The replica IW371652 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm steel watch with two subdials, a date at 3 o'clock and leaf-shaped hands. Good replicas match the case size, dial printing and subdial spacing. They do not match the movement: inside sits a Chinese automatic chronograph, never IWC's in-house caliber 69355.
What Is the IWC IW371652?
IW371652 sits inside the IW3716 generation of the Portugieser Chronograph, the version IWC moved to an in-house chronograph movement in 2020. The final digits of the reference mark one dial, hand and strap pairing in that family, so photos of the same case can show a different face.
Genuine specs at a glance
- Case: 41 mm across, about 13.1 mm thick, stainless steel, polished and brushed
- Movement: caliber 69355, in-house automatic chronograph with a column wheel, 46-hour power reserve
- Dial: chronograph minutes at 12, running seconds at 6, date window at 3, applied numerals, railway minute track
- Crystal: sapphire on both sides, with a see-through caseback
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Strap: alligator leather on a steel pin buckle
Genuine retail runs well past $7,000. That price gap is the whole reason a replica market exists for this reference.
Why the reference suffix matters
Two IW3716 watches share the same case, movement and crystal. Only the dial color, hand finish and strap change. A replica seller who shows one dial and ships another is not lying about the model, but you are still not getting what you paid for, so confirm the exact face before ordering.
How Replica Makers Build the IW371652
Copies come in three rough bands, and the band decides how the watch feels on your wrist.
- Quartz tier: cheap, thin, and easy to spot. The chronograph pushers often do nothing, or the subdials are decorative.
- Mid tier: an Asian 7750-based automatic with a modified plate. Runs, but the subdial spacing and case thickness drift from the original.
- Top tier: a decorated clone built on the same 7750 base with a corrected dial layout, closer case height and better printing.
No replica carries a real 69355, because that movement is IWC's own and does not leave the factory as a loose part.
What Should You Check Before Buying?
The dial is where most money is won or lost. Work through this list on real photos, not renders.
- Subdial spacing. The two counters should sit far apart, close to 12 and 6, with space between them. Crowded counters point to a stock 7750 dial.
- Case thickness. Anything past 14 mm looks wrong on a 41 mm watch. Ask for a caliper shot.
- Applied numerals. They should be cut metal with crisp edges, not printed or thick blobs of paint.
- Hand shape. Leaf hands with a clean taper. Stick hands mean the wrong dial was used.
- Date window. Look for a beveled cutout, a centered number and a font that matches the numerals.
- Printing. Text under 12 o'clock should be sharp at arm's length. Fuzzy print shows up in daylight.
- Pusher feel. A chronograph start should click with a firm stop, not mush through the stroke.
- Strap and buckle. Thin, shiny leather with a stamped buckle is the fastest tell on a cheap build.
Which Movement Will You Get?
Most automatic IW371652 replicas run an Asian 7750 or a variant of it. It is a proven design that keeps time and takes a service, but it ticks at a different beat rate than the genuine and the rotor engraving is cosmetic.
Quartz versions use a small sweeping or stepping module. They keep time better than the automatic and feel worse in the hand. Neither will match the smooth, high-beat sweep of a real 69355.
What Does a Replica IW371652 Cost?
Sellers group these into three price bands. Quartz copies land under about $150. Mid-tier automatics sit near $250 to $450. Top-tier builds with a corrected dial and better finishing start around $500 and climb from there.
Pay for the dial and the case, not for a brand name on the box. A $500 copy with sharp print and correct spacing beats a $700 one with a thick case.
Where Do Replicas Fall Short?
Finishing is the honest gap. Genuine IWC work has beveled lugs, mirror-polished flanks and a caseback engraving you can read under a loupe. Copies get close in photos and lose ground in sunlight.
The movement is the second gap. A replica chronograph will not hold a 46-hour reserve in real use, and water resistance is a claim, not a rating. Do not swim in one.
The third gap is boring but real: no warranty, no service network and no resale value. Buy a replica as a watch you enjoy, not as an asset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a replica IW371652 waterproof?
Treat it as splash-resistant only. Gaskets on copies are not tested to 30 m, and chronograph pushers are a common leak point. Take it off before swimming or showering.
Will the date and subdials line up correctly?
On a top-tier build, yes. On cheaper ones, the date can sit high or low in the window and the subdial hands can drift from the markers. Ask the seller for a straight-on photo with the hands at 10:10.
Does a replica hold value?
No. Used replicas sell for a fraction of the purchase price and the market is thin. Expect to keep it or give it away.
Can a watchmaker tell it is a replica?
A trained eye spots it in seconds once the caseback comes off. The movement finishing, the engraving depth and the balance wheel give it away. From across a table, a good copy passes.