Short answer
A replica IW371615 is a counterfeit of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. IW371615. The genuine watch is a 41 mm stainless steel chronograph with a blue dial and IWC's in-house calibre 69355. Copies use a modified Valjoux 7750 or a decorated clone of the 69355. Copy prices run from about $80 to $700 across tiers. The genuine sells through IWC in the high four figures in US dollars. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320.
Genuine ref. IW371615: what it is
IWC Schaffhausen launched the Portugieser Chronograph ref. 3716 line in 2020. It replaced ref. 3714, which used an ETA 7750 base. Ref. IW371615 is a steel case version with a blue dial, a black alligator strap, and a steel pin buckle. Confirm the dial color and strap for the exact ref., because numbers in this line differ by dial and bracelet.
Stated specs:
- Case: stainless steel, 41 mm diameter, about 13 mm thick
- Dial: blue, no date, chronograph minutes at 12 o'clock, running seconds at 6 o'clock
- Movement: calibre 69355, automatic, 4 Hz, 46-hour power reserve stated by IWC
- Crystal: sapphire front and display back
- Water resistance: 3 bar (30 m) listed for the line
- Strap: alligator leather, 20 mm lug width
IWC publishes its own prices. Retail figures change, so ask a dealer for the current number.
How copies are built
Most copies of ref. 3716 use an Asia Valjoux 7750 with a changed layout. A stock 7750 puts running seconds at 9 o'clock, the 30-minute counter at 12, and the 12-hour counter at 6. The genuine Portugieser has nothing at 9. Makers handle this in two ways: they blank the 9 o'clock subdial, or they fit a module that moves the seconds to 6. Both add height and change dial spacing.
Fewer copies use a clone of the 69355 with a decorated rotor and bridges. These cost more and appear in short batches.
Check list before you buy
- Measure the case across the 2 and 8 o'clock line, crown excluded. The genuine reads 41 mm.
- Measure thickness. Copies often sit at 14 mm to 15 mm against a genuine 13 mm.
- Watch which subdial ticks. Running seconds belong at 6 o'clock. A ticking hand at 9 o'clock is a base 7750 fault.
- Check the back. Ref. IW371615 has a display back. Engraving shows "IW371615" and a serial.
- Compare dial print. Font weight and the gap between "IWC" and "SCHAFFHAUSEN" vary on copies.
- Inspect the crown and buckle for maker marks.
- Check the strap. Genuine alligator shows a scale pattern on both sides. Copies use embossed cowhide.
- Ask for movement photos with the rotor turned to a new position. Sellers who reuse stock images often refuse.
Price bands for copies
- Low tier, $80 to $150: plated case, quartz or basic automatic, wrong subdial layout.
- Mid tier, $250 to $400: steel case, A7750, close dial print.
- Upper tier, $450 to $700: clone movement, better finish, sapphire on both sides.
These bands come from seller listings and forum reports. They shift with each batch. No public registry ties a serial number to a factory.
Legal position in the US
18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a crime. Penalties reach 10 years for a first offense and 20 years for repeat offenses, plus fines. The Lanham Act lets a trademark owner sue for damages and costs. US Customs can seize a shipment at the border under 19 CFR part 133. A single watch in a personal parcel can be seized and destroyed. Buying a counterfeit is not charged the same way as selling one, but the item carries no legal title and no recourse if it fails.
What is not known
Factory names circulate on forums, but the groups behind them rename, split, and move. Batch dates are not published. Sellers state water resistance and movement grade with no test data. Treat any spec that no third party has measured as unverified.