A fake IW371473 gives itself away in three places: the subdial layout (chronograph minutes at 12, small seconds at 6), the 28,800 vph beat of the caliber 79350, and the way the caseback text is cut into the steel. The IW371473 sits in IWC's Portugieser Chronograph reference group, a frequent target for counterfeiters.
Below is a check-by-check guide, from the dial printing down to the movement, plus what replicas cost and what you risk by buying one.
Why the IW371473 Gets Faked
The Portugieser Chronograph is one of IWC's best-selling lines, so replica factories copy it early and often. The shape looks simple in photos, which makes the silhouette easy to reproduce from screen grabs. The problems show up in details a photo hides: printed text, subdial depth, and the movement inside.
How to Spot a Fake IW371473
1. Dial printing and layout
Genuine IWC dials carry several print layers. The wordmark, "SCHAFFHAUSEN", "AUTOMATIC", and "CHRONOGRAPH" sit at measured heights and hold a sharp edge under a loupe. On a fake, letters look thick, uneven, or too dark, and the spacing between lines drifts.
- Subdials: chronograph minutes at 12, running seconds at 6. Three subdials means the factory copied a different watch.
- Railroad minute track: fine, even, and lined up with the markers on real dials.
- Text weight: thin, clean strokes. Heavy blocky letters are a quick fail.
2. Hands and subdial depth
Feuille (leaf) hands are the signature of the model. Originals are polished, with a slight curve and a sharp center ridge. Replicas use flat hands with blunt tips and dull polish.
The two subdials should sit near the same plane as the dial, recessed by a hair with a clean step. Look at the hands from the side. On a fake, the subdial hands float above the dial instead of sitting close to it.
3. Case and lugs
The case measures 40.9 mm across and about 12.3 mm thick, with lugs that curve down toward the wrist. A fake case runs thick (13 mm or more) and the lug tips feel sharp rather than rounded.
Check the crown and pushers next. Real pushers are long and tapered, and they start the chronograph with a light click and a clean reset. Mushy pushers point to a cheap movement.
4. Movement and beat rate
Genuine IW371473 watches run the caliber 79350, a modified Valjoux 7750 with a 44-hour power reserve and 28,800 vibrations per hour. Hold the watch to your ear or use a timegrapher app. Eight beats a second is correct. Six beats a second (21,600 vph) means a fake.
A real movement also shows finish through the sapphire caseback: Geneva stripes, blued screws, and an engraved rotor. A plain rotor with no decoration is a giveaway.
5. Caseback engraving and serials
Reference numbers, case numbers, and model text are laser-engraved on genuine IWC casebacks with fine, uniform lines. Fakes use shallow stamping or heavy engraving that catches light in patches. Ask for the serial number and have a boutique or watchmaker confirm it against IWC service records.
6. Strap, buckle, and packaging
Original straps are signed and newer pieces use a quick-change system. The pin buckle or deployant clasp carries a clean logo stamp, not a wavy one. Boxes and papers are the easiest part of a set to fake, so treat a full set as a weak signal.
What Good Replicas Do Get Right
Top-tier replicas copy the case profile and dial layout well enough to pass at arm's length. They miss the movement, the finishing under a loupe, and small measurements such as lug thickness and hand length. On a phone camera at a dinner table the difference is hard to see. In the hand, it is not.
What Does a Fake IW371473 Cost?
Replica pricing splits into three rough tiers.
- Cheap quartz copies: $50 to $150. Wrong subdial function, plated case, obvious tells.
- Mid-tier automatic: $200 to $400. Closer dial, generic movement, wrong beat rate.
- High-end "super clone": $500 to $900 and up. Correct layout, decorated 7750 base, weak points in printing and caseback depth.
None of those prices include service, and most replica movements run without spare parts support.
Is a Fake IW371473 Worth Buying?
Buying, selling, or importing counterfeit watches carries legal risk in the US and most of Europe, and customs seizures are common. Resale value is zero. If you want the look of a Portugieser Chronograph on a budget, a used chronograph from a legitimate brand holds value and can still be serviced.
FAQ: Fake IW371473 Questions
What reference family does IW371473 belong to?
It sits in the IWC Portugieser Chronograph group, the IW3714 series, which shares the caliber 79350 and the 12/6 subdial layout. Dial color and case metal differ across references in that group, so confirm the exact finish with IWC before you compare a watch to photos.
Can a jeweler tell a fake IW371473 in seconds?
A watchmaker with a loupe can check the printing and the movement in under a minute. The fastest single test is the beat rate, followed by the rotor decoration.
Do fake IW371473 watches use real IWC movements?
No. Counterfeiters use generic or cloned movements, often an Asian 7750 copy. Genuine IWC calibers are not sold loose in the volume a fake factory would need.
Is weight a reliable test?
Not on its own. A steel replica can match the weight of a steel original, though solid gold cases are harder to fake. Weigh the head with the strap off if you want a data point.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- Count the subdials and check the layout: minutes at 12, seconds at 6.
- Time the beat: eight ticks per second.
- Read the caseback engraving under magnification.
- Look at lug thickness and hand profile from the side.
- Ask for the serial and confirm it with IWC or a trusted watchmaker.