What is the replica Da Vinci IW376051?
The replica Da Vinci IW376051 is a copy of IWC's barrel-shaped Da Vinci chronograph, and the better versions reproduce the tonneau case, the two-register dial and the flyback chronograph layout of the original. Builds run from basic steel cases with a Valjoux 7750 inside to closer copies with a decorated clone movement and sapphire on both sides. Expect to pay about $250 to $650 depending on how far the maker went.
What does the original IW376051 look like?
The genuine watch comes from the 2007 to 2016 Da Vinci generation, the years when IWC gave the line a curving barrel case instead of a round one. It runs IWC's in-house 89360 flyback chronograph, which packs hour and minute counting into a single subdial at 12.
- Case: tonneau (barrel) profile in stainless steel, curved lugs, about 43mm across
- Dial: silver or black, applied markers, two registers at 12 and 6
- Movement: calibre 89360, flyback chronograph, about 68 hours of power reserve
- Crystal: domed sapphire with antireflective coating on both faces
- Strap: alligator leather on a steel folding clasp
Production ran for several years and small details changed, so compare any replica against clear photos of the exact watch you want, not against a generic listing image.
How close does the replica get?
Case shape and finish
The barrel case is the hard part. Cheap copies flatten the curve or use lugs that sit too wide, and the watch looks slab-sided on the wrist. A good replica keeps the taper, brushes the flanks and polishes the bevels in the right places, with thickness within a millimeter or two of the original.
Dial and hands
Look at subdial spacing first. On weak copies the registers sit too far apart or too near the center, and the chapter ring print looks thick. Better versions get the applied markers right, keep the date window square, and fit hands with the correct length and beveled edges.
Movement
Most replicas run a Valjoux 7750 or a Chinese copy of it, which keeps the subdial layout in the right place but gives a stiffer pusher feel. A smaller number use a clone of the 89360 with a working flyback. The clone costs more and takes a skilled hand to service, but the pushers and the counter at 12 behave like the real thing.
Strap and clasp
Stock straps are the first thing to replace. Most replica alligator is embossed calf, and the folding clasp often feels light. Budget $60 to $120 for a new strap and the watch reads much better on the wrist.
What should you check before buying?
- Ask for photos of the actual watch, not catalog renders.
- Confirm case width and thickness against the reference you want.
- Ask which movement is inside, and whether the flyback works.
- Check that the chronograph resets to zero at 12 without a wobble.
- Look at the gap between case and strap, and at how the lugs meet it.
- Ask about water resistance: assume none unless the seller has tested it.
- Get the return window in writing.
How much does a replica Da Vinci IW376051 cost?
Pricing splits into three bands, and the jump between them tracks movement and finishing more than the dial.
- Entry ($150 to $280): 7750-based, thin plating, printed markers, stiff pushers.
- Mid ($280 to $450): better case finishing, sapphire crystal, cleaner dial print.
- Top ($450 to $700): clone movement with flyback, correct thickness, decorated rotor, solid clasp.
Anything far below the entry band is a different watch with a Da Vinci dial dropped on top. Anything far above the top band should come with detail photos of the movement and proof of a recent service.
How do you spot a weak copy fast?
Three things give it away. The case feels too thick or too light in the hand, the subdial hands sit at odd heights under the crystal, and the chronograph seconds hand stutters when you start it. On the dial side, check the print with a loupe: sharp edges, no bleeding, even weight across the text.
How should you care for it?
Keep the chronograph stopped most of the time, since running it adds wear and drains the power reserve. Wind an automatic replica every few weeks if it lives in a box, keep it away from magnets and steam, and have it serviced every four to six years. Skip the pool and the shower.
Frequently asked questions
Does the replica have a working flyback?
Only the top-tier builds do. A true flyback lets you restart the chronograph with one push instead of stop, reset, start. Ask the seller to show it on video before you pay.
Is the case the same size as the original?
Top copies land within a millimeter of the genuine case width and thickness. Cheap ones run thicker to fit the 7750 and its rotor, which changes how the watch sits on the wrist.
Can a local watchmaker service it?
Most watchmakers will work on a 7750 or a clone of it, and parts are easy to source. A clone flyback movement is another matter. Many shops will refuse the job, so ask before you buy.
Will the chronograph hand line up at zero?
It should. If it rests off-center, the hand needs to be pulled and reset. That is a small job, but it signals sloppy assembly.