What Is a Fake IW371631?
A fake IW371631 is a replica of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm steel watch with a combined chronograph counter at 12 o'clock, small seconds at 6, and a date at 3. The genuine version retails near $7,900, which is why the replica market for this reference is deep and well organized. The IW371631 sits inside the 3716xx family, so every dial color shares the same case, crown, and strap fittings.
That single case design helps buyers. A replica maker needs one mold, one crystal size, and one set of hands to cover the whole line. The gap between a $180 fake and a $500 fake shows up in details, not in the outline.
How Much Does a Fake IW371631 Cost?
Replica prices for this reference fall into three bands. Each band buys a different movement, a different crystal, and a different level of finishing.
- Under $120 (low grade): quartz or a rough 7750 clone, stamped case, printed dial with wrong font weights, mineral glass.
- $150 to $300 (mid grade): automatic A7750, 41 mm case with correct lugs, sapphire crystal, working date. Subdial spacing often sits off.
- $350 to $650 (top grade): clone of the IWC 69355 with a decorated rotor, sapphire with anti-reflective coating, correct dial printing, and a strap or bracelet that matches the original fittings.
Anything above $700 for a steel replica of this watch is overpriced unless it ships with a genuine strap or a service history. Ask what movement is inside before you talk about price.
What Should You Check Before Buying?
Case and dimensions
The case should measure about 41 mm across, near 13 mm thick, with lugs that curve down toward the wrist. Ask the seller for a photo of the watch next to a ruler. Straight lugs and a flat case back are the fastest signs of a cheap build.
Dial and subdial layout
The chronograph counter at 12 has two hands that share one subdial (minutes and hours), and small seconds run at 6. Dial printing needs sharp edges and even spacing around the "IWC" and "Schaffhausen" text. Fuzzy printing or a date window that misses the 3 o'clock marker means low grade.
Movement
Top replicas use a clone 69355 with a 60-hour power reserve and a rotor that spins with the correct engraving. Mid-grade watches use the A7750, which works but adds thickness and can run loud. Ask for a video of the chronograph starting, stopping, and resetting to zero.
Case back, crown, and engraving
Laser engraving should cut into the metal, not sit on the surface like paint. The crown should push in with a firm click and start the chronograph without a grind. Serial numbers differ from watch to watch on genuine pieces, so a seller listing ten watches with one number is a red flag.
Strap and clasp
Leather straps on top replicas use real calf skin with stitched edges and a signed buckle. Steel bracelets should have tight end links with no rattle and a clasp that locks without play.
How Do You Spot a Low-Grade Fake?
Most bad replicas fail on a handful of points you can check in a photo or a short video.
- Subdials spaced too far apart, or an extra counter at 9 that should not exist.
- Date font that is too thick, too thin, or off-center in the window.
- Hands with flat, dull edges instead of polished bevels.
- Crystal with a blue or purple haze and no anti-reflective coating.
- Case back screws that sit uneven, and a rotor that spins for two seconds after a shake.
- Weight below 85 grams with a leather strap, which points to a hollow case or thin steel.
A 41 mm steel chronograph with a proper automatic movement should feel dense in the hand. If the seller dodges photos of the movement and the case back, walk away.
Which Version Should You Buy?
Match the replica to the dial you plan to wear. Blue and silver dials sell in the largest numbers, so factories build them at every price tier. Green, salmon, or boutique dial colors take longer to source and often cost $50 to $100 more.
Buy the movement you can service. The A7750 has parts everywhere, while clone 69355 movements need a watchmaker who works on IWC-style chronographs. With no local watchmaker, the A7750 route is the safer one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a fake IW371631 keep good time?
Yes, if it runs a serviced automatic movement. A regulated A7750 or clone 69355 holds within 10 to 20 seconds a day. Quartz versions hold tighter but feel wrong when you wind them.
Can a jeweler tell it is a replica?
Yes. A watchmaker who opens the case back will spot a clone movement, and the finishing on the bridges gives it away. From arm's length, a top-grade replica passes for a genuine watch in most settings.
Are the subdials placed correctly on good replicas?
On top-grade versions, yes. The counter at 12 and the small seconds at 6 sit where they should. Mid-grade watches built on the A7750 often push the subdials a millimeter off, which shows in a straight-on photo.
How long does shipping take?
Most replica sellers ship in 7 to 21 days, with customs handling adding time. Ask for tracking and a photo of the actual watch before it leaves the warehouse.
Buying Checklist
- Confirm the case measures 41 mm and the lug shape matches the reference.
- Ask for the movement name and a running video of the chronograph.
- Check dial printing, date alignment, and subdial spacing in a straight-on photo.
- Request the weight in grams.
- Compare the asking price against the tier list above before you pay.
A fake IW371631 can look close to the real thing when the case, dial, and movement all line up. Spend the extra $150 on the top tier, and the watch holds up on the wrist and in the hand.