The pick for most buyers is an automatic replica of the IW371745 built on a modified 7750, because it is the only common build that puts the running seconds at 6 o'clock where the Portugieser Chronograph needs them while still giving you a working mechanical chronograph. It wins on four criteria: case profile and finishing, dial printing and hand shape, movement behavior and serviceability, and how clearly the seller describes what is inside the watch. The sections below cover that build, the quartz alternative, and the details worth confirming before you pay.

The reference, in short

IW371745 is the Portugieser Chronograph from IWC's 150 Years anniversary run. The genuine watch pairs a 41mm stainless steel case with a lacquered dial, blue accents, two registers, running seconds at 6 o'clock, chronograph minutes at 12 o'clock, and a small date window at 3 o'clock. That layout is exactly what makes the copy hard to get right. The standard 7750 family carries its running seconds at 9 o'clock, so any replica showing correct subdial placement is either running transfer gearing on top of the movement or hiding a quartz module behind a mechanical-looking caseback.

Option A: automatic with a modified 7750 (top pick)

This is the build to aim for if you plan to wear the watch often and want it to feel like a watch rather than a prop. Expect a case close to the original diameter, a date at 3, and a chronograph that starts, stops and resets from the pushers at 2 and 4.

Pros

  • Subdial orientation matches the reference, with small seconds at 6 and elapsed minutes at 12.
  • Mechanical sweep and pusher feel that no quartz build can copy.
  • Any watchmaker who knows the 7750 platform can regulate or service it.
  • Holds its look for years if you avoid treating the chronograph as a toy.

Cons

  • Transfer gearing can make the small seconds hesitate or jitter, especially on low-end builds.
  • Added gearing often pushes case thickness past the original, which shows on the wrist.
  • Rotor and bridge decoration rarely matches IWC's own finishing.
  • Costs more than the quartz version and needs winding if you rotate watches.

Use case: an everyday office watch for someone who wants the Portugieser look, wears it several days a week, and accepts that the chronograph should be used sparingly.

Option B: quartz build

The quartz route copies the outside and stops there. The dial, case and strap can look convincing in photographs, and the watch keeps time without any attention.

Pros

  • Lower cost and thin case sides, since there is no automatic winding assembly to hide.
  • Hands land on the markers and stay there, with no positional drift.
  • Nothing to wind, nothing to regulate, no service bill.

Cons

  • The ticking small seconds is the giveaway for anyone who knows the reference.
  • Pushers on many quartz copies feel hollow because the chronograph is often a decorative module.
  • Case finishing and dial printing tend to be softer than on automatic builds.
  • Almost no resale value, and no way to improve it later.

Use case: occasional wear, a gift, or a first purchase where the budget matters more than the mechanism.

Criteria that separate a good copy from a poor one

Case and profile

Check the case side height against the original proportions, the shape of the lugs, and whether the bezel is polished while the case sides stay brushed. Ask for the lug width so your strap choice lines up. Casebacks that bulge outward are a sign that the movement inside is thicker than the reference allows.

Dial and hands

Look for crisp printing on the subdial rings and the minute track, applied numerals with clean edges, and a blue tone on the hands that reads dark rather than purple. On the anniversary dial the surface should be flat and glossy, not sunburst. The date window should sit at 3 with a centered aperture and no ragged cut.

Movement

Sellers should name the movement, not describe it as high grade. A named 7750 base is a known quantity. Vague wording is the single strongest signal that the watch is quartz with a decorated cover.

Checks before you order

  1. Request a photograph of the watch next to a ruler or calipers so you can verify diameter and thickness.
  2. Request a short video showing the chronograph start, stop, reset and the small seconds running.
  3. Confirm the date position and the strap or buckle you will receive.
  4. Confirm the return window in writing before payment.
  5. Confirm the movement by name in the listing or in messages you keep.

Verdict

For a watch you will wear often, the automatic build with a modified 7750 is the one to buy, provided the seller names the movement and shows real photographs. It gets the subdial layout right and behaves like a mechanical watch. If you want the look at the lowest cost and will not wear it daily, the quartz build is a reasonable compromise as long as you accept the ticking seconds and the softer finishing.