The short answer: a replica of IWC reference IW371613 will not deliver the parts that define the watch, and the purchase carries legal and financial exposure. If you still intend to buy one, know three facts first. The genuine reference runs an in-house column wheel chronograph movement that no counterfeit maker reproduces. Customs agencies treat counterfeit watches as prohibited merchandise and seize them. Resale value on a replica is zero. Buyers who want the Portugieser look at a lower cost have safer routes: a legitimate homage, or a used genuine piece from the secondary market. The sections below cover what to inspect either way.

What the IW371613 Is

Reference IW371613 sits inside the IWC Portugieser Chronograph family, a line the brand has produced across several generations. The modern IW3716 series uses a 41 mm stainless steel case, an in-house automatic chronograph calibre with a column wheel, roughly 46 hours of power reserve, a sapphire crystal, and a display back on most variants. Water resistance is rated at 3 bar, which covers splashes and rain but not swimming. Older IW3714 references use a different, Valjoux based chronograph movement and a slightly smaller case, so the two generations differ in feel and in service cost. Confirm the exact dial, strap, and case material for your target reference with the manufacturer before you compare anything, because sub-references inside one series vary in small but visible ways.

What to Inspect on Any Portugieser Chronograph

Movement and chronograph action

The genuine watch starts, stops, and resets through a column wheel. Pusher travel feels short and mechanical, and the chronograph seconds hand snaps back to zero. Replicas, including high tier ones, use stock or modified third party chronograph movements. The tell shows up in the reset: a hesitant or drifting return to twelve, a pusher that feels spongy, or a running seconds hand that stutters.

Dial and subdial layout

Check subdial spacing and the position of the date window against the dial center. Printed text on a genuine dial is sharp under a loupe, with consistent stroke weight and no ink bleed. Applied numerals sit flush and reflect light in a consistent way. Replica dials show thicker print, uneven lume application, and numerals that catch light at different angles.

Case finishing

Look at the transition between brushed and polished surfaces. Genuine cases hold a crisp, straight boundary line. Check the lug holes, the crown threads, and the bezel edge as well, since those areas get cheated first on a counterfeit.

Caseback, serial, and paperwork

Match the serial on the caseback to the movement and to any card or box. Engraving depth and font matter. Replica paperwork is often the easiest giveaway, with soft printing and mismatched reference numbers.

Spec Bands to Expect

  • Case diameter: 41 mm for the IW3716 generation, about 40.9 mm for older IW3714 pieces
  • Lug width: 20 mm on most Portugieser Chronograph references, so straps are easy to source
  • Movement: in-house automatic chronograph with column wheel on the IW3716, Valjoux based calibre on the IW3714
  • Water resistance: 3 bar, which is a splash rating and nothing more
  • Crystal: sapphire with antireflective coating on both faces

Pitfalls in the Replica Market

  • Tier marketing. Labels such as Swiss made or 1:1 have no standard meaning and no enforcement behind them.
  • Seizure risk. Counterfeit watches are prohibited merchandise, and shipments get detained and destroyed. You lose the watch and the money.
  • No service path. Independent watchmakers decline counterfeit work, so a failed movement means a dead watch.
  • Fabricated water resistance. A case rated at 3 bar on paper is not the same as a case with gaskets that seal. Replicas leak.
  • Payment fraud. Sellers request methods with no chargeback route, then ship nothing or ship a lower tier than shown.
  • Borrowed photos. Stock images and stolen photographs are common, so request dated photos of the specific unit.

FAQ

Does a replica IW371613 hold value?

No. There is no secondary market for counterfeit watches, and dealers will not take one in trade.

Will customs seize a replica watch?

That outcome is possible and common. Counterfeit goods are subject to detention and destruction, and repeat importers can face penalties.

Can a watchmaker service a replica?

Most will not, and brands will not touch one. Parts availability is the deeper problem, since counterfeit movements are not supported with spares.

What is the legitimate alternative?

A used genuine Portugieser Chronograph, or a well made homage from a brand that sells under its own name. Both give you a serviceable watch with real resale value.