If you are searching for a replica IW371704, you are looking for a counterfeit version of an IWC Portugieser Chronograph. There is no licensed, authorized, or legal replica IW371704 sold anywhere. Every watch listed under that label is an unauthorized copy of a protected design and trademark, and it comes with no manufacturer warranty, no service support, no resale market, and a real chance of being seized at customs.
What the IW371704 reference actually is
The IW371704 sits inside IWC Schaffhausen's Portugieser Chronograph family, a line the brand has built in several generations since the 1990s. The reference code identifies one specific combination of case metal, dial finish, and strap. The design language across the family stays consistent: a large round case, a clean two-register chronograph layout with elapsed minutes at 12 and running seconds at 6, applied numerals, and slim leaf hands. That restrained dial is exactly why the reference gets copied, and it is also why copies are easy to expose.
Why counterfeit IW371704 watches fall short
A counterfeit has to reproduce a dial layout that was engineered around a specific movement. The genuine Portugieser Chronograph uses a reworked Valjoux 7750 base, and that architecture dictates where the subdials sit and how the hands sweep. Generic clone movements rarely match it. Watch for these giveaways:
- Subdial placement. The two registers sit too low, too close, or slightly off-center because the movement underneath is a different size.
- Dial printing. The IWC logo, the Schaffhausen line, and the numeral font lack the crispness and weight of the original. Edges look soft under magnification.
- Case finishing. Polished and brushed transitions on the bezel, lugs, and case flanks are uneven, and lug profiles are thicker than they should be.
- Movement behavior. A rough chronograph start, a soft reset, or a noisy rotor are common on cheap copies.
- Crystal and coating. Weak anti-reflective treatment causes glare that the original does not show, and the crystal edge looks thick.
- Caseback engraving. Reference and serial numbers are stamped with the wrong depth and font, or they do not match the paperwork.
- Weight and balance. The watch feels light or top-heavy on the wrist compared with the genuine case.
Legal and practical risk
Counterfeit watches infringe registered trademarks, and selling them is illegal in the United States and most other countries. Imported shipments can be detained and destroyed by customs authorities, and the buyer usually has no recourse. Beyond the legal exposure, a counterfeit IW371704 has no service path. IWC will not service or supply parts for a non-genuine watch, and many independent watchmakers decline the work because parts cannot be sourced. Water resistance claims on a copy are untested and often untrue.
Better routes to the same look
If what draws you to the reference is the clean two-register dial and the vintage Portuguese proportions, there are honest options. Pre-owned genuine Portugieser Chronographs come up regularly through established dealers, often with box, papers, and service history. Legitimate microbrands and mainstream makers also build two-register chronographs with a similar mid-century feel at accessible prices, and those watches hold value, can be serviced, and arrive with a warranty.
How to verify a genuine example
- Buy from an authorized dealer or a pre-owned specialist with a return policy.
- Confirm the reference number on the caseback matches the certificate and the movement.
- Ask for service records and have the watch inspected by a qualified watchmaker before purchase.
- Compare the dial printing and subdial positions against official brand photography.
Replica IW371704 listings almost always promise more than they can deliver. Knowing what the real reference looks like is the fastest way to avoid paying genuine money for a copy.