Every replica watch that comes to my hands undergoes meticulous observation. It’s not that I’m a pedantic person (even though many of my friends would say so). I just think that once I decide to buy a high-priced imitation, I would like it to be as high-quality as possible.
Generally speaking, I always look at high-priced imitations. I can hardly find cheap imitations that meet my quality demands. I had a couple of cheap replicas in my life. Most of them served long enough to say that I’m satisfied with their technical reliability. But, what I dislike about them is their short-term nice-looking appearance. Within 10-12 months I can already spot that their finish gets faded. In some of them, the gold areas lose their luster. I didn’t notice such an outcome with my “more” expensive replicas. Therefore, I’m ready to pay more, as my goal is to have long-term watches.
So…
Apart from the price vs quality factor, I also take into consideration the movement that the replica watch comes with. It’s always a great bonus to get a reliable watch from a technical point of view. And since I was recently in search of a new sports watch, my attention fell on the IWC Portugieser 7 Days Automatic IW5001-24 replica timepiece. I know, it’s not a sports watch.
But, I love classic and simple watches. It’s my guilty pleasure. And no matter how hard I try to avoid looking at them when looking for a sports watch, it’s impossible to ignore them. Its clean and classic appearance is what made me spot my attention on it.
A closer look
With its particularly exquisite design, this Portugieser replica made me forget about the type of watch I was looking for. I thought that after all, I could get both a sport AND a Portugieser watch, so why not? Therefore, I began making a detailed analysis to see if it is worth the money so as to avoid a compulsive purchase. The Portugieser I found on AAAReplica online store seemed to meet all my demands for a replica watch. Its dial looked clean, it was told to have reliable movement, and a pretty accurate rose gold shade, just like the authentic model.
As I never trust pictures on websites, I got in touch with the customer care representatives of the AAAReplica store. In fact, I wanted to ask for some additional pictures of the real watch, so that I can make an objective inspection. It didn’t take long until I received the pictures (great customer support assistance, by the way) and I must say that I was fascinated by how real they looked.
A much closer look
Generally speaking, this Portugieser model is a good option for watch enthusiasts that embrace the generous sizes. It features a 42mm case. What makes this watch a great choice is that it looks similarly phenomenal with both a casual T-shirt and a dress shirt. Either way, regardless of the type of outfit you wear, the face of the watch conveys sophistication and high status.
In addition to its clean appearance, its face is remarkably easy to read. Any watch enthusiast knows that even a minimalist dial can look heavy and hardly legible if the manufacturer screws it up with the design. Color, hands’ forms and shape, dial patterns, the type of hour numerals- all of them can either contribute to or significantly affect the watch’s readability, depending on the manufacturer’s craftsmanship. In the case of IW5001-24 Portugieser, there is no room for errors or mistakes.
Every detail looks perfectly balanced and fine. The gold numbers look expressive on the silver dial; the rhodium hands couple perfectly with the case material; the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock symmetrically balances the small seconds at 9 o’clock. So, the whole picture is about calibration and expressiveness, making me want this timepiece even more.
A final design accent of this watch consists of its wonderful brown leather strap, looking like a logical continuation of the gold rounded bezel. In my opinion, the brown leather/gold case option looks far more sophisticated in comparison to the standard black leather/steel case. However, I took a closer look at such a version, just to make sure that the brown option was the best one or (or confuse myself even more).
IWC Portugieser Blue Dial, Black Leather Strap, and Stainless Steel Case
Comparing the two options, the stainless steel version with a black leather strap looks a bit more simple. Perhaps, this would be a good option for those who seek a formal watch with reduced loudness. In terms of price, it is also more affordable than the previously-mentioned 7 Days version.
I can’t omit to praise the manufacturers for the great finish they made with this replica watch. Even though the imitation comes in 316l stainless steel (unlike the genuine 904l), the finish is just as remarkable as it can be and can easily pretend to look like a genuine 904 steel watch.
Additional details
The replica watch comes with a crystal caseback through which you can see the inner movement. I deliberately asked to close pictures of the movement, so as to make sure that the imitation is indeed at the quality standard as it looks. What I saw was a common automatic movement, nothing different, except for several modifications making it look like the authentic 82200 calibre. Even with these similarities, I can’t say it is more beautiful than the one I saw on the 7 Days imitation.
Don’t get me wrong. My goal is not to discredit this model in favor of the 7-day Automatic imitation. My primary goal is to let you know the truth about them. Some customers are ok with a less beautiful movement, whenever the watch meets their aesthetic demands. So, this stainless steel case/black leather strap IWC can be an optimal solution for some of you, especially considering its affordable price.
WHY should you opt for an IWC watch?
Initially, I intended to talk about a sports watch in this article. But, since I ran into these Portugieser replicas beauties, I had to present them to you. Maybe you, also being in research for a sports timepiece, will find it optimal to add a Portugieser to your collection. After all, a dress timepiece is never odd, regardless of how many of them you already have.
Historical Background
If you still balance between having or not having an IWC, here are some aspects you might want to know. This brand has a particular talent for designing iconic watches for the most delicate and sophisticated tastes. On the basis of the brand’s current status lies its rich history. And you might probably know that a brand without history can hardly be named “a brand”. If you didn’t know, IWC refers to the exclusive club of brands that date back to the 18th century. Now, try to picture the huge expertise and impressive craftsmanship the brand developed over more than 150 years.
Premium quality standards
IWC is among the finest watchmaking houses in the horological world. This Swiss brand focuses on an ongoing innovation development to keep up with modern demands. At the same time, it remains loyal to its traditional values. As a result, every other collection released by IWC is nothing else than the product of meticulous and professional workmanship, ambitious innovative vision, and honor for tradition.