishing looks flat, date font and window cut are usually the weakest points, and the movement bears no resemblance to a 69355 through the caseback.
Use case: a first replica you plan to wear casually and are not worried about close inspection. Skip it if you intend to hand the watch to anyone who owns the genuine article.
Option 2: High-tier replica with a decorated in-house-style movement
This is the top pick. These builds start from a 7750 base but add bridges, perlage, blued screws, and an engraved rotor shaped to mimic the 69355 layout, and they pay attention to case finishing: brushed flanks, polished bezel, correct lug curve, and a crystal with a modest dome.
- Pros: closest case proportions to the genuine 41 mm reference, crisp dial printing, applied numerals with proper depth, subdial hands that reach the track, convincing display back, better strap leather with correct stitching and buckle shape.
- Cons: noticeably more expensive, availability depends on the seller, added decorative plates can make servicing harder, and the movement is still not a true column-wheel design despite the look.
Use case: daily wear for someone who wants the Portugieser look on a real automatic movement and cares about the details visible across a dinner table. This is the version I would buy.
Option 3: Quartz or fashion-tier replica
Quartz versions trade the movement for a low price and thin case. Some look decent in photos and poor in hand.
- Pros: cheapest option, light on the wrist, no servicing, accurate timekeeping.
- Cons: ticking seconds hand at 6 o'clock where the original sweeps, subdial at 12 often faked or non-functional, shallow dial printing, plated case that wears through, weak strap.
Use case: a costume piece for a single event, or a test of whether the 41 mm Portugieser shape suits your wrist before spending more.
The checklist I run before paying
- Ask for the measured case diameter and thickness, not the listing's stated specs.
- Confirm the chronograph minutes hand sits at 12 and the running seconds at 6, and that both subdials work.
- Look at a straight-on dial photo for numeral alignment and the spacing of the railway track.
- Check the date window position and font against a reference photo of the genuine watch.
- Request a caseback photo: a decorated movement with a signed rotor is the clearest tier signal.
- Confirm strap material and buckle style, since these are the cheapest parts to downgrade.
Which one fits your situation
If the watch will be worn often and seen up close, pay for the high-tier automatic. If you want a working chronograph on a budget and accept a thicker case, the entry-level automatic is fine. If you are only testing the size or dressing for one evening, quartz does the job. In every case, ask for real photos and measurements first, and treat any seller who refuses them as a pass.
Legal and practical note
A replica is not a genuine IWC watch, and replica watches infringe trademarks. Import and resale rules differ by country, and customs seizures happen. Buy with that in mind, keep expectations about finishing honest, and do not pay genuine-watch money for a copy.