The top pick for anyone searching "fake IW371601" is a first copy sold openly as a replica by a seller who lists the movement, case size, and dial variant, and who does not pretend the watch is genuine. The criteria that separate a usable first copy from a throwaway are the movement inside, the dial print and subdial spacing, the case finishing at the lugs, the crystal profile, and the honesty of the listing. If a listing fails the honesty test, the other four do not matter.
Why the IW371601 Attracts Copies
The IW371601 sits in IWC's Portugieser Chronograph line, a two-register chronograph that is recognized across a room and simple enough in dial layout to be reproduced without a factory. Most references in this family run a 41 mm steel case, a domed sapphire crystal, and a dial with two subdials stacked at 12 and 6. That combination is why the reference is copied often and why the copies vary so much in quality.
None of this makes the reference easy to fake well. The things that separate a convincing copy from an obvious one are small and physical, and they show up only when you get close.
The Tells That Matter Most
Movement and caseback
Modern Portugieser Chronographs commonly run an in-house calibre, while older pieces used a modified Valjoux 7750 base. A copy usually runs a generic quartz or a low-grade automatic. Open the caseback or look through a display back: a rotor with rough sandblasting, mismatched jewel counts, or a seconds hand that ticks once per second instead of sweeping are the fastest giveaways.
Dial print and subdial layout
Look at the brand name under 12 and the chronograph text above 6. On a genuine dial the print is crisp at 10x magnification, with even spacing and no ink bleed. Copies show thick, slightly fuzzy letters, uneven word spacing, and subdials that sit a millimeter off center. Date windows are a common failure: a genuine window is cut cleanly with a beveled edge, while copies show a raw stamped hole.
Case, crystal, and finish
Run a fingernail along the lug tops and the case flank. Genuine brushing is directional and consistent; copies show rounded edges, polished patches where brushing should be, and lugs that are thicker than the reference. The crystal on a copy often carries a strong blue tint or a flat top instead of the domed profile. Pushers should feel firm with a short travel; mushy or gritty pushers point to a cheap movement.
Fake, First Copy, and Replica Are Not the Same Word
A fake is a watch sold as genuine. A first copy is a replica sold as a replica, usually described by grade, movement, and factory. The distinction is legal and practical. Passing a replica off as genuine is fraud in every market, and counterfeit watches are barred from import into the United States, where they can be seized.
If a seller puts the brand name in the title, shows a genuine box and papers, and quotes a price far below market, treat it as a fake rather than a first copy.
First Copy IW371601: Pros and Cons
- Pro: You get the look and wearability of a 41 mm two-register chronograph for a fraction of the genuine price.
- Pro: Honest sellers list the movement and grade, so you know what you are buying.
- Pro: Straps and spring bars are easy to source because the case size is common.
- Con: No brand warranty, no service network, and little resale value.
- Con: Water resistance on copies is unreliable, so keep it away from pools and showers.
- Con: Finishing and dial print will not match a genuine piece under close inspection.
Use-case: a first copy suits someone who wants the Portugieser silhouette for daily wear and accepts that it is a replica. It does not suit anyone buying as an investment, anyone planning to resell it, or anyone who needs a watch that can go in the water.
How to Check a Listing Before You Pay
- Read the description for the words "replica," "first copy," or a named movement. If the listing claims "genuine" at a low price, walk away.
- Ask for close-up photos of the dial at 12 and 6, the caseback, the clasp or buckle, and the crown side of the case.
- Ask for a short video of the seconds hand. A sweeping hand means a mechanical movement; a one-tick-per-second jump means quartz.
- Compare lug width and case thickness to the published reference figures. Copies are often 1 to 2 mm thicker.
- Pay through a method with buyer protection, and skip sellers who only accept irreversible transfers.
Bottom Line
Judge a fake IW371601 by the movement, the dial print, the case finishing, and the seller's honesty, in that order. The first copy that passes all four is the one worth buying; everything else is a costume.