Quick answer
IW371482 is a reference number inside the IWC Portugieser Chronograph family. A replica of it is a third-party copy built to look like that watch. No copy carries an IWC movement, so the deciding factors are dial print, case thickness, crystal material, register layout, and the base movement inside. Sellers list copies from about $120 to $600. Importing a counterfeit into the US is illegal, and IWC service centers do not service or authenticate copies.
What the reference covers
IWC files the Portugieser Chronograph under the 3714 group. That group ran from 1998 to 2020 with a 40.9 mm steel case, sapphire glass front and back, and a 30 m water resistance rating. IW371482 is one variant in the group. Dial color, hands, and strap or bracelet for that exact number should be confirmed against the IWC catalog before you buy, because resellers mix numbers with photos of other variants.
Real specs to compare
- Case: 40.9 mm across, about 12.3 mm thick, steel.
- Dial: registers at 12 and 6, date window at 3, printed minute track, logo and SCHAFFHAUSEN text.
- Movement: calibre 79350, a Valjoux 7750 base, 28,800 vph, 44-hour power reserve.
- Crystal: sapphire on both sides.
- Water resistance: 3 bar, which is splash resistance, not swimming.
Newer Portugieser Chronograph models from 2020 use calibre 69355, a 41 mm case, and no date. Check which generation the seller is copying, since the two dials do not match.
Replica checks
Movement
Most copies use a Seagull ST19 or an Asian 7750 clone. The 12/6 register layout with the date at 3 needs a modified plate or a different movement. Ask for a movement photo through the case back and timegrapher numbers: rate, amplitude, beat error. A rate inside plus or minus 10 seconds a day is a common selling point for the better copies.
Case and crystal
Ask for caliper photos of the thickness. Copies run thicker when the movement stack does not fit the case. Mineral glass on the back is a cost cut that shows in photos.
Dial and finishing
Check logo spacing, subdial ring printing, applied indices, and the date font. A magnified photo of the date window shows whether the font matches IWC print.
Strap and buckle
Leather straps on copies vary in thickness and stitching. The buckle engraving is a common weak point.
Verification steps before payment
- Request the case back photo and reference stamp.
- Ask for a caliper measurement of diameter and thickness.
- Test the chronograph reset to zero and the date flip at midnight, on video.
- Request a movement photo and timegrapher reading.
- Check refund terms and shipping method. US Customs can seize counterfeit shipments under 19 CFR.
Price context
Used steel 3714 chronographs list in the low four figures in USD on public marketplaces. A copy at $200 is not in the same category. If a seller claims an authentic IW371482 at a copy price, the claim is false.