Answer First
A fake IW371485 copy is a counterfeit of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference IW371485. The original uses a 40.9 mm stainless steel case and the IWC calibre 79350. Copies use other movements, most often a Chinese 7750 clone or a quartz module. The display back is the first place to check.
Original Reference Facts
The IW371485 sits in the Portugieser Chronograph line. IWC lists this family with a 40.9 mm stainless steel case, a height near 12.3 mm, and water resistance to 30 m. The calibre is the 79350, an automatic chronograph. IWC rates it at 28,800 vibrations per hour, 31 jewels, and about 44 hours of power reserve. The dial carries two counters: running seconds at 6 o'clock and chronograph minutes at 12 o'clock. A date aperture sits at 3 o'clock. The case back is sapphire on standard steel models.
How to Spot a Fake IW371485: Dial, Case, and Movement Checks
IWC did not ship one fixed dial for every IW371485. Dial color and index finish change with production year. Confirm the exact variant against IWC's own product listing before you judge a watch.
Why Copies of This Reference Exist
Steel Portugieser Chronograph models sell in the high four figures in US dollars. That price gap drives demand for copies. Counterfeiters pick references with simple dials and widely cloned movements. The 3714 family fits both conditions.
Identification Checks
- Diameter. Measure the case without the crown. The original is 40.9 mm. Copies often land at 40 mm or 42 mm.
- Movement. Look through the case back. The 79350 shows Geneva stripes, perlage, and blued screws. A quartz movement, or a stamped rotor with no finishing, is not the 79350.
- Sub-dial layout. Running seconds at 6, chronograph minutes at 12. A 60-minute counter at 12 or a 24-hour dial at 9 does not match.
- Dial printing. Original text is sharp and level. Copies show thick strokes, uneven spacing, and a soft date font.
- Crystal. Sapphire on the original. Mineral glass on many copies. The two look alike, so this check needs a jeweler or a tester.
- Case back engraving. Reference and serial numbers are cut with even depth. Copy engraving runs shallow.
- Papers. IWC ships a warranty card with a dealer stamp and date. IWC states an 8-year international warranty for watches registered in My IWC.
Legal Position in the United States
Importing counterfeit goods into the US is prohibited. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 lets Customs and Border Protection seize and destroy shipments. Selling a watch with a counterfeit mark exposes the seller to civil claims under the Lanham Act and criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. A buyer of a copy holds no IWC warranty and no factory service history.
Authentication
An IWC service center can open a watch, read the movement number, and check the case number against factory records. Ask for service history in writing. A watch with no records, no card, and a case number that does not match the movement is not verifiable. If a seller refuses an inspection, treat the watch as unverified.
Limits of This Guide
Counterfeiters change parts between batches. One copy may pass a check that another fails. No single photo comparison settles authenticity. The checks above narrow the field. They do not replace a service center inspection.