The top pick is the genuine IWC Portugieser Chronograph, the watch family the IW371650 reference belongs to. Chinese-made copies sold under that number fail the criteria that decide the call: movement architecture, case and dial execution, serviceability, and legal exposure. If you want the Portugieser look, the defensible path is a genuine example or a documented pre-owned one, not a replica.

What the IW371650 reference actually is

References in the IWC Portugieser Chronograph IW3716xx range share a common recipe. The case is stainless steel at roughly 41 mm. The dial is bicompax, with a 30-minute counter at 12 and running seconds at 6, applied Arabic numerals, a railroad minute track, and leaf-shaped hands. Current production runs an in-house column-wheel chronograph movement with about 46 hours of power reserve. Earlier versions of the line used a modified Valjoux 7750 base. Specs shift between references, so confirm the exact number against IWC's own product data before you treat any listing as accurate.

Option 1: Genuine IWC Portugieser Chronograph

This is the reference point every copy gets measured against, and it wins on every criterion that affects long-term ownership.

Pros

  • Real in-house column-wheel chronograph movement with a documented service history.
  • Case finishing, dial printing, and hand geometry match the factory drawings.
  • Official service network, spare parts, and warranty coverage.
  • Holds value and can be resold with paperwork.

Cons

  • Costs five figures in most markets, so budget is the main barrier.
  • Popular dial variants can be hard to find at retail.
  • Insurance and servicing add to the total cost of ownership.

Best for: a buyer who wants the design and the mechanical substance behind it, and who plans to keep the watch for years.

Option 2: Chinese replica sold as an "IW371650"

These listings appear at a fraction of the genuine price, and the gap is not a bargain. What you receive is a watch built around a generic or cloned movement with no parts pipeline.

Pros

  • Low upfront price compared with the genuine watch.
  • Reads as a Portugieser silhouette from across a room.

Cons

  • Trademark infringement. Goods can be seized at import, and payment is not recovered.
  • No warranty, no service path, and no spare parts when the movement stops.
  • Subdial spacing, numeral shapes, and date placement often sit off the genuine proportions.
  • Plated finishes wear through at the lugs and crown, and the wear shows within months of daily use.
  • Listing photos are often lifted from genuine dealer listings, so what ships rarely matches what you saw.
  • Resale value is close to zero, and authentication at a service center is refused.

Best for: nobody who plans to own the watch for long. Treat the listing itself as a warning that claims cannot be verified.

Option 3: Pre-owned genuine or a mainstream chronograph

A pre-owned Portugieser Chronograph from a dealer with paperwork, or a steel chronograph from a mainstream Swiss or Japanese brand, delivers the bicompax look without the legal problem.

Pros

  • Serviceable movement with parts available.
  • Reputable dealers offer inspection periods and authentication.
  • No customs risk and no trademark exposure.
  • Depreciation already absorbed on the pre-owned route.

Cons

  • Still costs more than any replica listing.
  • Condition varies, so you need to review service records and case polish history.
  • Alternatives lack the IWC name on the dial.

Best for: a buyer who wants the bicompax dial on a fixed budget and cares about keeping the watch running.

Criterion check: how to test any IW371650 listing

  1. Match the reference number against IWC product data and confirm case size and movement.
  2. Ask for a movement photo, not a stock image, and look for a column wheel if the reference calls for one.
  3. Check subdial spacing and numeral proportions against official photos.
  4. Request serial and warranty card images, then verify them with a service center.
  5. Confirm the seller's return policy in writing before payment.

Pros of running these checks

  • Catches mismatched references and copied photos before money moves.
  • Gives you a paper trail if you need to dispute a charge.

Cons of skipping them

  • You buy an unverifiable watch with no recourse.
  • Import seizure removes both the goods and the payment.

Legal and practical reality

Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks owned by the brand, and enforcement bodies treat import and sale as actionable. Customs authorities seize counterfeit goods at the border, and buyers are not compensated. Sellers face civil claims and, in some cases, criminal charges. Beyond the law, a replica IW371650 has no service network, so a failed movement turns a low-cost purchase into a paperweight.

Bottom line

If the goal is owning the Portugieser Chronograph, save toward a genuine example or buy pre-owned from a dealer who will authenticate. If the goal is the bicompax look on a tight budget, choose a mainstream chronograph instead. The replica IW371650 answers neither goal, and the money spent on it is gone the moment the parcel arrives.