What Is the IWC Portugieser IW371651?
The IW371651 is a reference in the IWC Portugieser Chronograph family: a 41 mm stainless steel watch with a bicompax dial, a 30-minute counter at 12, small seconds at 6, and leaf-shaped hands. A replica IW371651 is a counterfeit copy of that watch, built in China and sold through online dealers and forum sellers. The genuine version runs IWC's in-house calibre 69355, a column-wheel automatic with a 46-hour power reserve.
Case thickness sits near 13 mm on the original, and that number matters more than any other spec on this page. Copies run thick, and a thick case kills the slim profile that defines the Portugieser line. Lug shape and crown finish follow close behind.
What Do Replica IW371651 Watches Cost?
Prices fall into three bands, and each band buys a different level of detail. Cheap builds sit at the bottom, mid-tier automatics in the middle, and the best-made versions, often called super clones, at the top.
- Under $100: quartz or basic automatic, mineral glass, painted indices, case thickness off by 2 mm or more.
- $180 to $320: Asian 7750 clone, sapphire crystal on many builds, dial layout close to the original.
- $350 to $550: decorated movement, correct subdial spacing, sapphire with anti-reflective coating, better case finishing.
Anything above $600 deserves scrutiny. At that price you are near a used entry-level Swiss chronograph, and no replica is a sound buy at that number.
Which Movement Sits Inside a Replica Portugieser Chronograph?
Most copies run a clone of the Valjoux 7750, sold as the Asia 7750 or A7750. The original IWC 79350 was itself a modified 7750 with the small seconds moved from 9 to 6 and the 12-hour counter deleted. Replica builders copy that same layout, so the 7750 family shows up in most versions of this reference.
A few sellers fit a clone of the 69355 or a decorated Seagull chronograph. Those builds cost more and appear on fewer storefronts. Cheap quartz copies use two subdials that track nothing.
How to Check a Replica IW371651 Before You Pay
- Case thickness. Ask for caliper photos. The original measures about 13 mm. Copies at 14.5 mm or more sit tall on the wrist.
- Subdial spacing. The 12 and 6 counters should sit close to the center, not pushed toward the outer track.
- Date window. Most versions of this reference carry a date at 3. Check that it lines up with the printed track and shows a crisp font.
- Movement photo. A decorated rotor, blued screws, and perlage on the bridges point to a higher tier.
- Crown. It should sit flush against the case and carry the logo in relief, not stamped flat.
- Video proof. Ask for the chronograph start, stop, and reset on camera. The reset should snap to zero in one push.
Which Details Do Most Clones Get Wrong?
- Case thickness and lugs. Copies run thick and the lugs lose their downward curve.
- Dial printing. Brand text is often too heavy, or spaced wrong against the subdials.
- Subdial rings. Original rings have fine concentric lines. Copies use flat discs with printed rings.
- Hands. Leaf hands should be polished on top and matte on the flanks. Copies polish the whole surface.
- Movement finish. Genuine calibre 69355 shows Geneva stripes and blued screws. Most clones show a plain rotor.
Replica vs Genuine: Side by Side
- Price: $350 to $550 for a top replica tier vs about $7,500 to $8,500 retail for the steel original on a leather strap.
- Movement: Asian 7750 clone vs in-house calibre 69355.
- Resale: replicas hold no value; genuine Portugieser Chronographs trade near retail on the used market.
- Service: replicas get no factory support; IWC covers a registered genuine watch for up to 8 years.
Is Buying a Replica IW371651 Legal?
No. A replica is a counterfeit, and counterfeit goods are illegal to sell or import in the United States. US Customs can seize a shipment, and the buyer can face a civil penalty. Personal use carries less risk than resale, but the watch stays contraband.
IWC will not service a counterfeit, and no authorized repair center will open the case. Any warranty comes from the seller alone, and most sellers vanish within a few months. That risk sits on top of the legal one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close is a replica IW371651 to the real watch?
On the wrist, a top-tier copy reads as a Portugieser from several feet away. In the hand, case thickness, dial text, and movement finish give it away. Anyone who knows the reference will spot it once the watch comes off.
Does a replica IW371651 use a Swiss movement?
Seldom. Some sellers advertise ETA or Sellita, but the movement in most copies comes from Asian factories. A true Swiss ETA 7750 inside a replica is unusual and adds cost.
What is the power reserve on a replica Portugieser chronograph?
A 7750 clone runs about 40 to 48 hours from a full wind. That matches the 46 hours of the genuine calibre 69355.
Do replica IW371651 watches keep time well?
A decent copy runs within 10 to 20 seconds a day out of the box. A local watchmaker can regulate it closer, though many shops refuse to work on counterfeits.
Are the subdials on a cheap copy real?
Quartz copies under $100 often ship with subdials that never move. Working chronograph functions start in the $180 range with the Asian 7750 builds.