Fake IW371655: The Short Answer
A counterfeit IW371655 fails in three places: the movement behind the caseback, the engraving on the back, and the printing on the dial. Get any of those wrong and you are not looking at an IWC. Everything else, meaning the box, the papers, the seller's story, is secondary.
Confirm the Reference First
Before you judge the watch, judge the listing. IW371655 is one code in a family of Portugieser Chronograph references, and fakers lift real numbers straight from catalogs. Check that the dial color, case metal, strap, and reference number are a combination IWC actually shipped. If the photos show a dial that never left Schaffhausen with that number, you can stop there.
Dial and Hands
- Printing. Genuine "IWC Schaffhausen" text sits sharp under a loupe. Fakes show fuzzy edges, uneven letter spacing, or ink bleeding into the lacquer.
- Subdials. Snailed finishing inside each counter should catch light in fine concentric rings. Flat, printed rings are a giveaway.
- Hands. Leaf-shaped hands need crisp polished bevels and consistent length. Fakes often run short or thick.
- Indices. Applied markers on the genuine watch sit flush with even gaps. Glue haze or a tilted marker means trouble.
- Crystal. Watch the reflections. A correct sapphire has a faint blue or purple tint and almost no glare. Cheap glass flares under a lamp.
Caseback, Serial, and Engraving
Flip it over. The reference and serial numbers should be cut into the metal, not stamped on top of it, and the font should match IWC's own. Look at character spacing and the depth of the cut. Fakes engrave shallow, with rounded or crowded lettering. If the caseback is a display back, the movement you see through the glass is the whole argument.
The Movement
This is where most fakes collapse. Genuine Portugieser Chronographs use an IWC movement or a base IWC has rebuilt to its own spec. Copies use an Asian 7750, a stripped chronograph module, or a quartz movement hidden behind a decorated plate. Look for rotor engraving that matches the reference, blued screws that are only painted blue, and jewel settings that look pressed rather than set. Then wind it. A healthy IWC feels dense and smooth. A fake feels gritty or slack.
Case, Crown, and Pushers
Run a finger along the case flanks. The transition from polished to brushed surfaces should be a clean line. Fakes blur it. The crown should carry the IWC mark and turn with resistance. Pushers need firm, short travel and a snap on return. Soft or wobbly pushers are a bad sign.
Price and Paperwork
Nobody sells a genuine IW371655 for a fifth of market value. If the number looks too good, the watch is the reason. Ask for the original box, warranty card, and service receipts, then compare the serial on the card with the serial on the case. When in doubt, take it to an IWC service center or a watchmaker who works on Swiss chronographs. An inspection costs far less than paying for a fake.
Quick Checklist Before You Pay
- Reference, dial, and metal combination exists in the IWC catalog.
- Dial printing is sharp, subdials are snailed, hands are the right shape.
- Caseback engraving is deep, even, and correctly spaced.
- Movement finishing and winding feel match the reference.
- Serial on the case matches the papers.
- Price sits in the real market range, not below it.