A replica IW371780 is a copy of an IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph from the 3717 reference family. Prices run from about $90 for a quartz model to $600 for an automatic with a Valjoux 7750 clone inside. Three details decide quality: the 42 mm case profile, the day-date window at 3 o'clock, and the dial print.
What the IW371780 reference is
IWC built the 3717 chronograph from roughly 2006 to 2012. The case is 42 mm steel, about 14.7 mm thick, with 50 m water resistance. The dial carries a day and date at 3. The movement is IWC caliber 79320, an ETA/Valjoux 7750 base with IWC's own regulation and rotor. Strap and bracelet versions both exist.
The 3717 line has several suffixes for dial color, bracelet type, and market. IWC's own catalog page for this exact suffix is hard to find today. Confirm dial color, hand shape, and bracelet with the seller before you pay, and do not trust a listing title on its own.
Price tiers
- $80 to $150: quartz movement, stamped case, mineral glass, subdials that do nothing.
- $150 to $300: automatic clone, 40 to 42 mm case, printed minute track, working day-date.
- $300 to $600: 7750 clone, sapphire crystal front and back, correct 42 mm case, engraved rotor, lume that lasts.
Measurements to check on the photos
- Case diameter: 42.0 mm, measured with calipers. Ask for a photo with the tool in frame.
- Thickness: 14.5 to 15.0 mm. A 12 mm case means the wrong movement inside.
- Lug width: 22 mm.
- Crystal: sapphire with double anti-reflective coating, slightly domed.
- Caseback: screw-down, with engraving depth you can feel with a fingernail.
- Dial: applied numerals, not printed. Subdial count and position must match the variant you were quoted.
Ask about the movement
The genuine uses a 7750 base, so a 7750 clone gives the right subdial layout and the right pusher feel. Request a photo of the movement with the caseback removed, plus a short video of the chronograph starting, stopping, and resetting to zero. A clone that resets to 0.5 seconds off needs service or rejection. Quartz versions keep correct time but the second hand ticks once per second, which is a visible tell at arm's length.
Questions for the seller
- Which reference variant is this copy based on, and can you send a photo of the genuine next to it?
- What movement is inside, and is it a 7750 clone or a quartz?
- What is the measured case diameter and thickness?
- Is the crystal sapphire, and does it have AR coating on both faces?
- What is the return window, and who pays return shipping?
- Is the bracelet solid link or folded, and are the end links fitted to the case?
What the replica will not do
It will not hold value. IWC will not service it. Resale is thin and slow. Water resistance claims above 50 m are not backed by pressure testing, so keep it out of water. A watchmaker who handles 7750 movements can service the clone, and it needs that service every 4 to 6 years.
Care
Wind the watch at the same time each day if you wear it in rotation. Keep the chronograph stopped when you are not using it, since a running chronograph drains the power reserve. Store it away from magnets: speakers, tablet covers, and bag clasps.