Short answer
A replica of IW371493 copies the IWC Portugieser Chronograph: a steel case near 41 mm, two sub-dials, a slim bezel, and a leather strap. Prices run $250 to $600. The copy can match the silhouette and the dial layout. It will not match the movement finish, the water resistance, or the resale value. Compare dial photos and ask for movement photos before you pay.
What IW371493 is
IWC puts the reference in the Portugieser Chronograph line, ref. 3714. The line dates to 1998. The 3714 case measures 40.9 mm across, about 12.3 mm thick, with 30 m water resistance. IWC does not publish a separate spec page for every dial code. I could not confirm the exact dial variant for IW371493 from public sources. Ask the seller for a photo of the caseback engraving and compare the dial to archive photos.
Two details set the look:
- Small seconds at 6, chronograph minutes at 12.
- No date window on the classic 3714 dial. A listing that shows a date is a mismatch.
Parts that decide copy quality
Case and crystal
The genuine watch uses polished and brushed steel, a sapphire front, and a screw-in caseback. On a copy, check the lug width of 20 mm, the bezel step, and the crystal height. A domed crystal that sits proud of the bezel is a tell. Ask if the glass is sapphire or mineral. Most builds under $300 use mineral.
Dial
Look at four points. Print thickness on the numerals. Recess depth of the two sub-dials. Snailing on the sub-dial rings. Hand length, which should reach the minute track. Flat, glossy sub-dials mark a cheap build. Applied numerals should have faceted edges that catch light.
Movement
The genuine watch runs calibre 79350, a 7750 base with 28,800 vph and about 44 hours of reserve. Copies use a Chinese 7750 variant. The 3714 layout puts running seconds at 6. A stock 7750 puts running seconds at 9. To move the seconds, builders add a gear train on the back of the movement. That gear train is the first part to fail. Ask the seller if the seconds hand sweeps without stutter and if the chronograph resets to zero.
Price bands
- $250 to $350: mineral glass, printed dial, basic 7750.
- $380 to $550: sapphire glass, better dial print, decorated rotor.
- $600 and up: custom builds with swapped hands and straps.
No replica comes from IWC. A listing that claims factory parts from Schaffhausen is false.
Checks before payment
- Photo of the movement with the caseback off.
- Photo of the dial under direct light, angled to show sub-dial depth.
- Timegrapher reading for rate and amplitude.
- Confirm the strap and buckle, since sellers swap these for cheaper parts.
- Ask about water testing. Assume no water resistance beyond splashes.
Limits and legal notes
IWC will not service a copy. A watchmaker who works on 7750 movements can clean and regulate it, and spare parts exist. Resale value is near zero. In the US, selling a counterfeit watch is illegal, and customs can seize imports. Weigh that risk before you buy.