Bokey TimeHello everyone, this is Bokey. In this watch review, let’s talk about the IWC Portuguese series IW358304 two-and-a-half-needle replica watch. This one is still from the veteran factory ZF factory. As we all know, ZF factory has launched many IWC replica watches. Models like Portuguese 7, Portuguese chronograph, pilot chronograph and big pilot are all the highest versions in the replica market. This time, it involves the Portuguese automatic watch 40 series. It can be said that they want to fill up the product line. Now, let’s talk about the specific details of this ZF factory Portuguese small three-needle IW358304 silver dial and blue needle replica watch through real pictures and texts to see if it is worth buying!
Authentic parameters: IWC Portuguese series IW358304 watch. Price: 55500.
As usual, let’s measure the overall data of the ZF factory Portuguese small three-needle first. Through actual measurement, it is found that the diameter is 40.4 millimeters, and in terms of thickness, it is 12.3 millimeters. The size and thickness are all in line with the authentic product.
This ZF Factory Portugieser Hand-Winding watch can be considered another elegant small-diameter dress watch alongside the Portofino, perfectly suited for Asian wrists. Long-time followers of ‘Bokey Watch Reviews’ may recall that seven years ago ZF released the replica IWC Jones Arrow semi-skeleton watch. However, that model had a larger 45mm case size and featured a manual-winding movement requiring daily winding – an inconvenience many enthusiasts complained about at the time. In contrast, this new Portugieser three-hander comes with an automatic movement, eliminating the hassle of daily winding.
The mirror of the ZF factory Portuguese small three-needle uses double-sided anti-glare arched sapphire crystal glass. Under the refraction of light, it will show a dark blue coating, which is very beautiful.
The new ZF factory IWC Portuguese series automatic watch 40 has a very simple design. It is an extremely formal small three-needle watch. Of course, the design is still in the typical IWC Portuguese series style. Round case, curved lugs, matched with an open dial, elegant Arabic numeral hour markers, orbital minute scale ring, beautiful willow leaf hands, etc. There is a small seconds dial at the 6 o’clock position. At the end of the 1930s, the authentic IWC Portuguese series 325 watch established the brand’s classic design style and has since become an unchanging theme throughout the history of the Portuguese series. The historical 325 watch is exactly a small three-needle watch, and the small seconds dial is also at the 6 o’clock position.
Zoom in to see the details of the dial. The brand printing of IWC below 12 o’clock is relatively clear and three-dimensional. Even when magnified several times, there is no ink overflow phenomenon. The ZF factory controls it relatively well. And the joint between the sapphire glass and the bezel is also relatively transparent. You can see the dial’s orbital ring refracted at the edge. This detail is also in line with the authentic product. Some second-rate manufacturers cannot achieve this effect.
The willow leaf-shaped hour and minute hands are made by blued steel process. Under the action of light, they are sometimes black and sometimes blue, which is very eye-catching. In terms of the pointer axis, the ZF factory also makes a silver metal axis, which is also in line with the details of the authentic product and there will be no problem of being obviously fake at a glance.
At the 6 o’clock position, the independent small seconds dial is treated with record grooves. Zoom in to see the details. In addition to the texture, the printing is also relatively clear and there will be no discontinuity problem. The small seconds hand is treated with the same blued steel process as the hour and minute hands. There is also a little hollow in the middle axis, which is also in line with the authentic product.
The ZF factory Portuguese small three-needle watch uses 316L stainless steel to make the case and bezel. From the side, you can see that the bezel, back cover and the R corners of the lugs are all mirror-polished, and other places are brushed. The overall case shape and polishing details are all restored by referring to the authentic product one by one.
On the other side is the time-adjusting and winding crown. The crown is also engraved with the IWC pattern. When magnified, it is also relatively clear and three-dimensional and not ambiguous. In terms of functions, let’s briefly explain. Turning it directly upwards is for manual winding. Pulling out one gear is the calendar empty gear. This point will be a bit lacking. The authentic product is for time adjustment in one gear. For the ZF factory, the time needs to be pulled to the second gear.
The back is designed with a see-through back. The mirror also uses sapphire crystal glass. The back cover is engraved with a code and the words “3BAR daily life waterproof”, which is also relatively simple.
In terms of the movement, a Japanese Seiko movement is used to modify the authentic 82200 movement. From the appearance, it still looks quite similar. The engravings on the movement deck and the color of the jewels are also relatively in line with the authentic product. However, the position of the balance wheel is a bit deviated from the authentic product. The authentic product is at the 11 o’clock position, while the ZF factory is at the 9 o’clock position. But in terms of appearance, it can still deceive many beginners. As long as people who don’t know much about watches generally can’t tell.
In terms of the strap, a dark blue calfskin with crocodile skin texture is used. The stitching is relatively neat, but the texture will still be a bit lacking. It is recommended that watch enthusiasts with sufficient budget directly upgrade to a crocodile leather strap!
In terms of the buckle, the ZF factory synchronizes with the original new butterfly-style folding buckle. In the past, the folding buckles of Portuguese 7 and Portuguese chronograph were single-sided designs. Now the new model is changed to a relatively short double-sided folding buckle. The wearing experience will be better than the old model. And this buckle made by the ZF factory is also relatively in line with the authentic product. As can be seen from the pictures, its workmanship details, such as engravings, brushed finish on the front, and polished edges and sides, are all restored one by one. It is indeed a buckle factory!
Summary: The IWC Portuguese automatic 40 series small three-needle replica watch launched by the ZF factory this time is still relatively in line with the authentic product from the front. The only shortcoming is the simulation degree of the movement and the strap needs to be upgraded to crocodile leather later. But on the whole, it is still worth buying!
