The cheap fake IWC reference 3711 is a 42mm watch that stands 16.5mm thick, thanks in part to the modular rattrapante complication and the soft-iron inner caseback that protects the movement against magnetism. The case in all metal variants (along with steel, the best quality replica IWC 3711 was offered in yellow gold and platinum) is brushed, and all three pushers are pump-style.
The yellow gold variant, however, has a more upscale appearance – the upper lug hoods are polished. Also, instead of a matte finish, the Swiss made fake IWC‘s dial is finished in glossy black lacquer with applied golden indices, golden-coloured day and date disks, and gilt printing.
Two dial variants were offered, white and black – all were manufactured before the widespread use of Luminova and have tritium lume plots at the quarters. The more common black dial of the luxury replica IWC UK is finished with a matte texture and the vertically-arrayed hour numerals are printed in high-contrast white. For increased legibility, the Day-Date complication at 3 o’clock features black on white printing.
A few noticeable features of this best 1:1 replica IWC Doppelchronograph 3711 are the emblematic “fish crown” (screw-down) as a testimony of the case’s water-resistance and the presence, on this reference only, of an ultra-domed sapphire crystal. The case, screwed on the case, proudly shows the mention “DER DOPPELCHRONOGRAPH”.
Within the AAA fake IWC‘s case lies the automatic calibre 79030 (later the 79230, upon the switch to Triovis regulation). The 79030 is based on a Valjoux 7750 ébauche with a modular split-seconds chronograph mechanism designed by Richard Habring. He significantly simplified what is otherwise a notoriously difficult and expensive costly complication to create the world’s first serially-produced rattrapante chronograph calibre. The high quality copy IWC 79030 has a 3Hz beat rate, bi-directional winding, and a healthy 44 hours power reserve.