The IW371421 is the steel Portuguese Chronograph with a silver-plated dial and gold applied numerals, and it is one of the most copied IWC references on the market. Replica production answers with three rough tiers, and the gap between tiers is wider than the gap between the best tier and the genuine watch. The pick comes first, then the comparison points that decide it.
Fake IW371421: What You Need to Know Before Buying
Our pick: top-tier A7750 build with a corrected dial
Buy the top tier first. It is the only version that gets right the two things you cannot fix after purchase: the 40.9 mm case with a slim profile, and the silver-plated dial with thin, correctly spaced printing. A strap, a crown or a buckle can be replaced later. A flat dial and a thick case cannot.
How to Spot a Fake IW371421 Watch
Expect a modified Asia 7750 at 28,800 vph, sapphire on both sides of the dial, and a solid steel caseback with engraved lettering. Skip any listing that shows a display back on this reference.
Fake IW371421 Synonym: Replica, Copy, Clone, or Homage?
Fake IW371421 compared to the genuine watch: four differences that matter
1. Case profile and lug curve
The genuine case measures 40.9 mm across and sits close to 12.3 mm thick, with lugs that curve down toward the wrist. Budget replicas add 1 to 2 mm of thickness and keep the lugs straighter, so the watch sits high on the wrist and the strap leaves a gap at the spring bars. Measure thickness at the caseback edge with a caliper before you accept a unit.
2. Dial finish and printing
The genuine silver-plated dial has a soft, warm tone under daylight and crisp, hairline printing. The IWC logo strokes are thin and even. Replicas fail here in two ways: a dial that reads gray rather than silver, and printing that is heavy enough to look painted. Subdial rings should show fine concentric snailing, not a flat disc.
3. Movement and subdial behavior
IWC caliber 79350 is a reworked Valjoux 7750, so the layout is running seconds at 6 and chronograph minutes at 12, both on the vertical axis. A good replica keeps that spacing. Test the reset: the minute counter should snap to zero with no drift and no creep after ten cycles.
4. Caseback, crown and strap
The genuine watch closes with a solid steel caseback and deep engraving. Replica engraving often looks shallow or laser-etched. The crown should be signed and should seat flush. Original straps are alligator with a signed buckle, and most replicas ship with calf leather that stiffens after a month.
Replica options after the pick
Option A: mid tier with a good dial
A step down in case finishing, but the dial tone and printing hold up in daylight. Choose this if the top tier is out of stock in your region and you plan to swap the strap anyway.
Option B: entry tier
Cheapest and the easiest to spot on the wrist. Thick case, flat dial, loose chronograph reset. Buy it only as a beater, and only from a seller who shows photos of the actual unit.
How to compare a fake IW371421 to a genuine in five steps
- Measure case thickness at the caseback edge with a caliper and compare it to the 12.3 mm reference figure.
- Photograph the dial at 1:1 in daylight and compare the weight of the IWC logo strokes to a reference photo.
- Check subdial positions against a straight edge: running seconds at 6, chronograph minutes at 12.
- Run the chronograph for ten minutes, reset it, and watch the minute counter return to zero.
- Turn the watch over and inspect the caseback engraving depth and font, then confirm it is solid steel.
Before you order
- Ask for photos of the exact unit, not catalog renders.
- Confirm the movement name and the 28,800 vph beat rate in writing.
- Confirm strap material and buckle signing.
- Check the return window and the refund terms.
- Buy only from sellers who state that the watch is a replica.