A fake IW371701 is a replica of the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph ref. IW371701, a steel pilot's chronograph that IWC sold from about 2006 to 2012. The real watch has a 42 mm case, a black dial with three subdials, and a day and date window at 3 o'clock. Replicas range from quartz lookalikes that cost very little to automatic copies built around a Valjoux 7750 clone.
What is the IW371701?
IW371701 is the stainless steel version of the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph with a black dial and a leather strap. IWC fitted it with caliber 79320, a 25-jewel automatic built on the Valjoux 7750 base. The line ran until the ref. 3777 generation replaced it.
The reference number trips people up. IWC used 3714 for the Portugieser Chronograph, a dress watch with a totally different dial. If a listing pairs a Portugieser photo with the text IW371701, the seller mixed up two watches. Walk away from that listing.
Two features define the 3717 family. One is a soft-iron inner case that shields the movement from magnetic fields, though you cannot see it from the outside. The other is the screw-in crown, which shows in close-up photos of the case flank.
IW371701 specs at a glance
- Reference: IW371701, stainless steel, black dial
- Case: 42 mm wide, close to 15 mm thick, brushed and polished steel
- Movement: IWC caliber 79320, Valjoux 7750 base, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 44-hour power reserve
- Crystal: domed sapphire with antireflective coating on both faces
- Water resistance: 6 bar (60 m)
- Dial: black, subdials at 12, 6 and 9, day and date at 3
- Strap: black calfskin with a steel pin buckle
Why do buyers search for a fake IW371701?
IWC no longer makes this reference, so the only genuine examples sit in the used market. Asking prices for clean 3717s have held firm because the model left the catalog and collectors kept buying it. That gap between what buyers want to spend and what sellers ask pushes some of them toward replicas.
The design adds to the pull. A 42 mm steel case, a high-contrast dial and a strap that works with a shirt or a t-shirt make it an easy daily watch. Buyers who want that shape without genuine money often check the replica market first.
How do replica tiers differ for the IW371701?
Replica sellers split the IW371701 into tiers, and the tier decides three things: the movement, the dial printing and how the case feels on the wrist. Price tracks those three.
Entry tier
Entry replicas use a quartz movement. The chronograph second hand ticks once per second instead of sweeping, which is the fastest way to spot one from across a table. Case finishing is basic, the crystal is mineral glass, and the day and date fonts sit wrong.
Mid tier
Mid-tier copies run an automatic 7750 clone with a working chronograph and a sweeping hand. Dial print improves, and the crystal becomes sapphire in most builds. Small errors remain in subdial spacing and hand length.
Top tier
Top-tier replicas copy the case profile, the crown action and the dial layout with more care. Some use a modified 7750 with a closer date wheel font and a softer antireflective coating. They remain copies, and a trained eye can separate them under a loupe.
How do you check a replica IW371701 before you buy?
Ask for photos of the actual watch plus a short video with the chronograph running. Five checks cover most of the risk.
Case and crystal
Study the lugs and the case flanks. Sharp edges, uneven brushing, or a crown that sits proud of the case point to a cheap build. The sapphire should show a faint blue or purple tint at an angle, which comes from the antireflective coating.
Dial and subdials
Subdials on the real watch sit at 12, 6 and 9. On many replicas the subdial at 6 crowds the date window, or the ring around each subdial looks too thick. Check that the lume plots line up with the hour markers.
Movement and caseback
Ask for a movement photo. A genuine 79320 carries an engraved rotor with the IWC name and the caliber number, plus Geneva stripes and blued screws. Replicas show a plain rotor or machine stamps on the bridges.
Weight and feel
A steel case feels dense in the hand. Alloy cases feel light and warm up fast against the wrist. If a seller cannot say what the case is made of, assume the worst.
Which details give a replica away?
- Day and date font that changes width between the two windows
- Chronograph seconds hand that fails to snap back to 12
- Caseback engraving that looks shallow or laser-etched
- Crown threads that catch or grind when you screw it down
- Lume that fades in minutes rather than hours
- Rotor noise you can hear across a quiet room
Frequently asked questions
Is the IW371701 still in production?
No. IWC retired the reference around 2012 and moved to the 3777 generation of Pilot's Chronographs. Any IW371701 you see today is a used watch, a replica, or a redial.
Does a replica IW371701 run a real Valjoux 7750?
Most do not. They run a Chinese clone of the 7750 that copies the layout and the 28,800 vph beat rate. A small number of top-tier builds use a Swiss 7750, and sellers charge more for those.
What wrist size fits a 42 mm pilot's chronograph?
A 42 mm case with a 15 mm height suits wrists from about 6.5 inches and up. On smaller wrists the watch sits tall and the lugs push past the wrist bone.
Is a replica IW371701 water resistant?
Treat it as splash proof, nothing more. Gaskets on replicas often go untested, and a screw-down crown does not guarantee a seal. Keep it out of the pool and off the shower shelf.
What should you ask a seller before you pay?
Request dated photos of the watch in your hands-free view, the movement shot through the caseback, and a video of the chronograph starting, stopping and resetting. A seller who will not send those has something to hide. Compare every answer against the specs above, then decide.