Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at May 24, 2016 at 3:12 AM

No idea why they should keep popping up in Japan (this is the third or fourth example I've seen), because it was ostensibly a (European) export model, but another stainless 7A38-6090 has just been listed on Yahoo Japan auctions earlier today.

At the risk of repeating myself, from the previous page ....

Strange how these things keep cropping up on Yahoo Japan auctions - particularly as the 7A38-6090 was an export model. 

Here's yet another that was listed yesterday:

http://page21.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j400353386

Google translates the relevant part of the Japanese seller's description as follows:

Seiko 7A38-6090 SQ100 Speedmaster Chrono running rare

Is just replaced the battery. Because it is used, there are such as scratches caused by the use I think it still can be used.

I am sorry, but I hope if you can acknowledge. Beauty products, those who ask for the completion goods thank you like you please refrain from the tender. In addition, I hope in a no claim, no return per junk treatment ....

The above Yahoo Japan auction ended yesterday, with the 7A38-6090 selling for 11,388 Yen (equivalent to approx. $109.70 USD / £83.20 GBP) after 23 bids.

http://page21.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j400353386

Hi Paul, do you know if its possible to still get links for the gunmetal strap model? The one I have is far too small.

I have just purchased the gunmetal version of the 7A38-6090 but can't wear it as it's missing adjustment links. 

Also been trying to find a bracelet or strap with 14mm lug to 20mm with but finding it impossible. Many thanks Alan.

Alan. I think you'd be very lucky to find spare bracelet adjustment links for any version of the 7A38-6090 - they're long since discontinued. Still there's no harm in asking Seiko UK. The part number to quote is S1002H-LKG (or S1002H for a complete bracelet).

Not that I should advocate modifying / fitting non-original bracelets - again you're unlikely to find a 20mm bracelet with a 14mm fitting, the easiest way of achieving this is by finding a 20mm bracelet with an expanding (spring-loaded) universal fit fixing tube, or cut one down to 14mm using a Dremel or jeweller's hacksaw / files. Stainless / Gunmetal two-tone finish will be hard to find too. You might have to settle for all stainless. The very first 7A38-6090 I bought (back in 2009) came fitted with a stainless Speidel Twist-O-Flex expanding bracelet that had been 'narrowed' to 14mm. Normally they're 16mm - 20mm.

Seiko7A38 at May 7, 2016 at 8:10 AM

Athough I didn't spot it before (because there's no mention of the model number in the title nor description), I suspect this two-tone 7A38-6090 was briefly listed concurrently, around the same time, by another wishful Italian eBay seller. Amusingly, once again, their 'pie-in-the sky' Buy-it-Now price is set at 149 (but in $ US, rather than Euros). But this example, which appears to be fitted with a notched rubber strap, isn't in as good cosmetic condition as the previous one - it's covered in light scratches. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162056625141

The seller's description is basically a load of utter tosh. Using his own ranking, I wouldn't rate it any better than a 2.5+ / 10. 

Consider the One Star eBay review already written. 

Incidentally, that Italian eBay seller's 7A38-6090, fitted with a rubber strap, is still doing the rounds 6 months later.

I notice the 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it now price has crept up from $149 to $159. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//172371254505

I really don't know why I bother updating these threads with 'lesser' examples - other than to point out they're often well over-priced. Here's another poor example of a two-tone 7A38-6090, which has had most of its gold plating polished off and been fitted with a leather strap in place of the original bracelet. At least this Romanian eBay seller had the sense to start the bidding off at £1. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713249722

Very nice Seiko SQ100 chronograph. 

MOVEMENT Seiko 15 jewels quartz 7A38.

Watch features day/date function English / French.

Chronograph with 1/10 second chronometer and 30 minute counter.

Very accurate time keeper, all working functions ok watch resets perfect.

I have big fingers and had to push a little harder the buttons.

Case staineless steel, has been polished cause of the gold plated eraised areas, looking nice.

40 mm diameter.

Band not original but good quality.

Battery was changed a few months ago. 

Overall is a great looking vintage watch rare to find and perfect for any collection. 

Shipping worldwide!

Tracking number provided but in some countries may not be available to track.

Usually takes 5 to 30 days to arrive at destination depends of the destination.

At the other end of the cosmetic appearance scale, here's a stainless 7A38-6090 that was listed this afternoon by a Greek eBay seller - though I'm not so certain about it's originality. The seller correctly states that the chronograph sweep second hand isn't original, but I suspect there's more besides. The case-back certainly appears to have been skimmed. Studying the photos, it appears to have been completely re-finished - the whole thing is just that bit too shiny to my eye. I suspect the watch case has been given a careful polishing, to remove scratches, because the lugs and other protusions don't look quite angular enough. Again, the bracelet looks like it has been polished and re-brushed, because the central link sections would normally be silver anodized finish.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252632815705

Vintage Seiko Quartz Chronograph ref. 7A38-6090. 

Watch head and original bracelet in mint condition. 

Working perfect, keeping time, chronograph starts stops & resets as it should. Service history is unknown. 

Top right button feels kinda sticky when pressed but without affecting the start/stop function (maybe a gasket/oiling issue). 

The chronograph centre second hand is not original to the ref. model, it's from a different 7A38 model. 

Case width is around 37-38mm. Bracelet fits my 7.5in wrist with one spare link included. 

No boxes or papers. Please study the photos carefully as are part of the description. 

Thank you for looking.

That eBay auction by a Romanian seller for a tatty over-polished two-tone 7A38-6090, fitted with a leather strap ended yesterday evening selling for £62 after 16 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713249722

The eBay auction for the stainless 7A38-6090 offered by the Greek seller ended earlier this afternoon, selling for $161.50 (approx. £130) after 23 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252632815705

Another two-tone 7A38-6090 was listed by an Italian eBay seller, yesterday evening. It's certainly in better condition than the previous two examples, in that it's still got most of it's gold plating and comes on the original bracelet. That said, personally I think the seller is pushing his luck, in asking 150 Euros for a Buy-it-Now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152338553284

STUPENDO SEIKO VINTAGE CRONOGRAFO CON MOVIMENTO AL QUARZO 7A38. OROLOGIO ACCIAIO E ORO GDF CON IMPERCETTIBILI SEGNI DEL TEMPO. BRACCIALE PER POLSO MEDIO PUCCOLI. QUADRANTE A NUDO D`APE BIANCO. PERFETTAMENTE FUNZIONANTE.

Seems I'd previously omitted to post a result for the above listing for a two-tone 7A38-6090, which ended two weeks ago. The Italian eBay seller was indeed pushing his luck - a few days later he reduced the Buy-it-Now price from 150 Euros to a somewhat more realistic 100 Euros, which it later appears to have sold for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152338553284

It's probably gone un-noticed, but I've made a minor edit to the title of this topic, belatedly adding in another sales code: SAA134J.

I've known of the existence of this fourth variant of 7A38-6090 for a few years now, but apart from the sighting of one very poor example, which had been stripped of virtually all its gold plating and gunmetal coating and was bereft of its bracelet (which I wrote about in my penultimate post at the bottom of page one, back in September 2013), I'd never seen an unmolested example 'in the metal' (or in photos) before. Which in my book, makes it a pretty rare beast, compared to the other three relatively more common 7A38-6090 variants: SAA115J, SAA116J and SAA117J, of which there are now plenty documented in this thread.

About a week ago, a Dutch poster started a thread about his having difficulty removing an old battery from a 7A38 on SCWF.

http://www.thewatchsite.com/34-watchmaking-tinkering/257761.html  7a38 battery

His final post ended: Not sure if I want to take on another project, I can maybe sell it on again.

I'm not sure that I wanted to take on any more 7A38 projects, but then I saw his FS advert on SCWF Trading Post mid-week.

http://www.thewatchsite.com/8-seiko-citizen-trading-post/258217.html  FS: Seiko 7a38-6090 parts/repair €60

So now it's hopefully winging it's way across the North Sea to me. Not exactly a pristine example, but it's a start, at least. 

You watch - now I've bought this 'rebuild project', they'll probably start popping up all over the place. 

This decent looking stainless 7A38-6090 was listed yesterday evening by a German eBay seller, with an opening bid of 1 Euro. Pity about the short-ish bracelet - due to a lack of adjustment links. A fairly common problem with this model (as I was frustratingly reminded by the SAA134J two-tone variant in my previous post).  There's no easy workaround due to the clasp design. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332213649454

Verkaufe einen sehr gut erhaltenen SEIKO SQ 100 Chronographen 7A38 mit nur minimalen Tragespuren, kaum zu bemerken. Technisch funktioniert die Uhr einwandfrei. Originalarmbandlänge ca. 16,5 cm. Die Bilder sind Teil der Beschreibung.

Da Privatverkauf keine Garantie oder Rücknahme ! Viel Spaß beim Bieten !

The above German eBay auction for a stainless 7A38-6090 ended yesterday evening, selling for 112 Euros after 15 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332213649454