The replica IW371473 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm stainless steel watch with two subdials at 12 and 6 o'clock, no date window, and a slim profile. Copies range from quartz-driven budget pieces to automatic builds that come within a millimeter of the genuine case. Four things separate a good copy from a bad one: case thickness, subdial placement, chronograph function, and dial printing.
What the Genuine Reference Gives You
The real IW371473 sets the standard every copy gets measured against. Know these numbers before you compare photos.
- Case: 41 mm stainless steel, about 13 mm thick, 20 mm lug width.
- Dial: two counters at 12 and 6, applied Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, baton markers, feuille hands.
- Crystal: domed sapphire with an antireflective coating.
- Movement: IWC chronograph calibre. The line descends from the Valjoux 7750 base, and later references use the in-house 69355.
- Water resistance: 30 m. That covers rain and hand washing, not swimming.
- Strap: alligator leather on a pin buckle or deployant clasp.
Before You Order
- Your wrist measurement. A 41 mm case with roughly 50 mm lug-to-lug sits large on a 6.5 inch wrist.
- A budget tier. Decide between a $100 to $200 automatic and a $300 to $500 high-end build before you browse.
- The seller's return window, in writing.
- A payment method with buyer protection.
How to Check a Replica IW371473 Step by Step
- Write down your target specs: 41 mm wide, 13 mm thick, 20 mm lugs, subdials at 12 and 6, no date.
- Ask for a photo of the watch on a scale and beside a caliper. A copy that measures 15 mm thick looks like a brick on the wrist.
- Confirm the movement type. Options are quartz, meca-quartz, a Seagull ST19, or an Asian 7750 clone. The 7750 clone is the one that delivers a working two-register chronograph at the correct subdial spacing.
- Check subdial position against the vertical center line of the dial. On a good copy the subdial hands sit on the same axis as the 12 and 6 numerals. On a cheap copy they drift outward.
- Inspect the dial printing under magnification. The brand name and SCHAFFHAUSEN should be crisp, level, and spaced, with no ink bleed or filled-in letters.
- Test the chronograph from a video the seller sends. Start, stop, and reset. The hands must snap back to zero in one motion with no creep.
- Examine the crown. It should be signed, turn without grit, and return from the pushed-in position to time setting without a fight.
- Check the crystal material. Genuine uses domed sapphire. Good copies use sapphire with a single antireflective coat. If the listing says mineral glass, expect scratches within months.
- Confirm the strap is 20 mm at the lugs and the buckle shape matches the reference.
- Read the caseback engraving. Reference number, case metal, and serial should be laser-crisp, not stamped deep and uneven.
- Assume zero water resistance, whatever the caseback claims. Have a watchmaker pressure test it, or keep it dry.
- Ask about shipping, customs handling, and who pays return postage before you send money.
Red Flags
- Listing photos that are clearly the genuine watch.
- No movement name given, only a phrase like high quality automatic.
- Case thickness listed at 15 mm or more.
- A price far below the tier the seller advertises.
- No return policy, or a window that closes the day the parcel lands.
Caring for the Watch
A 7750-based copy needs a service every three to five years if you run the chronograph often. Wind it at the same time each day so the mainspring stays charged, keep it away from speakers and magnetic clasps, and store it on a soft surface. Leather straps absorb sweat, so wipe the underside with a dry cloth after wear and replace the strap once it stiffens. Treat the watch as a dress piece. That matches how the genuine reference gets worn anyway.