Quick answer
A fake IW371620 sells for $90 to $600. The genuine watch is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph: 41 mm steel case, in-house calibre 69355, about $8,000 at US retail. No replica carries the 69355. Sellers use the number IW371620 with no fixed standard, and many listings show a dial that does not match the reference in the title. Confirm case size, dial color and movement before you pay.
What the reference covers
IWC lists the Portugieser Chronograph at 41 mm across and 13.1 mm thick, with a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock and small seconds at 6. The calibre 69355 is a column-wheel chronograph with 46 hours of power reserve and a see-through caseback. The 3716 family has many dial variants, so resale and replica listings mix them. Ask for a photo of the caseback engraving and compare the digits to the listing title.
Price tiers
- $90 to $180: quartz movement, printed dial, mineral glass, 38 to 40 mm case, wrong subdial spacing.
- $200 to $350: Chinese automatic, often a 7750 copy, sapphire glass, closer dial print. Subdials still sit near the center.
- $400 to $600: clone tier. Correct 41 mm case, decorated plates shaped like the 69355, AR coating. The movement is not Swiss.
Checks before you pay
- Measure the case. Many fakes sold as 41 mm arrive at 40 mm.
- Look at subdial spacing. Genuine 41 mm dials spread the 12 and 6 counters toward the edge.
- Request a video of chrono start, stop and reset. A slow reset points to a cheap module.
- Use a payment method with recourse. Card and escrow give a dispute path. Wire and crypto do not.
- Read the return terms. Many sellers accept returns for defects but not for change of mind.
US legal risk
US law treats trafficking in counterfeit goods as a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry and destroys them. A single watch for personal use still carries seizure risk, and the buyer has no refund path. Overseas sellers reship after a seizure, which adds 3 to 6 weeks to delivery.
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What replicas miss
Case finishing, the column-wheel feel and rotor wind. Replicas also skip the IWC warranty and service network. Few watchmakers will service a counterfeit, and parts are not stocked. Budget for a movement swap, not a repair.