A replica IW371652 is almost always a counterfeit of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference IW371652, and the honest recommendation is a genuine pre-owned example rather than a copy. The criteria behind that call are the three things a counterfeit cannot deliver: a correct movement, faithful case and dial finishing, and documented provenance. This guide explains what the reference is, how to judge authenticity, and how the two realistic buying routes compare.
What the IW371652 actually is
IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss manufacturer based in Schaffhausen, and the Portugieser is its longest-running family, dating to the 1930s. The IW371652 sits in the Portugieser Chronograph branch of that line: a stainless steel watch built around a two-register chronograph layout with elapsed minutes at twelve and running seconds at six, a design IWC has used for decades. Case diameter in this family falls in the 40 to 41 mm range, and dial variants changed across the production run, so the exact colour and index style of a specific IW371652 has to be confirmed against the individual watch rather than assumed. Movement content changed too: earlier examples in this family used a modified Valjoux 7750 base, while later production moved to in-house 69000-series calibres. That detail matters because it is the hardest thing for a counterfeiter to fake.
Criteria that decide whether a watch is the real thing
Movement
Ask for a photograph of the movement and compare finishing, engraving, and rotor design against published reference material. Genuine chronograph movements show even perlage, crisp engraving, and a correct jewel count. Copies show soft finishing and generic stamping.
Case and dial finishing
Study the transition between brushed and polished surfaces, the sharpness of the lugs, the depth of the dial printing, and the alignment of the subdial hands. On a counterfeit these are the first things to look soft.
Provenance and paperwork
An authentic reference comes with a warranty card, service history, or a dealer receipt. A watch with no history at a price far below the market is not a bargain.
Route one: a genuine pre-owned IW371652
- Pros: a fully functional movement, serviceable by IWC or a qualified watchmaker, retains resale value, and carries no legal risk.
- Cons: higher upfront cost, availability depends on the secondary market, and you may need to budget for a service.
Route two: a counterfeit replica
- Pros: low upfront cost and immediate availability.
- Cons: the movement is a generic copy that no authorised service centre will touch, water resistance and finishing are unreliable, there is no warranty, resale value is zero, and import and sale are unlawful in the United States. Counterfeit watches are seized at the border, and selling one exposes you to trademark liability.
Which route fits which buyer
If you want a mechanical chronograph you can wear daily, hand down, and sell later without losing the entire purchase price, buy the genuine watch, new or pre-owned. If the budget will not stretch to a Portugieser, a legitimate chronograph from a mid-tier maker gives you a working movement, a warranty, and real resale for less than most people expect. The counterfeit wins on day one and loses on every day after.