Short answer

A "fake IW3716" is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, reference family IW3716. The genuine watch has a 41.0 mm case, sapphire glass on both sides, and IWC caliber 69355. Copies match the outside of the watch. They do not match the movement. Four checks settle most cases: the movement, the subdial at 9 o'clock, the caseback text, and the chronograph pushers.

Specs of the real watch

  • Case diameter 41.0 mm. Thickness about 13.1 mm. Steel or gold.
  • Two subdials: elapsed minutes at 12, small seconds at 6. No date window.
  • Caliber 69355: automatic, column wheel chronograph, 46 hours of power reserve, 28,800 vph.
  • Sapphire crystal front and back. Anti-reflective coating on the front.
  • Water resistance 30 m.
  • Alligator strap, or a steel bracelet on some references.

The prior generation, reference 3714, used caliber 79350, a modified Valjoux 7750. That base matters. Many copies still use a 7750-type movement or a Chinese copy of it. The layout and the hand feel differ from the 69355.

Movement checks

Ask for a photo of the back with the movement visible. A solid steel back hides the caliber. On the 69355 the rotor carries the IWC medallion and the bridges show Geneva stripes. Copies show stamped finish, laser text on the rotor, and a balance wheel in a different spot. A 7750 base winds with a rougher feel and a louder rotor.

Subdial and pusher checks

Start the chronograph. The hand at 12 o'clock should step forward once per minute. The small seconds at 6 o'clock should run at all times. Look at 9 o'clock. If a hand sweeps there, the movement is not a 69355. Pushers on the real watch travel a short distance and give a firm click. Copies feel long or soft.

Caseback and dial checks

  • Engraving should be thin and even: reference number, case number, "IWC Schaffhausen", "Probus Scafusia", water resistance.
  • Dial text and hand shape change by reference. Match the exact reference number first.
  • Printed text on a real dial has clean edges under a loupe. Copies show thickened strokes.
  • The crystal should look clear at an angle. Copies show a blue or purple haze from weak coating.

Prices and provenance

Steel 3716 models list in the high four figures to low five figures in USD at retail. Second-hand prices sit below that and move with the reference and the year. Ask for the box, the papers, and the service history. A price far under market is a signal, not a bargain.

Legal status in the US

Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and to sell in the United States. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 covers importation, and 15 U.S.C. § 1127 defines a counterfeit mark. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize a shipment, and a single item for personal use is not exempt. A seized item is not returned and the money is not refunded.

Checklist for a listing

  1. Get the reference number and compare it to the maker's spec sheet.
  2. Get photos of the caseback and the movement.
  3. Get a video of start, stop, and reset.
  4. Compare subdial positions at 12, 6, and 9.
  5. Compare the thickness and the lug shape.
  6. Ask for the serial and the case number.
  7. Compare the asking price to current market data.