Replica IW371421: Short Answer
A replica IW371421 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Portuguese Chronograph reference IW371421. The genuine watch has a 40.9 mm stainless steel case, a blue dial with two subdials, sapphire crystals front and back, and IWC calibre 79350, an automatic chronograph movement. Replicas come in three tiers: quartz lookalikes, mid-range automatic copies, and super clone builds that match the case size and use a 7750-derived automatic. Only the top tier feels close in the hand. None of them contain IWC parts, and none carry a factory warranty or service.
Genuine IW371421 Specs to Compare Against
- Case: stainless steel, 40.9 mm diameter, about 12.3 mm thick
- Dial: two registers, running seconds at 6 o'clock, chronograph minutes at 12 o'clock
- Hands: leaf shaped, applied indices
- Crystal: sapphire, domed, antireflective coating on both faces
- Movement: calibre 79350, automatic, 28,800 vibrations per hour, about 44 hours of reserve
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Strap: alligator leather on a steel pin buckle for most references
Use these numbers as a checklist. A copy that misses the diameter or the thickness by more than half a millimetre will sit differently on the wrist.
The Three Replica Tiers
Tier 1: Quartz Lookalikes
Mineral glass, plated brass cases, printed dials, and a battery movement. The chronograph pushers often drive a fake hand or nothing at all. These read as fake from arm's length.
Tier 2: Mid-Range Automatics
Usually a 316L steel case with an Asian 7750 or a generic automatic. Subdials often sit at the wrong positions, and the finish on the dial print is flat.
Tier 3: Super Clone Builds
Correct 40.9 mm case, sapphire crystal with AR coating, sharper dial print, and a decorated 7750-style movement. This is the only tier worth comparing side by side with photos of the real watch.
How to Check One Before You Buy
- Measure the case diameter across the crown line and compare it with 40.9 mm.
- Measure the thickness at the caseback; the genuine is about 12.3 mm.
- Check the subdial positions. The running seconds belongs at 6 o'clock, not 9.
- Look at the dial print under a loupe. Blurred edges and uneven spacing are common faults.
- Check the crystal for a blue or purple tint from the antireflective coating.
- Start the chronograph, let it run for one minute, then stop and reset it. The hand must snap back to zero.
- Listen to the rotor. A loose, rattling weight points to a low-grade movement.
- Inspect the caseback engraving and the crown threads for sharp edges or cross-threading.
Movement Tells
The genuine 79350 places the small seconds at 6 o'clock. A stock 7750 places it at 9 o'clock. Builders who want the correct layout either fit a transfer gear or use a modified movement, and that work adds cost. If a seller shows a photo with seconds at 9, the watch is a stock 7750 dropped into a Portuguese-style case. Ask for a photo of the movement and a timing reading. A healthy rate sits between plus or minus 10 seconds per day with an amplitude above 250 degrees.
Legal Reality in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watch shipments on a routine basis. Buyers risk losing both the money and the watch. Repairs are also a problem. Replica movements and cases do not take IWC parts, so a broken pusher or a cracked crystal can end the life of the watch.