A fake IW371665 is usually exposed by four things: the movement, the case back, the dial printing, and the case thickness. The genuine watch is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph from the IW3716 family, running IWC calibre 69355, an in-house automatic column-wheel chronograph with a 46-hour power reserve and a sapphire display back. Replicas can copy the silhouette in photos, but they rarely match all four of those details at once.
What specs should a genuine IW371665 have?
Before you judge any watch, lock in the reference specifications. Any meaningful deviation is a red flag.
- 41 mm stainless steel case, roughly 13 mm thick
- Calibre 69355, automatic, column wheel, vertical clutch, 46-hour power reserve
- Sapphire crystal on the front and a sapphire display back
- 30 m water resistance
- Leaf-shaped hands and applied, polished numerals
- Alligator leather strap or integrated steel bracelet depending on the variant
How do you spot a fake IW371665?
The movement is the giveaway
Turn the watch over. A real IW371665 shows a decorated IWC 69355 with Geneva stripes, circular graining, blued screws, and an engraved rotor. Many fakes hide a closed steel back precisely because the movement inside is a generic chronograph module that would not survive a close look.
Case back and crystal
Fake display backs often use mineral glass with a blue tint, or sapphire that sits proud of the case rim. The engraving on a genuine back is deep, crisp, and evenly spaced, while replica laser etching looks shallow and slightly fuzzy under a loupe.
Dial print and hands
Check the "IWC" and "SCHAFFHAUSEN" text under magnification. Genuine printing has sharp, clean edges with no bleeding. Replica dials frequently show thick or slightly crooked lettering, and the subdial spacing at 6 and 12 can sit a fraction off center.
Thickness, weight, and feel
Replicas are often 1 to 2 mm too thick because of the substitute movement. On the wrist, a genuine Portugieser Chronograph feels balanced and dense without being top-heavy, and the chronograph pushers have a short, precise click rather than a spongy travel.
Price and paperwork
A genuine IW371665 trades in the four-figure range and up on the secondary market. An asking price far below market, especially with no box, no papers, and a rushed seller, points to a replica rather than a bargain.
Are super clone IW371665 watches hard to detect?
High-tier replicas copy dial text and case dimensions closely enough to fool a casual glance. The movement decoration and engraving quality remain the most reliable tells, which is why hands-on inspection by a watchmaker matters more than photo comparison.
What should you do before buying a used IW371665?
- Request macro photos of the dial, case back, clasp, and movement.
- Ask for the serial number and confirm it against the reference data.
- Have a qualified watchmaker open the case before money changes hands.
- Insist on original box, papers, and any service history.
- Buy from a seller with verifiable references and a return window.
Why are there so many fakes of this reference?
The Portugieser Chronograph is one of IWC's most recognizable designs, with a clean dial that is easy to reproduce at a distance. That popularity, combined with strong resale demand, keeps replica production of the IW3716 family consistently high.