Short answer: the replica IW371704 worth owning is built around a modified A7750, has a black dial that reads crisp at arm's length, a day-date that sits centered under its window, and steel bracelet end links that sit flush against the lugs. That version runs about $300 to $600 these days. Spend under $150 and you get quartz or a coarse 21-jewel automatic, and the giveaway shows up the second you look at the subdials.
What the IW371704 Actually Is
IWC produced the 3717 Pilot's Chronograph from roughly 2006 to 2012. The IW371704 is the black-dial version on a stainless steel bracelet, so it is the same watch as the strap reference with a different band. The case measures 42mm across and close to 15mm thick, with a soft-iron inner case for magnetic protection, a screw-in back, and flat sapphire over the dial.
The dial layout is the part you need memorized before you shop. Running seconds live in the subdial at 9. The chronograph's 30-minute totalizer sits at 12. Day and date share the window at 3. There is no subdial at 6. Inside the genuine watch is IWC calibre 79320, which begins life as a Valjoux 7750, loses its 12-hour counter, and gains a day-date module. That fact explains why the 3717 was copied so heavily. The base movement is the most widely produced chronograph caliber in the world, so a factory only has to rework a stock A7750 instead of designing something from scratch.
Where Replicas Fall Apart
Dial and hands
Printing is the cheapest corner to cut, so it gets cut first. On a good example the minute track is thin and even, the applied numerals have sharp edges, and the lume fills sit level instead of puddling at the edges. The sword hands should reach close to the minute track without crowding it. Check the day wheel font and language too. A day disc that reads in mixed languages or uses a rounded modern font is an instant flag.
Ask for one photo of the dial shot straight on in daylight, not angled, no flash. That single image tells you more about print quality than ten glamour shots.
Case and crystal
IWC mixes brushed and polished surfaces on this case, and cheap reps blur the transition until it looks like one soft finish. Look at the lug bevels and the case flanks. They should be sharp enough to catch light in a clean line. The crystal should have anti-reflective coating on both faces, which gives the dial a slightly dark, transparent look from most angles. A rep with no coating looks milky by comparison.
Crown and pushers matter more than people expect. The crown should be easy to grip and sit close to the case when screwed down. Pushers should sit at the same height and travel with a firm, short click.
Bracelet and clasp
A rattling bracelet ruins the illusion faster than anything on the dial. Genuine-grade reps use screwed links, tight tolerances, and a clasp with crisp engraving. Shake it near your ear, or ask for a video of it being shaken. Gaps at the end links are common on mid-tier reps and hard to fix later. So is a clasp that closes with a hollow click.
Movement
Here is the test I use: does the listing show a subdial at 6? If yes, walk away. An unmodified 7750 keeps its 12-hour counter at 6, and the real 3717 does not have one. A correct replica uses a reworked A7750 with the 12-hour counter removed, running seconds at 9, and the chrono minutes at 12. Ask for a timegrapher photo. Anything between minus ten and plus fifteen seconds a day is normal for a Chinese 7750, and beat error under 0.6ms suggests it was at least regulated.
Price Tiers
- Under $150: quartz or basic automatic, wrong subdial layout, no AR coating, stamped bracelet. Skip it.
- $180 to $350: A7750 inside, decent case shape, weak dial printing and a bracelet that rattles.
- $350 to $650: the sweet spot. Correct subdials, proper day-date module, good AR, tight bracelet.
- Above $800: usually the same watch with a Swiss ETA 7750 or a markup for a nicer box. The ETA version is worth it if the price gap is small, since parts and servicing are easier.
Checks Before You Send Money
- Straight-on dial photo in natural light.
- Close-up of the date window at 3, with the day and date both visible.
- Timegrapher readout showing rate, amplitude, and beat error.
- Video of the chrono starting, stopping, and resetting to zero.
- Bracelet end link and clasp shots from the side.
- Confirmation of which movement is inside, in writing.
- A ruler or caliper photo showing case diameter.
Older 3717 or the New 41mm Pilot's Chrono
Searches for this reference often turn up the current 41mm Pilot's Watch Chronograph instead. They are not the same watch. The newer one has a different case profile, a different date position on some versions, and a see-through back. If a seller sends you photos of a watch with an open caseback, you are looking at the wrong reference. The 3717 has a solid steel back with engraving.
Living With an A7750
These movements are tougher than their reputation suggests, but they reward a little care. Do not swim or shower with one. Gaskets on replicas are not reliable, and a 7750 with water inside is scrap. Avoid leaving the chronograph running for days at a time, since that wears the chrono wheel and saps amplitude. Start the watch by shaking it rather than hand-winding, because the winding train on a Chinese 7750 is the weakest part of the design. If it stops running well, a watchmaker who services ETA 7750s can usually handle it, and a service costs less than a replacement watch.
The Legal Reality
Counterfeits are illegal to sell in the United States, and customs can seize shipments. That is worth knowing before you order. Buy with that in mind, keep the transaction simple, and do not treat a replica as an investment, because it is not one.