What is the replica IW371473?
The replica IW371473 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 40.9 mm steel watch with two subdials, leaf hands and a 44-hour automatic chronograph movement. A correct copy matches that case size, the subdial positions at 12 and 6, and the thin bezel that makes the dial look large. Copies often miss on thickness, dial printing or hand shape, so check those three points first.
The reference belongs to the classic 3714 family. Dial color and strap change between the variants sold under this number, so compare seller photos with the reference list on IWC's site before you pay.
Which specs should a good copy match?
Use the original as your checklist. If a listing cannot answer these points, ask the seller before you order.
- Case: 40.9 mm wide, about 12.3 mm thick, polished stainless steel, thin round bezel.
- Lugs: 20 mm strap width, curved so the case sits close to the wrist.
- Dial: two subdials, chronograph minutes at 12 and running seconds at 6. No date window on this reference.
- Hands: curved leaf shape, not flat sticks. The tips bend down toward the dial.
- Numerals: applied Arabic figures with a printed railway minute track outside them.
- Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating. A milky or dull dial points to missing coating.
- Caseback: display back with engraving that sits flush with the rim.
- Movement: caliber 79350 (Valjoux 7750 base), 28,800 vph, about 44 hours of power reserve.
- Water resistance: 30 m on the original. Treat replica seals as weaker.
How do you spot a weak copy?
Dial and hands
- Printed numerals instead of applied metal ones. Tilt the dial under a light to check for raised edges.
- Flat or stubby leaf hands. The real shape is long, thin and curved.
- Subdial hands that sit too far from the center or overlap the printed track.
- Text set too high or too low, with soft or bold fonts.
- A date window where the reference has none.
Case and caseback
- Thickness above 13.5 mm. The 7750 base is deeper than the original layout, so cheap builds add bulk.
- Sharp lug edges, a crown that stands proud of the case, or pushers that wobble.
- Shallow caseback engraving and a rotor that rattles when you shake the watch.
Strap and hardware
- Stiff leather with raw edges and plastic-looking stitching.
- A buckle that feels light or shows soft engraving.
Which movement should you pick?
Two choices dominate: a Chinese copy of the Valjoux 7750 (sold as an A7750) or a quartz module. The 7750 copy gives a sweeping seconds hand, a working chronograph and the right pusher feel, but it costs more and needs service. A quartz copy is cheaper and keeps time, yet the small seconds at 6 ticks once per second and the pushers feel light.
For this watch, the automatic wins. The Portugieser Chronograph is a dressy sports piece, and the smooth sweep belongs to the look.
What does a replica IW371473 cost?
Price tracks the movement and the finishing. Quartz copies sit at the bottom of the market, 7750-based copies cost more, and builds with clean dial printing, correct thickness and a sapphire crystal sit at the top.
The gap shows in the small parts: hands, crown, buckle and printing. A low price plus photos of a thick case and flat hands tells you what you need to know.
How does it wear on the wrist?
A 40.9 mm case with a thin bezel wears like a 41 mm watch, so it suits wrists from about 6.5 inches up. At 12.3 mm thick it slides under a shirt cuff, while thicker copies catch on a sleeve. The 20 mm lug width makes strap swaps simple, and a slim leather strap keeps the vintage look.
How do you buy one without getting burned?
- Ask for dated photos of the actual watch, not catalog renders.
- Request a short video with the chronograph started, stopped and reset.
- Confirm thickness with a caliper photo if the seller has one.
- Read the return policy before paying, and pay with a method that offers buyer protection.
- Check that the strap, buckle and box match what was advertised.
Frequently asked questions
Does the replica IW371473 keep good time?
A 7750-based copy runs within about 15 to 25 seconds a day out of the box, and a watchmaker can regulate it closer. Quartz copies stay within a few seconds a month but feel different in the hand.
Is the water resistance real?
Treat any replica as splash proof at best. Seals and gaskets vary, so have a watchmaker pressure test it before you swim or shower with it.
Can a local watchmaker service it?
Many watchmakers will work on a 7750 copy because parts are common. Ask first, since some shops refuse replica work.
Does the chronograph work like the original?
On a 7750 copy, yes: start, stop and reset follow the same pusher order. On a quartz copy the chronograph works but the pusher feel is lighter.
Do all copies come with a display caseback?
No. Some budget builds use a solid back to hide a rough movement. If the photos show a solid back on a reference that should have glass, that is a red flag.