What Is the Replica IW371645?

The replica IW371645 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a two-register chronograph with a steel case, a date window at 3 o'clock, and small seconds at 6. High-tier copies sell for $280 to $550 and match the 41mm case size within about a millimeter.

This reference sits in the part of the replica market where builders spend real money on the dial. The Portugieser has thin applied numerals, long leaf hands, and a wide, flat dial that hides nothing. Misalignment shows up across the room.

Specs Buyers Compare

Most listings for a replica IW371645 quote these numbers against the genuine watch.

  • Case: 41mm diameter, about 13mm thick, 316L stainless steel.
  • Lugs: long and thin, brushed on the top face with polished flanks.
  • Dial: applied Arabic numerals, printed rail track, recessed subdials at 12 and 6.
  • Hands: leaf-shaped, with a gold-toned or blued chronograph seconds hand on most versions.
  • Crystal: domed sapphire, with anti-reflective coating on high-tier builds.
  • Movement: automatic chronograph. The genuine watch uses IWC's in-house 69355 caliber with a 46-hour power reserve.
  • Water resistance: 3 bar on the real watch. Assume splash resistance on a copy.
  • Strap: alligator-grain leather on a steel pin buckle, 20mm at the lugs.

What to Check Before You Buy

Case Shape and Thickness

Ask for caliper photos, not wrist shots. A seller who owns a good copy will show the case back, the crown guards, and the lug tips. Thickness over 14mm means a thick spacer sits inside the case.

Dial Printing and Subdial Depth

Subdials should sit below the dial surface with a visible step. Flat, printed subdials are the mark of a $100 build. The minute track on the real dial is crisp, while cheap copies bleed the lines into each other.

Pushers and Crown Feel

Press the top pusher. A good watch starts the chronograph with a firm click and no lag. Mushy pushers point to a low-grade 7750 clone or a poorly seated lever.

Movement Choice

Most replicas of this reference run an Asian 7750 clone. That movement puts the running seconds at 9 o'clock, so builders add a gear train to shift the subdials to 12 and 6. That extra gearing is the weak link, and it is the part that fails first.

How Do Replica Grades Compare?

  • Economy ($90 to $160): mineral glass, printed subdials, thin plating, basic automatic or quartz.
  • Mid tier ($180 to $280): optional sapphire, better dial, correct case size, rough chronograph action.
  • High tier ($300 to $550): 316L steel, sapphire with AR coating, decorated rotor, cloned dial furniture.

The jump from $160 to $300 buys a watch that looks right on the wrist. The jump from $300 to $550 buys a watch that survives daily wear.

Common Flaws in Cheap Copies

  • Date font too thick, sitting too close to the window edge.
  • Subdial hands that stop short of the numerals.
  • Case back engraving that is shallow or carries the wrong reference number.
  • Lume that glows green instead of blue, or fades within ten minutes.
  • Strap stitching that pulls loose after a month.

What Does a Replica IW371645 Cost?

Expect $300 to $500 from a dealer who stocks high-tier builds, and $120 to $200 for something that photographs well but feels hollow. Prices move with steel costs and factory batches, so a quote from six months ago means little.

Buy from a seller who shows the actual watch, not a stock photo lifted from IWC's site. Ask for a video of the chronograph running before you pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a replica IW371645 water resistant?

Treat it as splash resistant only. Gaskets on copies are thin, and the case back does not seal the way a genuine IWC does. Keep it out of pools and showers.

How do you tell a replica from a genuine IWC Portugieser?

Start with the movement view. A genuine 69355 shows in-house finishing and a signed rotor. Look at the dial next: the real applied numerals catch light along a polished bevel that stamped copies miss. For certainty, have a watchmaker open the case back.

Which movement sits in the best copies?

A re-geared Asian 7750 clone, often sold under Seagull or Shanghai movement codes. Parts are not standard, so many owners replace a failed movement rather than repair it.

Do replica watches hold value?

No. A replica loses most of its resale value once it ships, and many watch communities block listings for used copies. Buy one to wear, not to flip.

Can a jeweler spot a replica IW371645 across a counter?

Sometimes, and the dial is where they look first. Weight, case polish, and hand finish are the giveaways on a high-tier copy. A genuine Portugieser feels denser in the hand and its lugs are finished on every surface, including the tips.