Replica IW371704 for Sale: Check the Real Watch First
The IW371704 is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph: 41 mm steel case, silver-plated dial, blue applied numerals and hands, twin sub-dials at 12 and 6, and a Valjoux-based automatic chronograph inside. Replica copies of this reference start around $80 in quartz form and climb past $400 for automatic builds that mimic the 79350 layout. The gap between those two ends is not cosmetic. It shows in the pusher feel, the date alignment, the dial printing, and how the case sits on the wrist. Set your budget and your tolerance for flaws before you browse a single catalog.
Reference Specs to Hold the Replica Against
- Case diameter: roughly 41 mm, with a slim bezel and long lugs
- Thickness: about 13 mm on the genuine, thinner on most fakes
- Dial: silver-plated with blue printed numerals and leaf-style hands
- Sub-dials: running seconds at 6, chronograph minutes at 12
- Crystal: domed sapphire on the original, mineral or sapphire on copies
- Water resistance: rated 30 m on the genuine, and almost never tested on a replica
How to Vet a Seller and the Watch
- Ask for dated photos of the actual watch with a handwritten note in frame, never stock renders.
- Request a straight-on dial shot and a profile shot, then compare sub-dial spacing to the reference photos.
- Ask which movement is inside, quartz, a Chinese automatic, or a Valjoux 7750 clone, and get a photo of the caseback.
- Confirm the pusher layout works: start, stop, and reset should each respond with one firm press.
- Pay with a method that can be reversed, and skip sellers who only accept crypto or gift cards.
- Get the shipping method in writing before payment, since customs seizure is the buyer's risk in most cases.
Quality Parameters That Matter
- Movement: a 7750-derived automatic gives a sweeping seconds hand and a 12-hour chronograph; quartz does not.
- Dial print: the numerals should be sharp, evenly spaced, and level with the sub-dial rings.
- Date wheel: misaligned or oversized dates are the fastest tell at conversation distance.
- Case finishing: brushed flanks with polished bevels, and no tool marks around the lugs.
- Strap: most replicas ship with stiff embossed leather. Budget for a replacement band.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Sellers who recycle the same photo across dozens of listings are usually drop-shippers, not stock holders.
- “Swiss made” claims on a $150 automatic are marketing text, not a description of origin.
- Any replica sold as genuine is fraud, and buying one knowingly leaves you with no recourse if it fails.
- Import rules vary by country. Seized parcels are rarely refunded by the seller.
- Replicas carry no service network, so a failed movement means replacing the watch, not repairing it.
Price Bands
Quartz copies sit under $100 and look wrong in motion. Mid-tier automatics run $180 to $300 and cover most casual buyers. The top replica tier, $350 to $500, adds a cloned 7750, sapphire glass, and closer dial geometry. Anything above that is dealer markup, not better hardware.