A fake IW3717 is any watch sold as an IWC Portugieser Chronograph reference 3717 that was not built by IWC Schaffhausen. The fastest tells are the case profile, the crispness of the dial printing, the spacing of the two subdials, and the movement visible through the sapphire caseback.

Why is the IWC Portugieser 3717 faked so often?

The Portugieser Chronograph is one of IWC's best known lines, with a clean two-register dial, applied numerals, leaf hands and, on modern references, an in-house chronograph calibre behind a display back. A simple, symmetrical dial is far easier to copy than a busy one, which makes the reference a steady target. Strong resale value keeps the counterfeit trade profitable.

How do you spot a fake IW3717?

Work from the outside in. Each layer of the watch, dial, case, then movement, gives a different set of clues.

Dial and hands

  • Subdials at 12 and 6 should sit perfectly on the vertical axis with equal diameters. Fakes drift off center or use mismatched registers.
  • Printing of the minute track, the IWC signature and SCHAFFHAUSEN should be razor sharp. Copies show fuzzy edges, heavy fonts and uneven letter spacing.
  • Applied numerals and indices on genuine watches are polished and sit flat. On fakes they are often glued unevenly and catch light at odd angles.
  • Leaf hands reach the minute track. Replica hands are frequently short, thin or painted instead of polished.
  • If a date is fitted, it sits at 3 o'clock behind a sharp cut aperture. Fakes show ragged apertures and misaligned discs.

Case, crown and pushers

  • The genuine case is roughly 41 mm and sits slim on the wrist. Fakes usually add one to two millimeters because the movement underneath is deeper.
  • Brushed and polished surfaces meet on a hard line. Copies blur that transition or polish a surface that should be brushed.
  • The crown is signed and the chronograph pushers have a defined shape and travel. Generic hardware is a strong warning sign.
  • Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces looks almost invisible. Mineral glass or a single coating shows a blue or purple tint.

Movement and caseback

  • Through the display back you should see a decorated movement with Geneva stripes, blued screws and a signed rotor. Blank or crude finishing means a stock clone.
  • Modern references use an IWC manufactured chronograph calibre with a column wheel. Older examples used a heavily modified 7750 base, never an untouched one.
  • Caseback engraving carries the reference, the serial and the IWC motto. Wrong font weight, shallow cutting or a mismatched serial font is a clear tell.
  • Water resistance figures printed on the back should match official specifications for that exact reference.

Are 1:1 or first copy IW3717 replicas easy to spot?

Higher-tier copies cost a few hundred dollars and match the case and dial closely in photos. They still usually fail on movement finishing, crystal clarity, engraving depth and the feel of the winding and pusher action. Confirming authenticity normally means opening the case or checking service records with a watchmaker.

How much does a fake IW3717 cost compared with the real watch?

Counterfeit versions range from under a hundred dollars for quartz-driven imitations to several hundred for high-grade mechanical copies. A genuine Portugieser Chronograph sells near five figures new and holds much of that value on the secondary market, which is exactly the gap that keeps fakes in circulation.

Do fake IW3717 watches come with box and papers?

Often yes, and that is why paperwork alone proves nothing. Boxes, manuals and stamped cards are widely reproduced, and serial numbers on the card may not match the caseback. Buy from an authorized dealer or a verifiable seller, and treat any discount that looks too deep as a reason to inspect the watch in person.