What IW371768 Refers To

IW371768 sits in the IWC IW3717 group, the Pilot's Chronograph Automatic built from 2006 to 2012. IWC's published reference list does not carry the number IW371768 as of this writing. A watch sold under that number is unverified until the caseback photo and the movement number check out. Treat the number as a label, not proof.

Genuine IW3717 Specs to Compare

  • Case: 42 mm stainless steel, case height near 14 mm, soft-iron inner case for magnetic shielding.
  • Crystal: sapphire with antireflective coating on both faces.
  • Water resistance: 60 m.
  • Movement: IWC caliber 79320, automatic, Valjoux 7750 base, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 44 hour power reserve.
  • Dial layout: 30-minute counter at 12, 12-hour counter at 6, small seconds at 9, day and date at 3.
  • Strap or bracelet: leather with signed steel pin buckle, or steel bracelet with signed clasp.

Where Copies Fail

  • Caseback: shallow laser engraving, wrong font weight, serial that does not match the number on the movement bridge.
  • Movement: unbranded rotor, no IWC finish, 7750 clone with rough perlage and a date wheel in the wrong font.
  • Dial: subdials set with unequal gaps, 12 o'clock counter too close to the triangle marker, printed minute track that lifts at the edges.
  • Coating: no antireflective layer, so the crystal throws a white glare in daylight.
  • Soft-iron cage: absent. The watch gains time next to a magnet.
  • Weight: copies use a thinner caseback and lighter bracelet links, so the watch sits high on the wrist.

Serial and Paperwork Checks

Ask for the warranty card, the booklet, and a clear photo of the movement number. The case number and the movement number are two separate stamps on a genuine watch. A seller who sends one photo and no number is a stop sign. Redials and swapped cases exist, so papers alone do not settle the question.

Price as a Filter

Pre-owned IW3717 Pilot's Chronographs sit near $3,000 to $5,000 with box and papers, based on public marketplace listings. Anything at $300 to $800 is a copy. A watch at $1,500 is either a damaged genuine piece or a high-grade fake, and both routes need an inspection.

Hands-On Verification

A watchmaker with an IWC parts account can open the case in minutes, read the caliber stamp, and check the cage. Buyers who cannot inspect the watch should budget for that service before payment. No photo set on a phone screen confirms a genuine IW3717 or a genuine IW371768.