Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Dug out another old favourite which hadn't seen the light of day in a good while.

My 'Poor Man's all-stainless Jean Lassale Thalassa 7A74-017. Stay classy.

Minty 7A38-7040 SAA019J. I purchased this one, which is my second example, a couple of years ago, back in April 2018. Don't think I've ever posted a wrist shot of this one before. I've just fitted it with a fresh battery. So now it's minty fresh.

Typically, I went to put away that 7A38-7040, back in the collection box and noticed one of its JDM siblings - a 7A38-7110 SJS048, just a few slots along, was doing the two-second two-step. So I thought I might as well replace the battery in that one too.

This one is the better condition of my two 'lesser' examples - actually the third one I bought off Yahoo Japan (with Daisuke's invaluable assistance), back in April 2015. I'd replaced the battery when I received it, probably one of the last occasions that I'd fitted a Maxell #394, before switching briefly to Renata, then Seizaiken. Remarkable then, that it was still running, albeit on its last legs, over 5 years later.

Wearing this mint-ish 7A38-7029 SAA013J (built up from a salesman's sample case last October), this afternoon. For the benefit of my 70-odd followers on Instagram .... #ThisIsNOTaRoyalOak ! 

Wearing this almost mint / NOS condition stainless 7A38-7000 SAA007J briefly this morning, having just replaced the battery.

Swapped that for a Yema N8 Flygraf - another I've just replaced the battery in. 

Here's a Q&D 'as received' shot of my newest incoming blingy RACER J39928-70, which Parcel Force finally delivered late yesterday afternoon. It has taken a month to get here from Spain. Not, for once the fault of 'Parcel Farce', but presumably due to COVID-19 shipping restrictions in Spain. 

My recenly acquired 'bargain priced' Jean Lassale Thalassa 7A74-019, back on the wrist again. I re-assembled it this afternoon, after an abortive cleaning exercise. Of more anon later.

Wearing my refurbished 'beater' 7A38-7070 SAA031J, fitted with a Yobokies repro' bezel insert again, this afternoon.

I'm feeling happy and more than slightly relieved this afternoon. It's the little things in life that please. I'm at last able to post a Q&D 'as received' shot of my all-black dialed Kamatz 517000 (a less common dial colour variant which has eluded me for many years), that was finally delivered today. It took OVER 5 WEEKS to arrive from the States, including a MONTH just to get from El Paso, Texas to Chicago, Illinois. This thread in the Members' Lounge refers.

It's in typical average / well worn condition - the case, bezel and crystal are all lightly scuffed and most of the painted numbers are missing from the quarter markers. I'm not unduly bothered, principally because I only paid $75 bucks for it, but because all I actually wanted it for was the dial / movement, which I will be transplanting into a NOS watch case at the weekend. It came fitted with its original Poljot (re)branded cardboard consistency leather strap, which, given the poor quality, has stood the test of time remarkably well. But I won't be re-using it.

The watch must at one time have been owned by someone with 'gorilla size' (8½") wrists. Note the additional crudely punched hole, near the very end of the strap.

It's Franken FRED Force 10 Freday ! O.K. so I'm a couple of hours early posting this, but what the heck. Still a work in progress, some 6 years since I gave life to the creature. I exhumed it and gave it a hand transplant at the weekend.

Here's a couple of Q&D (literally dirty) 'as received' shots of my second recently acquired Carrera 515.11 7Axx wannabe clone (See this thread). I haven't bothered to reset the chronograph hands yet, because past experience has taught me that it's a bit of a 'hit or miss' process (understatement) - and I want to pop the movement out to give the case and bracelet a clean, which will mean having to do it again.

Here's a couple of Q&D (literally filthy dirty) 'as received' photos of another of my recent acquisitions - a well-worn Orient J39721-70. Its watch case is not as you might at first possibly suspect, polished stainless steel, but of palladium plated metal-skinned resin construction.

Wearing this 7A38-701A SAA003J this bright and sunny Sunday morning.

Swapped that 7A38 for some faux bling this afternoon - one of my Yema N81W63 Breguet Classique clones. I'm almost ashamed to admit I have too many of these in my collection, not to wear one occasionally. IIRC, this example, fitted with a Cousins 19mm Ostrich strap, is the one I bought off LiveAuctioneers last November.

Wearing this tidy, almost mint condition two-tone 7A38-7270 SAA094J this morning.

I've never been averse to a bit of faux bling, although some of the odder ones in my collection don't get worn very often. I give you the extremely quirky Yema N8YM53, which if nothing else deserves a special award for the shortest sub-dial hands.

Wearing this Yema Spationaute III Aragatz with the 'Cadran Drapeux' mission flags dial this morning. Two reasons: Firstly (the usual excuse) is I had to get it out of the collection box to replace the battery. Secondly, and more significantly for our French members, today is Bastille Day - France's national holiday. 

Here's another suitably patriotic one for any other francophiles amongst us. 

The Kamatz 518000 'Oscar Bravo' is my favourite bezel variant of these 'unusual' French-made 'pilot's watches. I'm not sure I can honestly say the same about the quirky tricoleur sub-dial versions. But what the heck - Vive La Différence. 

Just to show that not every watch I own is in pristine condition (far from it, in fact). This morning I'm wearing this well-worn 'beater' 7A38-7080 SAA033J. I do have a couple of other examples in my collection, in almost mint condition, though.