My top pick for a fake IW371772 is the mid-tier automatic built on a 7750-family chronograph movement, because the genuine Portugieser Chronograph reference IW3717 runs on caliber 79350, itself an ETA 7750 derivative. That shared base means the replica can reproduce the real two-register layout, with the 30-minute counter at 12, running seconds at 6, and the date at 3, instead of faking it. I judged the options on five things: dial layout and printing, case size against the original's roughly 40.9 mm footprint, thickness on the wrist, crystal clarity and anti-reflective coating, and how the chronograph actually behaves when you start, stop, and reset it.
Top pick: 7750-based automatic replica
This is the tier that gets the fundamentals right. The subdial positions match the genuine dial, the pushers have a defined click, and the sweep of the chrono seconds looks like a mechanical watch rather than a stepper motor. Dial printing on the better examples holds up under a loupe, with a clean railroad minute track and leaf hands that are not overly flat.
- Pros: correct subdial placement and date position, mechanical chronograph feel, broad choice of strap and bracelet versions, easy to service or swap the movement.
- Cons: often sits a touch thicker than the original, rotor noise is common, and finishing on the caseback engraving varies between batches.
Best for someone who wears the watch and wants the chronograph to work the way the original does. If you plan to use the pushers, this is the only tier worth considering.
Entry quartz replica
The cheapest route to the look. Case proportions are usually decent and the dial can pass at arm's length, but the center chrono hand jumps once per second, which is the first thing anyone familiar with the watch will notice.
- Pros: lowest cost, thin case, low maintenance, accurate timekeeping.
- Cons: ticking chrono hand, lighter pusher feel, hands and markers can look flat, subdial hands sometimes misalign at reset.
Best for occasional wear, a costume or photo prop, or a buyer testing whether the 40.9 mm Portugieser case suits their wrist before spending more.
Top-spec replica builds
The upper tier spends its budget on details: closer case finishing, better crystal coating, sharper applied numerals, and a movement that has been decorated and regulated. Gains over the mid tier are real but incremental, and the premium is large.
- Pros: best dial and case finishing, thinner case profile, smoother winding and pusher action.
- Cons: highest cost, quality still varies by batch, harder to source spare parts, and no tier gets you a genuine 79350.
Best for a collector who already owns several replicas and wants the closest visual match, not for a first purchase.
What to verify before you buy
- Subdials at 12 and 6, date at 3, and no extra text the original does not carry.
- Case width near 40.9 mm with a slim bezel and long lugs.
- Chrono seconds that sweep smoothly and reset to zero cleanly.
- Crystal with visible anti-reflective treatment and no milky edge.
- Strap or bracelet stitching and buckle engraving shown in real photos, not renders.