A fake IW371650 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portuguese Chronograph. Most copies give themselves away on three points: case thickness, dial printing, and the movement behind the caseback. The real watch measures 41mm across and 12.3mm thick, runs the in-house calibre 69355 column-wheel chronograph, and has no date window, so a caliper and a loupe settle the question fast.
What Are the Real IW371650 Specs?
The IW3716 family took over from the long-running 3714 in 2020. The main change sat under the dial: IWC moved from an outsourced Valjoux base to its own calibre 69355.
Those numbers are the yardstick for judging any replica. Keep them next to you when you compare listing photos.
- Case: 41mm diameter, 12.3mm thick, steel or gold, brushed flanks with polished bevels
- Dial: 30-minute counter at 12, small seconds at 6, applied Arabic numerals, leaf hands, no date
- Movement: calibre 69355, automatic, 28,800 vph, 46-hour power reserve, column wheel
- Crystal: domed sapphire with antireflective coating
- Caseback: sapphire display back with engraved reference and serial
- Water resistance: 3 bar
How Do You Spot a Fake IW371650?
Start with case thickness
Replica cases run thick because the movements inside sit taller than the 69355. A caliper on the caseback edge is the quickest test you can run. Half a millimeter of extra height changes how the watch sits on the wrist and how the lugs look from the side.
Read the dial printing
On the real thing, "IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN" sits under 12 with sharp edges and even letter spacing. The applied numerals carry polished bevels that catch light along one edge only. Fake dials show soft print, uneven gaps, and numerals that look flat under magnification.
Look at the subdial depth
Both counters sit in recessed dishes with a crisp step at the rim. Cheap fakes stamp the circles into a flat dial and call it done. On a working chronograph, the minute counter at 12 should advance in clean one-minute jumps.
Turn it over and study the movement
Through the sapphire back you should see a signed rotor, deep engraving, and finishing that holds up under a loupe. Many fakes hide a stock 7750 clone behind a decorated plate. The cheapest tier drops in a quartz module and fakes the subdial sweep.
Push the chronograph buttons
A column-wheel chronograph starts with a light, clean click, and the seconds hand snaps back to zero without a wobble. A cam-switched copy feels mushy and the reset can stutter. Run start, stop, and reset three times before you commit.
Check the strap and buckle
Genuine alligator has square-scale texture and a signed tang or folding clasp. Replica straps often use embossed calf with stiff edges. The strap is the cheapest part to swap, so do not let a good one fool you about the case.
Cheap Fake vs 1:1 Replica IW371650
The gap between a marketplace fake and a top-tier copy is wider than the price difference suggests.
- Movement: quartz or a rough 7750 copy on the low end, a well-finished automatic chronograph on the high end
- Case height: 13mm and up on cheap copies, closer to the 12.3mm target on good ones
- Dial: printed subdial rings versus proper recessed dishes
- Crystal: mineral glass versus sapphire with AR coating
- Hands: flat stamped leaf hands versus faceted hands with polished edges
- Caseback: blank or shallow engraving versus readable reference and serial text
What Should You Check Before You Buy?
- Ask for the measured case thickness with a photo of the caliper on the case.
- Request macro shots of the dial printing and both subdials.
- Confirm which movement sits inside and whether it is automatic.
- Verify the crystal is sapphire, not mineral glass.
- Ask whether the photos show the actual unit you will receive.
- Read the return policy before you pay.
A seller who answers all six without stalling is worth your money. One who dodges the thickness question is telling you something.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IW371650 faked often?
Yes. The Portuguese Chronograph is one of the most copied dress chronographs around. The dial is simple to photograph and the case is easy to machine, which makes it a target for every tier of the fake market.
Does a good replica use a real automatic chronograph movement?
Most mid and top-tier copies run a clone of the Valjoux 7750, an integrated automatic chronograph with cam switching. It works and it winds itself, but it does not match the column-wheel feel of the 69355.
Can a jeweler spot a fake across the counter?
Not across the counter. In hand, with a loupe, a trained eye finds the soft printing and the wrong movement in a minute or two. The 12.3mm thickness needs no tools at all once you know the figure.
Does the IW371650 have a date?
No. The IW3716 line runs without a date window, so a date at 3 in a listing photo is a red flag. That is the fastest check you can make on a single image.
Is a 1:1 replica identical to the real watch?
No. A good replica gets the dimensions, dial layout, and finish close enough to pass at arm's length, but the movement architecture and the final hand finishing stay different. Buy one for the look and the fit, not as an investment.
Treat the IW371650 as a set of measurements and details rather than a logo. Once you know the 41mm by 12.3mm case, the recessed counters, and the column-wheel click, a bad copy stops being hard to read.