Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

This only average condition 7A38-7010, with a nastily butchered case-back was listed on eBay Germany yesterday aftermoon, with some highly over-optimistic asking prices: opening bid of 249.99 Euros and Buy-it-Now for 449.99 Euros. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281623950421

Ich habe diese Uhr 1986 gekauft, bin aber jetzt beim Ausräumen.

Deswegen wird sie hier angeboten. Absolut original ! 

Es handelt sich um eine klassische Armbanduhr von SEIKO,

Der Typ müsste eine 7A38-7010 sein, kostet seinerzeit an die 800,- DM! 

Es ist sicher eine " Zeitreise" in der Uhrengeschichte. Das Armband ist 

noch das Originalband, aber durchaus ersetzbar ...

Sehr schöne und hochwertige Herrenuhr, ein Schnäppchen für Kenner.

Ist gerade vom Uhrmacher durchgesehen und für gut befunden! 

In einem guten Zustand, auf der Rückseite leider etwas zerkratzt.

Immerhin einige Jahre alt ! Sehr schönes Sammlerstück. 

Ganz toll gemacht, ein "must have" für Jäger und Sammler ! 

Auch Abholung möglich.

Die Auktion ist ein Privatverkauf.

Es wird keine Garantie oder Gewährleistung für den Artikel übernommen.

Der Umtausch bzw. die Rücknahme ist ausgeschlossen.

Mit der Abgabe Ihres Gebotes erklären Sie sich damit einverstanden, von Ihrem Recht auf Garantie, Gewährleistung, Umtausch und Rückgabe zurückzutreten.

Bieten Sie daher nur, wenn Sie einverstanden sind. 

Die verwendeten Markennamen dienen nur zur Verständlichkeit und sind in

keinster Weise Verkaufsgegenstand und stehen in keinem Zusammenhang

mit den Produkten.

I took a screen print and right-clicked and saved the photos, with the intention of writing it up later, but then got side-tracked.

Late yesterday evening, the seller made a couple of revisions to the listing - reducing the prices and adding Worldwide shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=281623950421

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281623950421

It's a step in the right direction - but I suggest he keeps going. 

Getting there gradually - here's Rev 3.1 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281623950421

That German eBay auction / Buy-it-Now listing for the above 7A38-7010 ended about 45 minutes ago, selling for the reduced opening bid price of 149.99 Euros - rather less than the seller's original pie-in-the-sky BIN price of 449.99 Euros. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281623950421

Another speculatively over-priced 7A38-7010, in similar, possibly marginally better condition than the last one - without the case-back scratches, was listed at lunchtime today by a Spanish eBay seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321707086516

(I've only bothered uploading 4 of the seller's 12 photos, because many are very similar head-on views):

PARA LA VENTA UN GRAN RELOJ SEIKO 7A38-7010 CRONOGRAFO, MUY RARO MUY POCOS MODELOS DE ESTA SERIE, PARA CABALLERO DE LOS AÑOS 80, EN CONCRETO ESTE ES DE 1983. MOVIMIENTO DE CUARZO SEIKO EN ESTADO DE MARCHA, FUNCIONANDO CORRECTAMENTE. DOBLE CALENDARIO A LAS 3 HORAS PARA EL DIA DE LA SEMANA Y DIA DEL MES, BONITA ESFERA EN COLOR

NEGRO CON 3 SUBESFERAS,AGUJAS LUMINISCENTES EN COLOR BLANCO,CAJA DE ACERO CON UNAS MEDIDAS DE 39 MILIMETROS SIN CONTAR CORONAS.

CRISTAL ORIGINAL BIEN CONSERVADO CON LEVES ARAÑAZOS, EN BUEN ESTADO PARA SU EDAD. CON 4 BOTONES PARA LAS DISTINTAS FUNCIONES.

PULSERA ORIGINAL DE ACERO FIRMADA SEIKO.ENVIOS A TODO EL MUNDO.

POR CORREO CERTIFICADO Y NUMERO DE SEGUIMIENTO.

FOR THE SALE A VERY RARE VINTAGE SEIKO 7A38-7010 CHRONOGRAPH, 80´S IN GOOD CONDITION FOR MEN. THIS MODEL IS OF 1983. MOVEMENT QUARTZ SEIKO IN WORKING ORDER, RUNS WELL AND KEEPS THE TIME.

ORIGINAL STAINLESS STEEL CASE WITH MEASURES 39 MILLIMETERS WITHOUT CROWN IN GOOD CONDITION.

DOUBLE CALENDAR FOR DAY OF THE WEEK AND DAY OF THE MONTH IN SUB SPHERE 3 HOURS. ORIGINAL DIAL COLOUR BLACK WITH 3 SUBDIALS FOR THE FUNCTIONS. NEEDLES LUMINESCENTS COLOUR WHITE.

CRYSTAL ORIGINAL IN GOOD CONDITION FOR YOUR AGE, WITH MINOR SCRATCHES, ORIGINAL BRACELET STAINLESS STEEL SIGNED SEIKO IN GOOD CONDITION. DON´T LET TO PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS VINTAGE SEIKO WATCH HARD TO FIND VERY FEW UNITS OF THIS MODEL.

I SHIP WORLDWIDE WITH TRACKING NUMBER AND CERTIFIED POST.

Someone must have thought that 7A38-7010 was worth the seller's Buy-it-Now price of 295 Euros - it sold earlier this afternoon.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321707086516

Belated Edit: Scratch that.  It was back on eBay again, re-listed the following morning: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321709648663

When I first spotted this 7A38-7010 listed on eBay Germany, earlier this afternoon, my initial thoughts were about the badly stretched bracelet (typical of an original p/n Z1118S) - and what was going on with that extra section of bracelet ?  But as I scrolled through and right-clicked and saved the seller's photos - I came to that shot of the badly graunched case-back and immediately recognized this as yet another case of Deja Vu. If you're wondering where - just scroll back up to the top of this page. Same watch, s/n 3N3185. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151680924812

Hallo

Ich Verkaufe hier meine Seiko 7A38-7010.

Die Uhr ist doch relativ gut erhalten für ihr alter (ich schätze die Uhr ist von 83/85)

das glas hat einige Kratzer ist aber noch gut erhalten,

auf der Rückseite sind einige größere Kratzer

ein Juwelier sollte sie weg geschliffen bzw wegpoliert bekommen

die restlichen Gebrauchsspuren sind normal für das alter der Uhr.

Die Uhr läuft sehr gut, ebenso der Chronograph und Nullstellung des Chronographs. 

Es handelt sich um einen Privatverkauf, keine Garantie, keine Gewährleistung.

Just going through my eBay watching page and I noticed that the 30-day listing for that 7A38-7010 offered (once again) by another German eBay seller, orrange92 had ended yesterday evening (rather sooner than I'd expected) - sold against a Best Offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151680924812

According to Goofbid's eBay Best Offer History tool, the offer accepted was equivalent to 145 Euros - 5 Euros less than he paid for it.

Within the last couple of weeks, there was a 7A38-7010 listed as part of a job lot of three 7A38's on Yahoo Japan auctions.

Although I'd mentioned it in a couple of other threads, I hadn't previously bothered to document it in this model specific thread before, simply because the 'primary' item of interest within the lot was a JDM 7A38-6040.

FWIW, here's a quick copy and paste of the relevant bits of the auction listing and my comments.

Originally posted by myself on August 22, 2015 at 11:06 AM:

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r131657644

Rare SEIKO 7A38 3 Set of junk

2. 7A38 7010 International Model

Arm around 16.5cm ~ 17.0cm

1 / 10S is the junk that does not move without the return-to-zero.

Watch as I work.

Buckle is SEIKO notation because it is foreign models. (The clasp on the stretched p/n Z1118S bracelet is not original).

Originally posted by myself on August 29, 2015 at 11:55 AM:

The lot sold on 24th August for 30,000 Yen - equivalent to approx. $246.50 USD / £160 GBP. Not a bad price for an 'instant collection'.

Here's another 7A38-7010 listed on eBay Germany yesterday evening, with a rather childish ending to the title, which funnily enough also also appears to fitted with the wrong clasp (25mm long with 5 adjustment holes). But it's not the same watch - just coincidence.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351496599179

Hallo Uhrenfreunde und Sammler,

hier verkaufe ich eine Seiko 7A38-7010 mit Originalarmband.

Der erste analoge Quartzchronograph der Welt. Bezüglich Ganggenauigkeit, Wartungsarmut und Zuverlässigkeit gibt es kaum oder garnichts besseres. Die Uhr ist ca. 35 Jahre alt und befindet sich in einem guten gebrauchten Zustand. Sie ist extrem ganggenau und alles funktioniert. Die Batterie ist neu. Viele interessante Infos und Geschichten über die Uhrentypen Seiko 7A28 / 7A38 findet man im www. 

Viel Spaß beim bieten... 

Privatverkauf, keine Garantie /Gewährleistung oder Rücknahme.

Although the seller claims it's fitted with an original bracelet, because of the poor photos, I remain unconvinced. Rather than a Feiko bracelet, I suspect the watch may be fitted with a subsitute Seiko p/n B1424S bracelet, rather than the correct original p/n Z1118S.

Looks like I'm still in 'catch-up' mode.  Going through my eBay watching page, it seems I'd overlooked to post the auction result for that childishly titled listing for a 7A38-7010 on eBay Germany at the end of August. So, better late than never, here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351496599179

Sold on 8th September for 137.56 Euros (approx. £100.38) after 23 bids.

Just running a quick eBay search on ended listings worldwide, this morning, I belatedly spotted this well worn example of a 7A38-7010 listed breifly by a US seller at the beginning of this week:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131609512621

Going by the seller's photos, it wasn't particularly a good one - nor very very nice. 

The description read:

Not going to waste a lot of time on this. From my personal stash. Excellent Seiko 7A38-7010. Fully jeweled chrono with steppers. Black face, white indices. Extremely sharp. Just replaced the battery last month, so you don't have to worry about some nimrod blowing the movement. Last battery lasted 4 years. Works as it should. Zeros out properly. Loses about a second every 2 weeks. Minor bezel scratches, nothing bad. Back's in decent shape. Lubed the gasket properly with milspec grease. The watch is getting close to 40 years old. Classic and desirable. One of the best quartz watches ever made. Try buying a Brietling with a $20 movement in it, see what that does for you. Groundbreaking and beautiful movement design. 

Original band will fit an 8" wrist nicely. A lot of these have lost the original bands. Don't know why. See user groups about this, lots of info. 

Shipping is priority small box. International is welcome, but ONLY through Global shipping program.

Note although the seller claims 'Original band', it appears to be fitted with a replacement Seiko p/n B1424S rather than a p/n Z1118S.

No surprises as to the indentity of the winning bidder of that 7A38-7010 - I'd suspected a certain person had made the seller an offer.

Probably explains how my saved searches failed to pick it up (and I missed spotting it before) - another 'snatch and grab'. 

It is of course none other than Kyiaye - the eBay ID used for buying by Worldwideweb66 - a.k.a. Daly City (San Fransisco) based profiteering re-seller Wai Phyo, some of whose prior activives have been documented in this thread in the eBay section.

Hence no surprise at the very brief interval before it re-appeared on eBay (he is the undisputed master of the fast turnaround).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131613337185

From the various losses of black laquer on the bezel inlay it's clearly the same watch, although the head appears to have been lightly polished. Naturally it's benefitted from Wai's clever use of soft-focused photography.

Bearing in mind that he paid $130 for it less than a week ago, it'll be interesting to see what final selling price it makes this time around, under the cloak of the private listing - bidders' identities protected auction. 

Of couse, I'm in no way inferring that Wai Phyo regularly uses shill bidding to inflate his selling prices. 

Re-seller Worldwideweb66's auction for that 7A38-7010 ended in the early hours of this morning, selling for $202.50 after 15 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131613337185

This erroniously titled 7A38 (as a 7A38-701-a) appeared on eBay at the weekend, listed by a wishful Italian seller.

Clearly, from the dark charcoal grey dial (absence of grid pattern); black sub-dials; silvery-white chronograph hands and metallic red Tachymeter lettering on the bezel it's a 7A38-7010 - and a fairly tired looking example fitted with a nondescript rubber dive strap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281884461125

Bellissimo 7a38 701-a 

Uno dei pezzi più pregiati della serie 7a38, se non il più raro e col più alto valore collezionistico. 

Il cronografo è stato rimesso in pristino attraverso la SOSTITUZIONE COMPLETA DEL MOVIMENTO con uno proveniente da un modello analogo mai usato e con la pulitura della cassa (rigorosamente senza lucidatura). 

L'orologio pertanto si presenta funzionante perfettamente in ogni sua parte (cronografia e datario compresi). 

Per completare il lavoro basta cercare un bracciale in acciaio originale reperibile per poche decine di euro.

Despite the would-be Italian seller's enthusiastic descripton, including adjectives: Bellissimo, pristino and perfettamente, this one falls into the category of 'probably best avoided' - especially at the laughably optimistic Buy-it-Now price of 300 Euros. 

This only average condition 7A38-7010 (with well worn bezel inlay, suspect hour marker batons and fitted with an incorrect bracelet) listed on eBay yesterday afternoon by a UK seller, seemed to be attracting more than its fair share of attention. By late yesterday evening, when I took the screen print below, the listing had already received nearly 200 views and had two dozen watchers.

But perhaps it wasn't just the asking price ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381518858773

The seller stated in their description that it was fitted with (an) original Seiko bracelet. Indeed it was, but not the correct original Seiko p/n Z1118S you'd expect to find on a 7A38-701X. Nor one of the cheap and nasty Feiko 20mm bracelets that are frequently fitted as replacements. Although it appears in the second photo to have been fitted with a shorter (5-hole adjustment) clasp instead of the proper 7-hole SQ logo'd clasp, the bracelet is a Seiko p/n B1241S, which you'd normally find on the 7A38-7070 'Diver'. Besides being instantly recognisable to collectors, from the 'hinged' joints, note that the tapering end links are a fraction wider than the ends of the 7A38-7010 watch case. From what you could see of it (apart from a wrong clasp), the bracelet looked to be in pretty decent condition.

I suspect that may have been the real cause for interest. The short-lived listing ended about an hour ago, sold against a Best Offer:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381518858773

According to Goofbid's eBay Best Offer History tool, there were actually a total of 8 offers made (a third one for £60 and another for £80, which I couldn't fit on my screen print). The offer the seller accepted was for £85.

This 'non operating' 7A38-7010 was listed on eBay yesterday by a zero-feedback Australian seller. It's not easy to gauge the condition (particularly of the Tachymeter bezel inlay) from the poor photos - the worst of which I haven't bothered uploading, it's so bad. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121869652026

Seiko 7A38-7010 pre owned, new battery but movement not operating, collectors item

However, the bracelet looks reasonably tight. 

This well worn looking 7A38-7010 - and might I add, grossly over-priced for the condition, fitted with a cheap khaki NATO strap was listed on eBay a couple of days ago, by  a would-be UK seller. What can you say ?  FWIW it's in F.W.O. And that's about it.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401058946716

SEIKO VINTAGE QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH - 7A38-7010 - TWO TONE DIAL - IN FULL WORKING ORDER - NEW BATTERY RECENTLY FITTED - IN EXCELLENT CONDITION 

EXCELLENT CONDITION MATT FINISH STAINLESS STEEL CASE - ONLY VERY LIGHT WEAR MARKS - FITTED WITH BLACK NATO FABRIC STRAP 

EXCELLENT CONDITION TWO TONE DIAL - GREY WITH BLACK SUBDIALS - LUMINOUS BATON HOUR MARKERS AND HANDS - 3 SUBDIALS - 30 MINUTE COUNTER AT 9 - SUB SECONDS AT 6 - 1/10 SECOND COUNTER AT 3 ( DAY/DATE IN SUBDIAL ) 

FIXED TACHYMETRE BEZEL - FEW MARKS ON INSERT 

CASE DIAMETER - 40MM 

CRYSTAL FEW SCRATCHES 

SIGNED 15 JEWEL MOVEMENT 

THESE ARE NOW BECOMING QUITE SOUGHT AFTER - SEE MY OTHER LISTING FOR A 7A28 

TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER WATCHES I HAVE FOR SALE

Seiko7A38 at January 20, 2016 at 6:30 AM

This 'non operating' 7A38-7010 was listed on eBay yesterday by a zero-feedback Australian seller. It's not easy to gauge the condition (particularly of the Tachymeter bezel inlay) from the poor photos - the worst of which I haven't bothered uploading, it's so bad. 

Regardless of the seller's zero feedback status, the mostly poor quality photos and non-operational condition, that 7A38-7010 sold yesterday lunchtime for $182.50 Au (approx. £89) after 10 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121869652026

Seiko7A38 at January 23, 2016 at 10:13 AM

This well worn looking 7A38-7010 - and might I add, grossly over-priced for the condition, fitted with a cheap khaki NATO strap was listed on eBay a couple of days ago, by  a would-be UK seller. What can you say ? ....

Just going through my eBay watching page this morning, clearing out some crap and I noticed that tatty 7A38-7010 on a cheap NATO had actually sold. The seller had re-listed it a couple of times - most recently with a more realistic 99p (vs £200) opening bid price.

It finally made £115.99 after 23 bids:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401089684083

What can you say ? The winning bidder must have been desperate for a 7A38-7010. 

Although I saved the photos and took a screen print at the time, I'd overlooked posting this. 

A week or so ago, an Australian eBay seller listed a 7A38-7010 fitted with a non-original bracelet. The seller had mis-typed the model number in the  description (as 7A33 instead of 7A38), so I doubt he was aware that the bracelet was a replacement.

Zooming in on the last photo, it appears to be a Seiko p/n Z1414S, normally found on a H601-5210 Ana-Digi.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121969214428

IN THIS LISTING I HAVE A VINTAGE SEIKO QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH MENS WATCH.

ON BACK IT HAS SEIKO WATER RESISTANT 301339 JAPAN 7A33-7010 A3. HAD A NEW BATTERY FITTED, WATCH WORKING. I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT WATCHES. SOLD AS IS. PLEASE SEE OTHER LISTINGS.

The auction ended late yesterday morning, selling for $158.50 Au (approx. £81.75) after 13 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121969214428