A replica IW371736 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a stainless steel two-register chronograph of roughly 41mm with a sapphire crystal and a leather strap. Solid examples sell for about $250 to $500 and run a decorated Asia Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph. The gap between a $150 copy and a $450 copy shows up in case thickness, subdial position, dial printing, and strap material, not in the movement name alone.
What are the real specs of the Portugieser Chronograph IW371736?
The genuine watch pairs a slim-bezeled steel case with feuille hands, applied Arabic numerals, and a clean two-register dial. The 30-minute chronograph counter sits at 12 and small seconds at 6, with a date aperture on the right side of the dial. Water resistance is rated at 3 bar, which is splash protection only.
How close are the best replicas?
High-tier copies match the case profile, crystal dome, and dial printing well enough to pass at arm's length. Thickness is the most common tell, since a 7750-based chronograph often measures 1mm to 1.5mm deeper than the original. Strap quality and overall weight usually give the watch away next.
Which movement should you pick?
Most replicas use an Asia Valjoux 7750 running at 28,800 vph with a 40 to 48 hour reserve, finished with IWC-style rotor engraving. Quartz versions are thinner and cheaper, but the running seconds at 6 ticks once per second, which is an instant giveaway. No replica offers a true clone of IWC's in-house 69355 or the 79350 chronograph calibre it replaced.
What should you check in QC photos?
- Subdial position: the 12 and 6 counters should sit on the vertical axis and mirror each other.
- Date window: check alignment, font size, and whether the numerals sit level.
- Dial printing: brand text and the automatic line should be crisp, spaced evenly, and straight.
- Hands: feuille hands should reach the minute track and match in polish and color.
- Caseback: engraving depth, rotor decoration, and screw alignment.
- Strap: embossed croc grain is the fastest tell, so budget for a real leather strap.
How much should a replica IW371736 cost?
Quartz and low-grade automatics run $120 to $200. A properly finished sapphire automatic with a smooth chronograph action lands at $250 to $400. Anything past $600 is usually the same watch with a markup, not a better build.
Is a replica IW371736 water resistant?
Treat any copy as splash resistant at best, regardless of what the listing claims. Gaskets, crown seals, and caseback torque are rarely tested at the factory. Never swim or shower with one.
Should you buy one?
The replica IW371736 makes sense if you want the Portugieser look and a working chronograph without the five-figure price of the original. Buy the mid-tier automatic, replace the strap, and skip any seller promising a 1:1 in-house movement.