A fake IW371432 usually reveals itself in three places: the spacing and finish of the two subdials, the thickness and profile of the case, and the movement visible through the sapphire caseback. The genuine IWC Portugieser Chronograph uses a 79350 calibre derived from the Valjoux 7750, while most replicas use a stock A7750 clone or a quartz module that cannot match the layout or the finishing.
What the IW371432 Actually Is
The IW371432 belongs to the Portugieser Chronograph reference 3714 family, the generation that made the model a staple of the IWC lineup. It pairs a 40.9 mm stainless steel case with a bicompax dial: chronograph minutes at 12 o'clock, small seconds at 6 o'clock, leaf-shaped hands and applied Arabic numerals, with no date window. The caseback is sapphire, which matters when you compare a fake against the real watch, because the movement stays on display.
Fake IW371432 vs Genuine: Where the Differences Show
1. Dial printing and subdial spacing
- Genuine printing is crisp, slightly raised, and consistent under magnification. Replica print looks flat or fuzzy at the edges.
- The two subdials should sit on a clean vertical axis. Many fakes place them a fraction too close together or too far apart.
- The IWC Schaffhausen script has specific letter spacing. Replica dials often stretch or compress the wording.
- Subdial hands on the real watch are thin and finely finished. Fakes use thicker hands with visible burrs.
- The minute track and the small numerals between the markers should be sharp, not printed as a grey blur.
2. Case thickness and lugs
The genuine 3714 case is about 12.5 mm thick with gently curved lugs that hug the wrist. Replicas built around an A7750 and a spacer often add a millimeter or more, and the lugs can look flatter or sharper from the side. A quick way to judge is to sit the watch on a flat surface and check whether the caseback sits proud of the lugs.
3. Movement
The genuine watch uses IWC calibre 79350, a Valjoux 7750 base modified by IWC, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a power reserve around 44 hours. Look through the caseback for the engraving depth on the rotor, the finish on the bridges, and the shape of the regulation. Replica A7750 movements show shallower engraving and rougher finishing, and quartz fakes give themselves away the moment the small seconds hand ticks once per second instead of sweeping.
4. Caseback engraving and serials
Reference numbers, the International Watch Co. script, and the serial between the lugs should be cut, not surface-etched. Replicas often use a shallow laser mark and repeat the same serial across batches, which is easy to check if you compare two examples side by side.
5. Hands, markers and crystal
Leaf hands on the original are polished, faceted, and slightly curved along their length. Replica hands often look flat or over-polished at the tips. Applied numerals should show a beveled edge that catches light along one side, and the sapphire crystal carries an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare without turning the dial blue.
6. Strap, buckle and stitching
The original alligator strap has tight, even stitching and a signed pin buckle with deep engraving. Replica straps tend to use embossed leather, looser stitching, and a buckle with a softer, wider logo stamp.
Fake vs Fake: Which Replica Tier You Are Comparing
Many searches for fake IW371432 vs are really about picking between replica versions, so it helps to sort them by build quality:
- Quartz fakes: wrong subdial function, ticking seconds, thin case but incorrect dial details.
- Standard A7750 builds: correct bicompax layout, but thicker case, average print, and basic movement finishing.
- Upgraded builds: closer subdial spacing, better dial print, engraved rotor, and a case profile nearer the original, though still not identical under close inspection.
A Five-Minute Checking Routine
- Put the watch flat under a lamp and check subdial print, logo script, and the minute track.
- Measure thickness with calipers if you have them, and look at the lug curve from the side.
- Turn the watch over and study rotor engraving, bridge finishing, and the reference mark between the lugs.
- Start the chronograph, let it run, then reset it and feel how the pusher responds.
- Inspect the strap stitching and the signature on the buckle.
Bottom Line
No replica of the IW371432 gets every detail right, because the dial print, case profile, and 79350 movement finishing are hard to copy at once. If you compare a fake against the genuine watch with the checklist above, the subdial spacing, case thickness, and caseback finishing will tell you most of what you need to know before you look any closer.