What Is a Replica IW371759?

A replica IW371759 is a third-party copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a steel watch with a wide dial and two sub-dials stacked at 12 and 6 o'clock. The reference belongs to IWC's Portugieser Chronograph family, so any decent copy has to match that family's proportions: slim bezel, long curved lugs, and a dial that looks plain until you spot the chrono counters. Builds run from about $120 to $600, and the price gap shows up in the case, the dial printing, and the movement.

Confirm the exact reference details in IWC's own catalog before you compare anything. Reference numbers get reused across dial colors and strap options, and sellers often label a watch with a number that does not match the photos.

What Does the Real IW371759 Look Like?

The Portugieser Chronograph is a dress chrono, not a sports watch. Thin case, wide dial, thin applied numerals, and a vertical counter layout instead of the usual 3 and 9 arrangement.

Case and dial

• Case: stainless steel, about 41mm wide and 13mm thick, with polished sides and brushed lugs.
• Dial: white, silver, or blue, with applied Arabic numerals and leaf-shaped hands.
• Sub-dials: 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, running seconds at 6 o'clock.
• Crystal: domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating.
• Strap: alligator leather on a steel pin buckle or folding clasp.

Movement

The current generation runs IWC's in-house calibre 69355, a column-wheel chronograph with about 46 hours of power reserve. Earlier versions used calibre 79350, a modified Valjoux 7750 base. That history matters for replicas, because a copy of the older watch can use a 7750 clone and still look correct from the outside.

How Close Do Replica IW371759 Builds Get?

Mid-tier and top-tier builds get the outside close: correct diameter, correct dial color, correct sub-dial spacing, and a sapphire crystal with a coating that cuts glare. The weak spots are movement finishing, printing sharpness, and strap quality. Nobody sees the movement on your wrist, but dial printing is visible from across a table.

Check the case first

Measure the diameter and the thickness. A copy that runs 2mm thick sits wrong on the wrist and makes the lugs look stubby. Look at the lug tips too: they should taper and curve down, not end in a flat block.

Then check the dial

• Numerals: applied, not printed, with crisp edges and no glue showing at the base.
• Sub-dial spacing: both counters should sit on a true vertical line through the center.
• Printing: the minute track and the text under 12 o'clock should stay sharp under a loupe.
• Hands: leaf-shaped, correct length, reaching the minute track without touching it.

Then check the movement

Ask which movement the build uses before you pay. A 7750-based automatic with a working chrono and a firm pusher feel is fine for daily wear. A quartz movement inside a watch that should be automatic is a deal breaker, no matter how good the dial looks.

How Much Should a Replica IW371759 Cost?

Prices track build quality, not the original's retail price. Entry builds land near $150 to $250, mid-tier near $300 to $450, and the best available versions at $500 and up. Anything far under those bands points to a plated case or a quartz movement.

• Under $150: stamped case, printed dial, quartz or low-grade automatic.
• $300 to $450: correct dimensions, sapphire crystal, 7750-based automatic, working chrono.
• $500 and up: sharper dial printing, better case finishing, a strap that does not feel like cardboard.

Which Flaws Show Up Most Often?

• Case thickness 1 to 2mm over spec, which throws off the lug shape.
• Sub-dial rings that sit too deep or too shallow, so the counters look flat.
• Dial text in the wrong font weight, or letter spacing that drifts.
• Stiff leather straps with heavy edge paint.
• Caseback engraving that is shallow or off center.

None of these make the watch unwearable. They are the details that separate a $250 build from a $600 one, and they are the ones seller photos tend to hide. Ask for a macro shot of the dial and a side profile before you commit.

Is Buying a Replica Legal in the US?

Selling counterfeit goods is illegal in the US, and imported copies can be seized by customs. Buying one for personal use is a gray area that varies by state and by how the watch crosses the border. That is a practical risk to weigh, not a lecture. If the risk bothers you, an homage watch from a brand using its own name is the cleaner path.

How Do You Keep One Running Well?

Treat it like any automatic chrono. Wind it before you set it, keep it away from magnets, and have it serviced when the power reserve starts to drop. A 7750-based movement is easy for any watchmaker to service, which is one reason those builds last longer than oddball clones.

• Keep the pushers dry. A 30m rating means splash resistance at best.
• Reset the chrono to zero before you start it again.
• Store it away from speakers, tablet cases, and other magnets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a replica IW371759 waterproof?

No. Most copies carry a 30m rating at best, which covers rain and hand washing. Take it off before swimming or showering.

Do the chronograph pushers work?

On 7750-based builds, yes. Start, stop, and reset all function. On quartz copies the sub-dials are often decorative and never move.

Can a watchmaker tell it is a replica?

Yes, once the caseback comes off. Movement finishing, engraving depth, and case threads give it away fast. From across a table, a good build passes without a second look.

Which dial color is the safest choice?

White and silver are the easiest to match. Blue and green dials are harder, and small shade differences show up in daylight.

Strap or bracelet?

Leather is easier to match and cheaper to replace. Bracelet replicas often have the weakest finishing, since links and clasps show tool marks under light.