A fake IW371620 review should open with the verdict: the ZF Factory Portugieser Chronograph is the replica to check first, since it comes closest to the 41 mm steel case, the twin subdials at 12 and 6, and the slim leaf-shaped hands of the genuine watch. Buyers who want a lower price or a simpler movement can step down to AZF or to a quartz-driven alternative, accepting small trade-offs in case thickness and dial depth.
Why the ZF version leads this comparison
ZF is the name that comes up most often among owners comparing Portugieser chronograph replicas, and the reason is mostly dimensional. The brand's version keeps the case close to the real 13 mm side profile, finishes the bezel with a proper polished step, and prints the minute track and subdial rings without the blurry edges that give cheap copies away.
- Dial: applied numerals with correct height, subdial rings that sit at the right distance from the center
- Case: brushed flanks, polished bezel, crown and pushers sized in proportion to the 41 mm body
- Hands: leaf hands with a curve that matches the original, not flat stamped metal
- Caseback: engraved reference and serial text with clean lettering
What to inspect on any replica IW371620
The reference is a bicompax layout, so the running seconds subdial at 6 o'clock is where most replicas fail. On weak builds the hands are too short, the subdial sits too far from the edge, or the transfer gearing makes the seconds tick in a visible stutter.
Best Guide to Buying Fake IW371620 Price
- Subdial spacing: measure the gap between the two subdials and the center; it should mirror the genuine proportions.
- Thickness: a chronograph running a modified 7750 usually sits 1 to 2 mm thicker than the original. Ask for a side-profile photo.
- Date window: check the cutout shape and the font of the numeral, which is a common tell.
- Dial color: the sunburst should shift under light, not read as flat paint.
- Strap and buckle: alligator-grain leather and a signed pin buckle are baseline expectations at the mid tier.
Runner-up options
AZF
A close second in this fake IW371620 review. Dial printing and hand finishing are usually a touch behind ZF, but the case shape and bezel polish are solid, and stock tends to be easier to find. A reasonable choice if ZF is sold out.
Fake IW371620 vs Real IW371620: What's the Difference?
Mid-tier builds (TWF and similar)
Expect correct outer dimensions but softer dial detail: flatter sunburst, thinner printed track, and hands that look slightly heavy at the tip. Fine for daily wear, weaker under close inspection.
Quartz and hand-wound budget builds
The cheapest route keeps the watch slim by dropping the automatic chronograph module. You lose the sweeping chrono hand and the weighted rotor feel, but you gain a thinner case that photographs closer to the genuine profile.
The movement question
The genuine watch runs an in-house caliber with roughly a two-day power reserve, which no replica reproduces exactly. Most copies use a modified Valjoux-type chronograph movement with extra gearing to drive the seconds hand at 6. That gearing is the main reliability risk, and it is also what makes the case thicker. Ask the seller which movement the watch uses, and avoid any listing that refuses to name it.
Red flags when buying
- Stock photos only, no real images of the actual watch
- No mention of movement type or factory name
- Prices far below the usual range for the tier
- No returns policy and no payment protection
Verdict
Pick ZF if you want the closest match to the original dial and case proportions. Choose AZF if availability is the deciding factor, and take a slim quartz or hand-wound build if you care more about wrist profile than chronograph function. Whichever route you take, judge the watch on the subdial spacing, the side profile, and the date font before anything else.