Short answer
IW545153 is an IWC Schaffhausen reference number in the Portuguese chronograph family. A "fake IW545153" is a counterfeit watch listed under that number. Genuine watches in this block use a Valjoux 7750 base caliber, a round steel case, two subdials, and a 30 m water resistance rating. Copies copy the outline and miss the details: subdial spacing, date font, crown size, caseback engraving, and strap stitching.
Facts about the reference
- Brand: IWC Schaffhausen, Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
- Line: Portuguese chronograph.
- Documented sibling: IW3714, 40.9 mm wide, 12.3 mm thick, caliber 79350.
- Caliber 79350 is a modified Valjoux 7750 with a two-register layout.
- Water resistance: 30 m.
- Crystal: sapphire, front and caseback.
- Strap: alligator leather with a steel pin buckle.
Case size, thickness, and dial layout shift between Portuguese variants. Ask for caliper photos and a movement photo before you pay.
Movements inside replicas
Three tiers show up in listings.
- Quartz: 60 USD to 120 USD. The chronograph hands tick once per second. The seconds hand does not sweep.
- Asian 7750 clone: 220 USD to 450 USD. 28,800 vph, sweeping seconds, working chronograph.
- Claimed Swiss ETA 7750: 600 USD and up. ETA has cut ebauche sales to companies outside the Swatch Group since 2011. Treat "brand new Swiss ETA" as a claim that needs a movement photo.
Checks on the watch
- Subdials: hand lengths and spacing. Cheap dials push the counters toward the center.
- Sweep: 8 beats per second on a 7750 base. A 1 beat per second tick means quartz.
- Chronograph reset: all hands return to zero and stay there.
- Crown: signed, three positions, winding and date set without grinding.
- Caseback: engraving depth, reference text, serial placement.
- Case edges: sharp chamfers, no polish spilling onto brushed surfaces.
Legal facts in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell in the US. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods and carries prison time and fines. CBP officers seize counterfeit shipments at the border, and buyers lose the money. IWC does not service counterfeit watches. A fake has no resale value with a dealer or an auction house.
Questions for a seller
- Which movement, and can you send a photo of the rotor and balance?
- What is the case diameter in millimeters?
- Does the chronograph reset to zero?
- What happens if customs holds the parcel?
- Is there a return window after delivery?
Short version: the reference is real, the watches sold under "fake IW545153" are not. Price, movement, and return terms decide the risk.