Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Another of my older 7Axx Franken creations to start the new page, though certainly not the best photo I've taken of it, due to the reflections off the domed crystal. I built this dressy little Franken based on a 7A34-7019 salesman's sample case way back in July 2011. It's fitted with the 609L dial from a 7A38-6109 sample case. Sadly, it hardly ever sees the light of day - and the only reason I got it out of the watch box this afternoon was to replace its battery.

Another oldie but a goodie - a watch that up until a few years ago, I'd begun to doubt its very existence (other than as a record on Seiko's database). It became something of a 'grail'. I've never seen another example since I found this one. My two-tone 7A38-706A SAA034J.

A Q&D wrist shot of my most recently acquired Kamatz 517000, which arrived earlier in the week - the blue / gold sub-dial variant which had eluded me until now, mostly because I wasn't prepared to pay the prices asked. This one cost a mere $66 (+ GSP charges / postage). More or less as received; all I've done is swap the (too narrow) 18mm 'Mock Croc' strap that it came fitted with, for a plain tan leather 20mm, that l had lying around.

On other watch forums, people are celebrating International Pogue Day today. 

Not here. Vive La Difference !! Yema Spationaute III Aragatz (Cadran Drapeaux).

I'm wearing my most recently acquired Yema Spationaute III Aragatz today.

Breaking in a new RIOS shark strap I've just fitted, so it's not quite comfortable yet.

With so many of these already in my my collection, you might be wondering why ever would I have bought another. It may not look anything special from the above photo, but this is that very early production example, with the case-back s/n 1 004.

The Italian seller knew I wanted it and we eventually agreed on a price.

I had intended this photo to be my BLACK FRIDAY wrist shot. I took it yesterday afternoon, but was unable to upload it, thanks to PhotoBucket being in non-working 'holiday mode', which put me in a suitably black mood !  Anyway, better late than never, here it is. Yesterday I was wearing this 7A38-7290 SAA095J. 

In terms of finally acquiring examples of my 'long term grails', 2019 has been a very successful year. Though admittedly, not all have been in the best of condition. Like this Kamatz 519000 'Tango Charlie', fitted with a badly fitting non-original generic two-tone stainless bracelet, which an attractive post lady delivered this morning.

Very much as received - literally straight out of the box, apart from re-setting the date, time and chrono' hands. Pretty it ain't, but it's got possibilities. 

I've done a little work on that Kamatz 519000 'Tango Charlie' since this morning ....

First thing to go was that horrible cheap generic two-tone bracelet. Not only was it the wrong (too narrow) fitting, but it was excessively long and I couldn't figure out how to remove the adjustment links. Next thing I did was to quickly sort out the clumsily displaced finger tension spring. The crystal was quite heavily scratched and (obviously from this morning's 'as received' shot), badly fogged on the inside. I replaced it with a good (if not quite perfect) secondhand one from a used 517000 case. I also replaced the screw-down crown, as the one it came with had evidently been tightened with pliers. It's now fitted with an original Kamatz black leather strap, which came to me on another Kamatz 517000 that I bought a couple of months ago (and haven't mentioned before - of more anon).

All that's really left to do now, is to touch up the missing bezel inlay graduations and numbering. I need to treat myself to another decent quality (sable) 000 paintbrush first. There's only 2 or 3 bristles left on mine - and get my caffeine / nicotine count down, to ensure a steady hand.

It's not as if I needed yet another blingy Yema N81W63 Breguet Classique clone, but I never could resist a bargain.  My recently almost unintentionally acquired ex-Live Auctioneers example arrived in this morning's post - delivered by the same extremely yummy post lady (she's a Christmas temp worker, not my regular postie). Here it is as exactly as received - dead as a dodo, hands all awry and still fitted with that equally blingy hideous Speidel expanding bracelet. If you're wondering about the blue-ish tinge of the photo, it was bloody cold outside this morning.

New battery fitted, along with a Cousins 19mm Ostrich strap to tone it down a bit:

Just quickly trying on my newest incoming 'bargain basement bling' - a NOS RACER J39928-70 (another slight variation on the Orient J39xxx-xx theme), which arrived in this morning's post. 

Two wrist shots for the price of one (actually more like one for the price of two). 

Here's how my 4th RACER J39027-70 'Panda' would have looked yesterday (that is, had it actually been running and keeping time). 

Here's how it looks this afternoon - after a dial / movement swap from a 'beater'.

It might not look quite so pretty, but it's another different variant - and it works !  

Here's a Q&D 'as received' shot of my newest incoming bling, a RACER J39924-50, on its original Orient branded leather strap, which arrived a couple of days ago.

Seiko 7A38-7060, Down and dirty as received, note incorrect day and date

Cleaned up

I think I lucked out on this one. A Seiko 7A38-7060 from our São Paulo, Brazil watch botcher “Denguinho” turned out pretty well. Hands reset with a nice ‘click’, day date turn over promptly after midnight. I’m happy with it. Did a quick clean up on the dial and changed out the blue leather band for a Regimental strap…ok…it’s a “James Bond” one piece strap.

James Bond Seiko wannabe

My first wrist shot and first new incoming arrival of the New Year.  Not a 7A38, but a 7T32 - a NOS RACER HFA018-70 BreitBling clone, which arrived from the sunny Canary Islands in this lunchtime's post. Cheap too - 35 Euros plus postage.

I was puttering around in the garage today   and almost forgot to get a wrist shot, so here goes. Yema  N8 1X26 on a one piece Marathon Mil Spec watchband.

I had a heck of a time with Imgur today. Couldn't sign on for a couple hours and when I did I was not able to open my photos. Loaded the app so now I can only "copy a link" and It won't let me resize. Not sure what's going on. 

One month since I first spotted it on Wallapop and after overcoming some logistical challenges posed by the intransigent Spanish seller (full story here), the RACER J39002-70 is finally on my wrist.  I'd like to think it was worth the effort. 

Thought I'd get this Seiko 7A38-706B posted. I've got a feeling another one will show up in a couple of days. 

I have absolutely no idea what you might be alluding to, Paul. Meanwhile, here's a 'warts and all' shot of my borderline fugly 7A38-706B SAA084J, still in dire need of replacement dial and hands. The only reason I got it out was to replace the battery - I happened to notice it was doing the 'two-second two-step'.

Not the 'bling' I'm expecting (it still hasn't arrived yet).  This lunchtime I replaced the batteries in two of my JAZ N8YZ669 Panda's. Here's two Q&D photos of one of them (the same watch). I'm saving a better one for another thread.

Here's my recently acquired allegedly NOS 7A38-7250 SAA080J, just back from servicing at the very competent hands of our resident expert, Simon ('Sir Alan').

This watch had major time-keeping issues from the outset (literally from the moment you pushed the crown home). Simon discovered the problem was caused by a metal bushing missing from the back-plate, which normally supports the third wheel in the main bridge ! The watch can never have worked properly from Day # 1 !