Short answer
IW371653 is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference. A replica of it is a 41 mm steel chronograph that copies the case shape and dial layout. Build quality tracks the factory, not the price alone. Three details decide how close a copy looks on the wrist: case thickness, subdial spacing and dial printing.
IWC uses reference numbers inside the 3716 family for several dial colours and bracelet options. Confirm the dial colour and case metal for IW371653 on IWC's own reference list before you order. Sellers mix up suffixes, and some list a different dial under the same number.
Specs of the watch being copied
- Case diameter: 41 mm
- Case thickness: about 13 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Movement: calibre 69355, automatic, column wheel chronograph
- Power reserve: about 46 hours
- Layout: central hours and minutes, small seconds at 6 o'clock, 30 minute counter at 12 o'clock
- Crystal: sapphire, front and caseback
- Water resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
These figures come from IWC's published specifications for the current Portugieser Chronograph. Ask the seller for caliper photos of the case, not renders.
Which movement sits inside a replica
Most copies run a modified Valjoux 7750 design. The 7750 places running seconds at 9 and a 12 hour counter at 6. To match the Portugieser layout, builders fit a transfer gear and a new bridge so small seconds land at 6 and the 30 minute counter at 12.
What that means in practice:
- Subdial hands can sit off centre against the printed rings.
- Extra gears add drag, so the chronograph can lose amplitude.
- Case thickness grows by 0.5 to 1 mm over the genuine watch.
- Service is possible at independent watchmakers who handle 7750 work.
Some listings advertise a 69355 clone. Ask for a clear photo of the movement through the caseback before paying. The genuine 69355 shows a column wheel and a specific bridge shape. A photo settles the question.
Checks before you pay
- Thickness. Ask for a caliper reading. Anything past 14 mm sits high on the wrist.
- Subdial position. The centre of the 6 o'clock subdial should line up with the centre of the 6 numeral.
- Dial print. Check the minute track, the logo and the model text under a loupe. Blurred edges show on a phone macro shot.
- Crystal. Sapphire shows a faint tint at the edge. Mineral glass scratches within weeks.
- Caseback engraving. Reference number and serial should be crisp, not dot matrix blur.
- Lume. Charge it with a torch. Weak glow is common on entry copies.
- Strap. Alligator has visible scale structure. Embossed calf does not.
- Weight. A steel head of this size lands near 80 g. A much lighter case points to plated alloy.
Price tiers
Entry copies sell in the low hundreds of US dollars. Mid tier builds sit a few hundred above that. Top tier builds with a better dial and a reworked 7750 cost more again. Price tracks dial quality and movement finish more than case shape.
What no replica matches
Lacquer depth on the dial, the crispness of applied numerals, pusher feel and column wheel finish are the common gaps. Resale value is zero. Service history does not exist. Buy it as a watch to wear.
Care
3 bar means splash contact only. Keep the crown pushed in. Do not operate the pushers in water. Have a watchmaker check the gaskets every two years. Run the chronograph monthly to keep lubricants moving.
Questions to send the seller
- What is the measured case thickness?
- Which movement is fitted, and can you send a caseback photo?
- Is the crystal sapphire or mineral?
- Do the chronograph hands reset to zero cleanly?