A fake IW371642 copy is a replica of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. IW371642, built to match its 41 mm steel case, two-register chronograph dial, and leaf-shaped hands. The best copies get the case profile and dial print close enough that a stranger will not spot them on the wrist. Cheap copies fail on subdial spacing, hand shape, and the sweep of the chronograph seconds.
Ref. IW371642 belongs to the Portugieser Chronograph line, a model IWC has built since the late 1990s. Copies sell under labels such as "1:1", "first copy", and "super clone". Those labels tell you less than a set of clear photos does.
What the real watch hands to a copy
Start with the specs a replica has to hit. The Portugieser Chronograph runs a 41 mm stainless steel case at about 13 mm thick, with a 30 m water resistance rating. Two recessed counters sit on a vertical line: a 30-minute totalizer at 12 and running seconds at 6.
- Applied Arabic numerals and leaf hands with a polished gold tone
- A fine railroad minute track that meets the dial edge
- Chronograph pushers at 2 and 4, crown signed with the IWC mark
- Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating and an exhibition case back
A copy that breaks one of these points shows it fast. A subdial set three millimetres off center throws off the whole dial.
How to judge a fake IW371642 copy
Case shape and finish
Look at the lug curve and the caseband. Real Portugieser lugs sweep down in a smooth arc, and brushing runs one direction on the top surfaces. Copies with straight, machined lugs or polish where brushing should sit look flat in daylight.
Dial print and subdial spacing
Zoom in on the numerals and the IWC mark. Thin, sharp strokes with no bleed point to decent printing. Check that both counters sit on one vertical line and that the minute track sits close to the rehaut without a wide gap.
Hands
Leaf hands should taper to a point and reach the minute track without crossing it. Cheap copies use wider, flatter hands with a yellow tone that reads as brass next to real gold plating.
Chronograph action
Push the top pusher. A mechanical copy starts the central seconds hand with a firm click and no stutter. A quartz copy gives itself away there: the seconds hand ticks once per second instead of sweeping.
Movement and case back
Through the sapphire back you should see a rotor with engraved lettering, blued screws, and perlage on the plates. Plain rotors, painted text, or a battery holder mean a low tier build.
Strap and clasp
Expect alligator-grain leather with even stitching and a signed pin buckle or deployant. Thin, shiny leather with loose thread is the usual sign of a budget set.
Replica grades: what "1:1" means
- Budget tier: mineral glass, quartz or basic automatic movement, dial details that fade under a loupe.
- Mid tier: sapphire crystal, Asian chronograph movement, correct dial layout, softer case finishing.
- Top tier (1:1 or super clone): copied case dimensions, better AR coating, decorated movement, hands with a closer gold tone.
"1:1" is a marketing term, not a standard. Ask which movement sits inside and whether the crystal is sapphire before you trust the label.
What no copy gets right
Some gaps stay no matter the price. Movement finishing under the rotor, the depth of the dial lacquer, and the exact AR tint are the usual tells for a watchmaker with a loupe. Service and resale also vanish: few watchmakers stock parts for a copy, and no dealer will take one in trade.
Legal note: selling counterfeit watches violates trademark law in the US and the EU, and importing one can end with seizure at customs. Keep that in mind before you order.
Price tiers for a fake IW371642 copy
Budget builds run about $120 to $250, mid tier sits near $300 to $450, and the top tier with a decorated mechanical chronograph lands around $500 to $800. A price far under those bands points to a quartz watch with photos of a better one.
Checklist before you pay
- Ask for the movement name in writing.
- Confirm the crystal is sapphire, not mineral glass.
- Request the case thickness in millimetres.
- Get close-up photos of the case back and the dial print.
- Confirm the return policy before sending money.
FAQ
Is a fake IW371642 copy waterproof?
Treat it as splash resistant at best. Gaskets on copies are not tested to the 30 m rating of the original, so keep it out of water even if the listing says otherwise.
Does the chronograph work on a copy?
On mechanical copies, yes: start, stop, and reset work like the original. On quartz copies the central hand ticks, and the subdials often run as decoration only.
Can a jeweler tell a fake from the real watch?
Yes, in most cases within a minute. Caseback engraving depth, movement finishing, and the AR coating give it away under a loupe. From across a room, a top-tier copy passes.
What should I ask a seller first?
Ask for the movement name, crystal material, case thickness, and close-up photos of the case back and dial print. A seller who cannot answer those questions is reselling stock photos.