Watch IW376068 is an IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Automatic, a 44 mm stainless steel dive watch rated to 300 metres and powered by IWC calibre 79320. It sits inside the IW3760 reference family, the chronograph tier of IWC's Aquatimer line, and it uses the brand's SafeDive bezel system. The reference is out of production, so nearly all examples now change hands on the secondary market.
What are the key specifications of IW376068?
The core numbers matter more than the marketing copy, because they are the easiest things to verify against a real watch.
- Case: stainless steel, approximately 44 mm diameter, screw-down crown and pushers
- Water resistance: 300 m / 30 bar, suitable for recreational diving
- Movement: IWC calibre 79320, an automatic chronograph built on the Valjoux 7750 architecture
- Power reserve: roughly 44 hours at 28,800 vibrations per hour
- Crystal: sapphire, antireflective coated, with a sapphire or solid caseback depending on production run
- Dial: chronograph registers plus a day and date aperture at 3 o'clock, with luminous hands and markers
How does the SafeDive bezel on IW376068 work?
SafeDive separates the bezel you touch from the dive scale you read. The external bezel rotates freely and drives an internal scale, so a knock against gear or a wetsuit sleeve cannot silently shift your elapsed-time reading. On a 300 m chronograph this is the single most distinctive piece of engineering in the watch, and it is also the hardest thing to fake convincingly.
Why is IW376068 copied so often?
The Aquatimer Chronograph has broad recognition, a busy dial and a caseback that hides the movement, which makes it an attractive target for counterfeiters. Copies usually appear as generic 44 mm steel chronographs with an IWC logo applied, and they rarely reproduce the bezel mechanism at all. Anyone searching for the reference should assume a large share of listings described as "new" or "unworn" are not genuine.
How do you spot a counterfeit IW376068?
- Turn the outer bezel and watch the inner scale. On a genuine watch they move together in a smooth, linked action; on copies the inner ring is usually fixed or printed.
- Press the chronograph pushers. Calibre 79320 has a firm, mechanical click and a crisp reset to zero; imitations feel spongy and the hands often fail to return exactly.
- Inspect the dial printing under magnification. Genuine IWC text is sharp with even spacing, and the applied markers have clean polished edges.
- Check the caseback engraving depth and the reference and serial number format, then have the numbers verified by IWC or an authorised service partner.
- Weigh the watch. A genuine steel IW376068 has a substantial, dense feel and the bracelet or rubber strap fits the lugs without gaps.
What should you confirm before buying?
Ask for the service history, since a 7750-based chronograph of this age usually needs attention and an unserviced movement can cost several hundred dollars to put right. Request detailed photographs of the caseback, the clasp and the crystal edges, because those are the areas counterfeiters handle least carefully. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified watchmaker is the only reliable way to confirm that the movement inside is a real IWC 79320.