A fake IW371652 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, and the fastest check is the caseback. Genuine current-production IW371652 watches use a sapphire display back over a decorated in-house calibre 69355, while most fakes hide a generic movement behind solid steel. The reference stamp is the second giveaway, because counterfeiters print the number in formats IWC never uses.
What is the IW371652?
The IW371652 sits in the IWC Portugieser Chronograph family: a 41 mm stainless steel watch with a two-register dial, small seconds at 6 o'clock and a 30-minute counter at 12. IWC lists the exact dial, hands, and strap combination for each reference on its own product page.
The line traces back to the 1930s Portugieser, and the modern chronograph became one of the brand's best sellers. A clean, symmetric dial is the reason copies appear in volume.
Can you spot a fake IW371652 without opening the watch?
Yes, in most cases. A short list of visible details separates a real Portugieser Chronograph from a copy.
- Caseback type. Recent 3716-series watches use a see-through sapphire back. A solid steel back on a watch sold as an IW371652 should prompt questions about the calibre inside.
- Reference format. IWC stamps a reference and a serial number on the caseback. A back with one number, or a serial that does not match the paperwork, deserves a closer look.
- Engraving quality. Genuine engraving is sharp and even. Counterfeit backs show shallow, stamped letters with soft edges and uneven spacing.
- Dial printing. Compare the weight and placement of the brand text against IWC's own photos of that reference. Fake dials pack letters together or use a heavier font.
- Subdial layout. Match the counter positions to the reference photos. A dial with an extra aperture for a different model is not the watch being advertised.
- Case finishing. Look at the line where brushed and polished surfaces meet. Real cases keep that line crisp along the lugs, while copies blur it.
- Crown and pushers. Genuine chronograph pushers start and reset with a firm click. Loose, gritty pushers point to a cheap movement.
What does the movement tell you?
Recent Portugieser Chronographs in the 3716 series run the in-house calibre 69355 with a column wheel and a sapphire display back. Earlier 3714 references used calibre 79350, a modified Valjoux 7750, under a closed back.
Fakes run on 7750 copies or undecorated Chinese automatics. The finishing on the bridges, the balance, and the rotor screws looks nothing like IWC work once the case is open.
Calibre 69355 vs older calibres
Ask the seller for the calibre number in writing. A watch described as an IW371652 with a calibre 79350 inside is either a different reference or a watch that needs a closer inspection.
What is a super clone IW371652?
Super clones are higher-priced copies that mimic the case, dial, and strap with better materials. Some use a Chinese 7750-style chronograph movement or a decorated automatic built to look like an IWC calibre from the outside.
None of them pass a service check. An IWC service center or any competent watchmaker identifies the movement and the finishing within minutes of opening the case.
What price should an IW371652 sell for?
Retail on a leather strap sits in the high four figures in US dollars, and pre-owned examples trade below that. A listing that offers a new IW371652 for a few hundred dollars is selling a counterfeit.
Discounts of 60 to 70 percent off retail from an unknown seller are the oldest signal in the replica market. Check current listings on a large marketplace to see where real prices sit before you negotiate.
What should you do before buying?
- Request sharp photos of the dial, caseback, crown, pushers, and buckle.
- Compare the reference format and dial layout against IWC's page for that reference.
- Ask for the box, warranty card, and any service records.
- Pay through an escrow service or a payment method with buyer protection.
- Have a watchmaker open the caseback before money changes hands.
FAQ
Do fakes of the IW371652 exist?
Yes. The Portugieser Chronograph is copied, though less often than Rolex models. Supply varies by market and by seller, and quality ranges from obvious to convincing in photos.
Is the IW371652 faked more than other IWC references?
Steel chronographs with simple dials are the easiest IWC models to copy, and the Portugieser Chronograph is the best known of them. Complicated references such as perpetual calendars are copied less because the cost of faking them is high.
Can IWC confirm whether a watch is genuine?
An IWC service center can inspect a watch and confirm the movement and case. IWC has no public serial lookup tool for retail buyers, so authentication runs through a service center or a qualified watchmaker.
Does a real IW371652 have a display caseback?
Recent 3716-series Portugieser Chronographs use a sapphire display back. If a seller shows a solid steel back on a watch sold as an IW371652, ask for the reference and calibre before you pay.
Bottom line
The caseback, the movement, and the reference number format do most of the work when you check an IW371652. Buy from a seller who allows an inspection, and treat any price that looks too low as the first red flag.