Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

jhuurne at November 23, 2012 at 6:57 AM

whitemonster at November 22, 2012 at 10:17 AM

Some time ago I received this 7A38-7060. Although visually very nice there were some technical problems. The chronograph was working but the hands would not jump back to zero. When I tried to do that manually by pulling the crown to the first position, you could see the chronograph hands starting to quiver as if they tried to jump back to zero! Completely out of order. The pushbuttons did not work at all  with the crown at the first position. Fellow member Jurgen (jhuurne) fixed all that for me! Everything works as it should and the pushbuttons make that reassuring clicking sound. Jurgen also gave this watch a thorough cleaning that it really needed. Thanks Jurgen!

I've never seen such a dirty watch before, it was horrible! I've enjoyed fixing this one, it's a real nice watch! 

I've seen a few which were a lot worse than that, Jurgen. 

Funnily enough, the very first secondhand 7A38 I bought on eBay, back in early December 2008, was the exact same model ....

a two-tone 7A38-7060. My original intention had been (ultimately) to use it as a spares donor for my (then only) stainless 7A38-7270.

Seiko7A38 at September 6, 2012 at 6:16 AM

Bit of a 'nostalgia trip' for me, today. 

Earlier this morning, I was posting in the 'Heads Up on yet another 7A38 Franken' thread, and needed a 'comparison' photo.

I could have sworn I'd posted one of a two-tone 7A38-7060 in the 'WRUW' thread before at some point - but it seems I hadn't. 

So I had to quickly get the watch out of one of my collection boxes and rattle off a Q&D shot.

Why the nostalgia trip ? 

Well this is the very first 7A38 I bought on eBay (the second after my original stainless 7A38-7270) back in December 2008.

If cost me less than 50 Quid, and had just been serviced, too. 

It's since been re-brushed in a few places and I've fitted a better set of main hands (the lume on the originals was a bit iffy) ....

I later bought another example, in mint almost N.O.S. condition on eBay Germany - but I've never had the heart to move this one on.

Thought I'd posted about it in this thread, somewhere before. 

Today I am wearing my very first Yema again. This time with a sparkling clean crystal. The cleaning of the inside of the crystal was also done by Jurgen. What a difference! I have two more that are now with Jurgen for the same treatment. These Yema's have become my favourites in a very short time. I remember telling Paul I don't like text on bezels, I hate straps, I hate all these colours, in answer to the question if I was interested in purchasing a NOS one. Now I just love them! What amazes me is the lume on the ones with the yellow hour markers. It really lasts all night. I don't know what compound they used at Yema but it is terrific! My 7A28's and 7A38's that are of roughly the same age light up for maybe fifteen minutes and then go all dark. The ones with the white hour markers don't seem to have lume at all. (By the way Paul: I think the white paint on the bezel and the pip is just that: paint).

That looks better, Harry. 

Here's my wrist shot for today - something slightly smaller - a lovely little watch for a 'dress-down' Friday afternoon at work ....

my 'Dinky Diver' 7A38-6000 on non-original vintage Seiko 'Beads of Rice' bracelet:

Today being the 26th November - the 24th anniversary of the launch of the Soyuz TM-7 'Aragatz' Franco-Soviet mission to Mir 

.... what else would I be wearing, but my much-loved 'bitza beater / cadran drapeux' Yema Spationaute III - 'Old Number One' ? 

(By the way Paul: I think the white paint on the bezel and the pip is just that: paint).

By the way Harry: On this particular Spationaute III, I happen to know it is; specifically Humbrol enamel # 41. 'Cos I painted it.

Today one of my 7A38-7000's that I have shown before. That was when I had just received it. It looks much better today because it now has a new (sapphire) crystal. (Damn, I wish I was a better photographer!  )

This 7A38-6080 for me today. A very recent arrival needing a new crystal....

Well, you know now where to go for sapphire....

whitemonster at November 27, 2012 at 2:06 PM

Well, you know now where to go for sapphire....

No need for sapphire - a complete waste of money - especially on a 'cheap as chips' 7A38. 

What you want is a correct-appearing hardened mineral glass crystal with the all-important polished bevel edge of the original Seiko.

Like this Sternkreuz p/n XMF300.860: 

Paul. If you haven't already checked out this thread:

http://www.seiko7a38.com/apps/forums/topics/show/7187327-crystals-and-gaskets - might I recommend a quick scan. 

It's getting boring, I know, but here is my Spationaute III number 2 with the white hour markers that just came back from Jurgen with a sparkling clean crystal.

Yema N8’s aren’t boring Harry – just a little different, in a way that only French watches could be.

Perhaps you should consider changing your username from whitemonster to BlueBelle. LOL !! 

Me ? Now I am being boring this afternoon – and wearing white: one of my everyday 7A38-7280 beaters:

I've fitted it with one of those cheap and nasty 20mm 'Feiko' after-market bracelets. See the my post in the WRUW thread.

Better late than never ....

With many thanks to Andre (member 'Nova')  for helping me to acquire my latest incoming ultra-cheapo beater Orient J39001-70. 

My 7A38-7029 today. This is a great watch, really legible, the angles work very well and this one is in very good condition.

Staying with the wintry stainless / white dial look today - my 'Poor Man's Jean Lassale Thalassa 7A74-017 - the 'Swiss Made' Seiko 7A.

Shades of black and blue today - and back to an old favourite daily wearer. My 7A38-706A on TSS Watchworx Aerosport Mk2 strap:

Two for the price of one, today (in more ways than one). My 7A38-7289 self-built Franken, with 718L dial from a scrapped 7A38-726A.

Today my 7A38-7029 on a Seiko replacement bracelet. Hmm! What do you think? 

Interesting bracelet there! What is the ref number for the bracelet please - or the watch it originaly came from?

It looks to be a tiny bit too narrow (width-wise) in comparison to the case, but it does look pretty good.

It is Seiko partnumber 4138JZ. You are right, it is just a bit too narrow at the case and I need to look for thicker pushpins. The ones from the original bracelet are too thin for it. The links are a bit thicker and it tapers less than the original. At the clasp it is 19 mm. There is nothing like the original of course, but I quite like it after test-wearing it for a day. 

Just received a new leather Seiko watchband for my 7A38-7069. (free shipping and only 6 days from Hong Kong!)

Had to take it out to enjoy the abundant sunshine! Sincerely Paul in Las Vegas.