Short answer
The IW371495 is an IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference. Watches advertised as "IW371495 replica" or "first copy" are not made by IWC. They are third-party copies with parts that do not come from the manufacturer. You identify one by checking the movement, the dial layout, the caseback engraving, the glass, the strap and the price.
Replica Fake IW371495: What You're Really Buying
What the genuine reference is
IWC lists the Portugieser Chronograph with a round stainless steel case near 41 mm, sapphire glass on the front and back, two pushers at 3 o'clock, and two subdials on the vertical axis at 12 and 6. Current production uses an in-house 69355 chronograph calibre with a column wheel and roughly 46 hours of power reserve. Earlier 3714-generation Portugieser Chronographs used a modified 79350 calibre. Reference lists change by year and by market, so confirm the exact specification for IW371495 with IWC or an authorized dealer before you rely on any single spec sheet.
Fake IW371495 Replica Guide: How to Judge a First Copy
How to check a watch sold as IW371495
- Movement. A genuine Portugieser Chronograph has a display caseback. A watch with a solid, unmarked back sold under this reference is a mismatch. Through the back you should see the IWC finished movement and rotor engraving, not a bare generic chronograph.
- Subdials and hands. Genuine counters sit at 12 and 6. Many replicas place them at 3 and 9 or at the wrong spacing, because the copy is built on a different base calibre. Hands that stop short of the printed track are a second sign.
- Caseback text. Reference and serial numbers are laser engraved to even depth. Fake engraving is shallow, uneven, or carries a reference number that does not match the dial.
- Dial printing. The IWC wordmark and "SCHAFFHAUSEN" are crisp, applied indices have polished bevels, and there is no raised ink edge under a loupe.
- Crystal. Genuine sapphire has anti-reflective coating on both faces and shows a faint blue cast. Replica mineral glass scratches and reflects more light.
- Strap and buckle. The genuine strap is alligator with signed hardware. Copies ship with embossed leather and unsigned buckles.
- Price. A steel Portugieser Chronograph carries a manufacturer price in the 8,000 US dollar range. Offers from 50 to 400 dollars are copies, not discounts.
What "first copy" means in a listing
Sellers use "first copy", "AAA", "1:1" and "super clone" as price tiers in the replica trade. The words describe the seller's own grade, not accuracy. A high-tier copy may use a cloned movement, but its parts do not interchange with IWC parts, and no IWC service center will repair it. "Swiss made" printed on a copy dial states nothing about origin.
Buying risk in the United States
Importing counterfeit goods into the United States is illegal. Customs and Border Protection can seize a shipment under 19 U.S.C. 1526, and trafficking in counterfeit goods carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Resale is a separate offense. Most copy sites ship from overseas with no warranty, refunds are rare, and payment details are a risk.
Buying a genuine IW371495
Ask for service records, box and papers, and the movement number. Independent authentication runs about 100 to 300 dollars and takes a few days. That cost is small against a misdescribed purchase, and it is the only check that answers the movement question directly.