A fake IW371740 is a counterfeit copy of the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph ref. IW371740, a 42 mm stainless steel automatic chronograph from the 3717 family. The fastest tells are the day-date font at 3 o'clock, the depth and crispness of the caseback engraving, and the feel of the winding action through the crown.
Genuine examples run on IWC caliber 79320, a modified Valjoux 7750, so a counterfeit that hides a quartz module or a rough Asian 7750 copy rarely survives a close look. This guide covers what the reference should look like, the checks that expose a fake, and what to do if you already own one.
What Is a Fake IW371740?
"Fake IW371740" is shorthand for any watch built to imitate the reference without being produced or authorized by IWC Schaffhausen.
Copies fall into rough tiers. Entry fakes use quartz or budget mechanical movements and sell for under $100. Mid-tier copies use Asian 7750 chronograph movements and sell between $150 and $350. High-end "super clone" builds copy case geometry and dial printing more closely and often sell for $400 to $700, still far below the thousands a genuine example commands.
What Does a Genuine IW371740 Look Like?
- 42 mm stainless steel case with a screw-in crown
- Automatic IWC caliber 79320, based on the Valjoux 7750
- Day and date window at 3 o'clock, chronograph subdials at 12, 6, and 9
- Soft-iron inner case for magnetic protection
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Roughly 60 m water resistance
- Steel bracelet or leather strap with IWC-signed hardware
How Can You Tell a Fake IW371740 From the Real Thing?
The dial, printing, and day-date wheel
Authentic dial text is sharp, evenly spaced, and matte rather than glossy. Fakes show thick or smudged printing, misplaced logos, and index markers that do not line up with the chapter ring. Check the day-date window, since counterfeit date wheels often sit off-center or use a bolder, wrong-shaped numeral font.
The case and caseback engraving
Genuine engraving is deep, crisp, and uniform, and the reference and serial numbers match IWC records. Counterfeit backs show shallow laser etching, fuzzy lettering, and serial numbers that repeat across many watches. Crown logos on fakes are usually soft-edged or misaligned with the crown tube.
The movement and winding feel
Caliber 79320 winds from a unidirectional rotor, so the watch produces a light wobble on the wrist and the rotor free-spins in one direction. Quartz fakes tick once per second, while cheap mechanical copies run loud, gritty, or fail to reset the chronograph to zero. A watchmaker can verify the movement in minutes.
Strap, buckle, and finishing
Genuine leather straps have dense stitching and clean edge paint, and buckles carry a sharp, correctly proportioned logo. Fakes commonly use thin leather, uneven stitching, and hardware that feels light or sharp at the edges.
How Much Do Fake IW371740 Watches Cost?
- Entry quartz or low-grade mechanical: $60 to $120
- Mid-tier Asian 7750: $150 to $350
- High-end "super clone": $400 to $700
Any listing priced far below the genuine pre-owned range for a watch sold as authentic is a warning sign.
What Should You Do If You Bought a Fake IW371740?
Stop wearing it and photograph every angle, the paperwork, and the original listing. Open a dispute with the platform or card issuer inside the allowed window, and get a written opinion from a watchmaker if the seller contests your claim. Never resell it as genuine, since that turns a bad purchase into fraud.
FAQ
Is a super clone IW371740 worth buying?
It is still a counterfeit, it cannot be serviced by IWC, and resale value sits close to zero. Buyers who want the look without the legal and service problems usually do better with an honest homage or a used entry-level chronograph.
Can a watchmaker tell the difference?
Yes. Trained eyes catch incorrect movement finishing, wrong caseback fonts, and mismatched serial numbers quickly. A service estimate is one of the cheapest authentication tools available.