What gives a fake IW371768 away
A fake IW371768 fails on five points: case proportions and finishing, dial printing and subdial geometry, the movement seen through the caseback, engraving on the caseback and clasp, and the paperwork that ships with the watch. Genuine IWC references in the IW3716xx range carry an in-house chronograph calibre, a sapphire display back, and a serial number that IWC can verify through its service network. Counterfeits copy the silhouette but seldom all five points at once. Work through them in the order below and the answer shows up fast.
What to have ready
- The official spec sheet for IW371768: case size, dial layout, movement calibre, and strap option.
- A 10x loupe or a phone macro lens.
- Daylight or a bright, diffused lamp, plus a lint-free cloth.
- Full-resolution photos from the seller if the watch is not in your hands.
The inspection, step by step
- Confirm the reference number on the caseback reads IW371768 and that the dial layout matches IWC's own product photos for that reference.
- Measure the case across the bezel, crown excluded, and compare the figure with the published diameter. Copies often sit half a millimetre to a full millimetre off.
- Run a thumbnail along the case flank and lug edges. Genuine cases hold a crisp line where brushed surfaces meet polished ones; replicas feel soft and rounded.
- Check the crystal. Genuine sapphire carries anti-reflective coating on both faces, so the dial stays readable at steep angles. A blue or purple sheen under a lamp points to mineral glass.
- Study the dial print under magnification. The IWC wordmark, the index markers, and all text should be sharp with clean edges, and the subdial rings should sit perfectly concentric.
- Compare hand length and subdial centers against the reference. Hands should land on the minute track without overshooting or falling short.
- Examine the caseback engraving and serial number. Genuine engraving cuts deep and even. Laser-etched fakes look shallow and grey, and the serial should be unique and traceable.
- Inspect the movement through the display back. A genuine IWC chronograph calibre shows signed bridges, correct perlage and stripe finishing, and a signed rotor. A generic 7750 clone, a quartz module, or an undecorated movement ends the inspection.
- Check the strap and the buckle or folding clasp. Leather grain, stitching density, and engraving depth on the clasp should match the catalog option for that reference.
- Match the warranty card, booklets, and box against the serial. Misspellings, a mismatched number, or a generic manual are common on fakes.
Red flags in a listing
- A price far below the going rate for a used IW371768.
- No caseback photo, or a photo too blurry to read the engraving.
- No serial number shown, or a serial that differs between photos.
- Pressure to pay outside a protected method or to decide within hours.
- Papers described as "lost" while the box is included, which is an odd pairing on a genuine watch.
When the check is close
Two watches can look alike in photos and still differ under a loupe. If the seller is local, meet at a watchmaker and have the caseback opened on the spot. If the watch ships to you, you have the right to a return window, so photograph everything the moment it arrives and keep the packaging intact. IWC service centers can confirm whether a serial belongs to a genuine reference and whether the movement matches the case. A written authenticity statement from a qualified watchmaker costs less than a bad purchase and settles the question for good.