A fake IW371625 is a copy of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, a 41 mm steel watch with a two-register dial and a sapphire caseback. Copies of this reference are common, and three things expose most of them: the movement visible through the back, the sharpness of the dial print, and a price far below the real market.

What the real IW371625 is

The IW371625 sits in the Portugieser Chronograph family, IWC's steel chronograph with a wide, clean dial. The current generation uses a 41 mm case, an in-house calibre 69355 with a power reserve of about 46 hours, and a display back.

Dial details carry across the range: applied numerals, leaf-shaped hands, a railtrack minute scale, and two subdials. IWC rates water resistance at 3 bar, enough for rain and handwashing, not for swimming.

Dial colors and strap options change from one reference to the next, so confirm the spec sheet for the exact watch you are comparing. A seller who gets the reference number wrong is a red flag before you even look at the case.

Why the IW371625 gets copied so often

The Portugieser look is simple: thin bezel, big clean dial, no clutter. That simplicity hides how hard the details are to copy, which is why cheap fakes pass in photos and look wrong in the hand.

Real steel Portugieser chronographs trade in the thousands of dollars. That gap is what makes a $120 "IW371625" listing look tempting, and it is also your first clue.

How do you spot a fake IW371625?

Start at the back of the watch, then work outward. Copies rarely get the movement, the printing, and the feel right at the same time.

1. Look through the caseback

On the current 41 mm generation, the real watch has a sapphire display back showing calibre 69355 with an engraved rotor and finished bridges. A solid steel back with a laser-etched logo, or glass over a flat printed plate, means replica.

2. Read the dial print under a loupe

Genuine printing sits sharp and slightly raised, with clean edges on every letter. Fakes show fuzzy borders, uneven spacing, and subdial rings that miss the printed markers.

3. Check hand length and subdial spacing

Hands on the real watch reach their track. On copies, the leaf hands stop short of the minute scale and the subdial centers drift off the vertical axis.

4. Weigh it, wind it, press the pushers

A steel Portugieser feels dense for its size, and the crown and pushers move with a firm click. A light watch, a loose pusher, or a gritty crown tells you what is inside.

5. Check the price and the paperwork

Real watches come with a warranty card, a serial that matches the case, and a price that reflects the brand. A full set at 5% of market value, from a seller who wants a bank transfer, is a fake.

What should a first copy IW371625 cost?

First copy watches fall into three rough tiers, and the IW371625 follows the pattern. Price tracks the movement and the finishing, not the name on the dial.

• Under $150: quartz or low-grade automatic, printed dial, thin plating. Passes in photos and fails in person.
• $200 to $450: automatic movement with a working chronograph, sapphire crystal on better examples, case shape close to 41 mm.
• $500 and up: tighter case dimensions, cleaner dial print, decorated rotor, and movement finishing that holds up through the back.

Ask for photos of the actual watch, not catalog renders. Ask which movement it uses and whether the chronograph works. A seller who dodges either question is selling a photo, not a watch.

Where first copies still fall short

No first copy matches a real Portugieser under a loupe, and honest sellers say so. The gap shows in the dial print, the hand polishing, the movement decoration, and the resale value, which is zero.

Treat a first copy as a look-alike you can wear without worry. Treat it as an investment or as a real IWC and you will lose money.

FAQ

Is the IW371625 a chronograph?

Yes. It is an IWC Portugieser chronograph, with two pushers around the crown and two subdials on the dial.

Does a fake IW371625 use the same case size?

Better copies stay close to 41 mm. Cheap ones run 39 mm or 42 mm, and the lugs give them away next to a real watch.

Can a jeweler tell a fake IW371625 from the real thing?

Yes. A watchmaker opens the back, checks the movement, and knows. Show the watch to a professional before you hand over money.

Should I buy a fake IW371625 sold as genuine?

No. Selling a copy as an authentic IWC is fraud in most countries, and the buyer loses the whole price. Only buy a replica that is described as a replica.