What is a fake IW371433?
A fake IW371433 is a counterfeit version of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a steel chronograph of about 41mm with two subdials, leaf shaped hands, and an IWC calibre 79350 inside. The fastest way to separate a real watch from a fake is to check the sweep of the chronograph hand, the spacing of the subdials, and the quality of the caseback engraving. Real watches pass all three checks. Most copies fail at least one.
Genuine steel Portugieser Chronographs trade in the thousands of dollars on the second hand market, so this reference gets copied at every price level. Replica sellers move their versions for anywhere from $50 to $700 depending on grade.
What does the genuine IW371433 look like?
IWC builds the Portugieser Chronograph with a wide dial, a thin bezel, and long leaf hands. The case measures about 41mm across in stainless steel, with sapphire crystal on both sides and a 3 bar water resistance rating. Two registers sit on a vertical axis: chronograph minutes at 12 and running seconds at 6.
The dial layout stays the same across variants. What changes is the dial color, the hands, and the strap. IWC has released several dial options in this reference family, so confirm the exact configuration with the seller before you compare it to a photo.
Specs worth memorizing
- Case: stainless steel, about 41mm wide, sapphire front and back
- Movement: IWC calibre 79350, a modified Valjoux 7750, automatic, 28,800 vph, about 44 hours of power reserve
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds at 6, chronograph minutes at 12, central chrono seconds
- Water resistance: 3 bar
- Strap: alligator leather with a signed steel pin buckle or folding clasp
How do you spot a fake IW371433?
- Watch the chronograph hand reset. A 7750 based movement snaps back to zero and stops hard. Quartz copies tick once per second and creep back to the top.
- Measure the subdial spacing. Real subdials sit far apart with the middle of the dial open. Fakes built on a different base movement crowd the registers together or add a third subdial that should not be there.
- Check the date window. If the variant you are looking at has a date at 3 o'clock, it should sit centered in a clean aperture with sharp numerals. Copies show a flat, plastic looking wheel with thick digits.
- Read the caseback. Laser engraving on a real IWC is shallow, sharp, and even. Fakes use a stamp that leaves raised edges and soft lettering.
- Feel the crown and pushers. Genuine pushers have short, firm travel. Copies feel spongy or gritty.
- Weigh it in your hand. A steel Portugieser on leather has real heft. Many fakes feel light because the case is hollowed out to fit a smaller movement.
- Inspect the strap and buckle. IWC alligator straps carry a genuine logo and a signed buckle. Replica straps use cowhide with a printed grain.
Why does the movement give fakes away?
The calibre 79350 is a modular chronograph built on the Valjoux 7750. That base has a rotor that winds with a wobble you can feel when you move your wrist, and it starts the chronograph with a firm click. Cheap copies use quartz or a low grade automatic, so the seconds hand stutters instead of sweeping and the chronograph hand jumps a full second at a time.
Open the caseback and the gap grows. A real 79350 shows decorated plates, polished screws, and a signed rotor. A copy shows a blank plate with a balance wheel peeking through a plastic spacer ring.
Is a 1:1 replica the same as a fake?
Yes, in legal terms. A "1:1 replica" or "first copy" is a watch built to look like a branded model and then sold with that brand's name on the dial. Trademark law treats it as a counterfeit, and customs officers can seize it at the border. Sellers lean on the words replica and first copy to avoid saying fake while describing the same product.
The grade labels do describe real differences in build. A $60 quartz copy and a $500 super clone are not the same object. The second one may use a cloned movement, a sapphire crystal, and a case machined from 316L steel. None of that changes the legal status.
What should you check before buying a Portugieser Chronograph?
- Papers and box with serial numbers that match the case
- Service history from an IWC authorized center or a documented independent
- Caseback photos taken at an angle, not straight on, so you can judge engraving depth
- Movement photos if the seller has opened the watch
- A return window and payment through a method with buyer protection
Ask for a video of the chronograph starting, stopping, and resetting to zero. Copies fall apart in motion. A still photo tells you nothing about how a movement behaves.
FAQ
Does a fake IW371433 keep time?
Some do, within a minute or two a day, and some lose far more. Quartz copies hold time better than cheap automatics but have a ticking seconds hand that no Portugieser should have. Accuracy is not the tell. Behavior is.
How much does a fake IW371433 cost?
Low grade copies sell for $50 to $150. Higher grade replicas with cloned movements run $300 to $700. Authorized dealers and auction houses will not touch any of them, and resale value is close to zero.
Can a jeweler tell the difference?
A watchmaker who has handled a real Portugieser can tell within a minute of opening the caseback. From across a counter, the dial and case fool people. Weight, sound, and engraving are harder to copy than looks.
What if I already bought a fake?
Stop wearing it and check your payment method for a dispute window. Passing it on with the IWC name on the dial puts you in the same position as the seller who sold it to you.