The replica IW371620 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm steel watch with a twin-register dial and a column-wheel chronograph. Realistic examples sell for roughly $280 to $600, and quality tracks three things: dial print, case thickness, and the movement behind the caseback. Get those right and the watch reads correctly on the wrist, which is what most buyers actually want.
What is the IW371620?
IW371620 sits inside the IWC Portugieser Chronograph 3716 line, a family built around a 41 mm steel case, a rail-track dial, and leaf-shaped hands. The genuine watch runs IWC's own 69355 calibre, an automatic column-wheel chronograph with a 46 hour power reserve. Two counters do the work: running seconds at 6 o'clock and a 30 minute chronograph totalizer at 12.
Reference numbers in this line cover several dial colors, hand finishes, and strap combinations. Check the exact dial color and strap in the listing photo before paying, because factories sometimes ship a generic dial under a specific reference number.
What should you check first on a replica IW371620?
Case thickness is the fastest tell. The genuine watch is about 13 mm thick; cheap replicas run 14.5 mm or more and sit tall on the wrist. Ask for a caliper photo instead of a tape measure.
- Dial print: crisp edges, no ink bleed, correct spacing on the IWC and Schaffhausen text
- Subdials: concentric snailing present, spacing matching the genuine 3716 layout
- Hands: leaf shape, correct length, flat polished finish without tool marks
- Applied numerals: correct height and bevel, no glue visible at the base
- Crystal: domed sapphire with slight edge distortion, not flat mineral glass
- Caseback: exhibition sapphire, deep engraving, correct reference text
Is the movement in a replica IW371620 reliable?
Most automatic replicas of this reference use an Asian 7750 base, often with decorated bridges shaped to look like the 69355. Moving small seconds to 6 o'clock on a 7750 requires a transfer gear set, and that gear train is the usual failure point. If the watch arrives with a stuttering second hand or a chronograph that will not reset to zero, return it inside the seller's window.
A decorated rotor and engraved plates do not make the movement better. Ask which base calibre is inside, and buy from a seller who names it in writing.
How much does a replica IW371620 cost?
- Under $150: usually quartz or a rough automatic, wrong thickness, printed dial
- $200 to $320: entry automatic, correct overall look, weaker finishing
- $350 to $600: best value tier, clean dial print, sapphire, plausible movement decoration
- Over $700: rarely better than the tier below, often the same factory watch with a markup
What can a replica IW371620 not do?
It will not survive swimming, whatever the caseback claims. Have any replica pressure tested before it touches water, and assume the answer is no. It also carries no resale value and no manufacturer service, so plan on a local watchmaker for a clean and oil, or on replacing the movement outright.
Does the replica IW371620 take genuine straps?
Yes, if the lug width is correct at 20 mm. A strap change is the cheapest upgrade available and it alters how the watch feels more than any other single purchase.
Quick checklist before you buy
- Confirm dial color and strap against a genuine photo of the reference
- Request a caliper shot of the case thickness
- Ask for the base movement name in writing
- Confirm the return window and warranty length
- Ask for a video of the chronograph start, stop, and reset