Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

In the early hours of this morning, a Mexican eBay seller vintagemexicollectables (whose last offering featured on the previous page of this thread) listed what purports to be a 7A38-7070 'head only' with an opening bid price of $0.99 cents.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142447538507

It doesn't take a particularly close examination of the seller's photos to detemine that this was once in fact a 7A38-7080, that has been stripped of its black chrome coating. There's still plenty of evidence of that - in the bezel and crown knurling, around the pusher cups and in the lug boxes. Of course the case-back stampings give the game away:

This mess doesn't really belong in this thread - more rightfully in this aptly titled thread in the eBay section, where I'll write it up in more detail presently. Just thought I'd mention it here, in case any readers wondered why I'd omitted to. You could hardly miss it. 

I suppose as I did mention it here, I should also update this thread. That Mexican eBay auction for the badly stripped 7A38-7080 (mis-represented as a 7A38-7070) ended in the early hours of this morning, selling for $168.50 after 36 bids. Makes me wonder if those 7 bidders realized what they were actually bidding on.  One of them placed 16 of those 36 bids and another bidder 10. As it turned out, they were both out-sniped by mystery bidder n***e who seems to revel in collecting these kind of poorer specimens. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142447538507

This 7A38-7070 was listed earlier this evening by a German eBay seller, with an opening bid price of 149 Euros or a Buy-it-Now option for 329 Euros. It might actually be a half-decent example, in which case neither figure would be out of the question. However, that only applies if you're not averse to a 'fuzzy photo gamble'.  I don't think I've seen a worse set of supposedly high resolution photos in a very long time. Not one of the 12 is in focus. I really don't know why I bothered to upload them. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253064327428

SEIKO SPORTS 100 CHRONOGRAPH / Day Date - DREHBARE LYNETTE -( LINKSDREHEND ) FUNKTION Über TAGE GEPRÜFT.../ ( DRÜCKER Voll FUNKTIONSF./ JEDOCH JUSTIERT SICH DER ZEIGER / NICHT AUF PUNKT 12 ZURÜCK /- SONDERN STEHTS AUF / 1. SEKUNDE NACH 12 UHR ! SIEHE BILDER , ANSONSTEN JEDOCH VOLL FUNKTIONSFÄHIG /- GANGGENAUIGKEIT ÜBER TAGE UNTER BEOBACHTUNG /-OHNE PROBLEM /- MINERALGLAS ZWISCHEN 12 & 1 UHR / 5mm Kleiner KRATZER /- ANSONSTEN GESAMMTZUSTAND OK - EVENT. BAND AUFPOLIEREN...(FEINSTE KRATZER) - FERTIG. / ZUST. 2- ( WERTBESTÄNDIGE / VON ZEIT ZU ZEIT WERTSTEIGERNDE / SELTEN GEWORDENE UHR /- ORIG. SEIKO EDELSTAHL GLIEDERBAND MIT SEIKO LOGO AM VERSCHLUSS /- VERSCHRAUBTER EDELSTAHLBODEN MIT SEIKO LOGO MODELL NR. 7A38-7070 BODEN SELBSTABHOLUNG - PRIVATVERKAUF / KEINE GARANTIE - KEINE RÜCKNAHME !

This apparently incompetent would-be seller also seems to have a problem with his CAPS LOCK key. 

I noticed the would-be German eBay seller made a couple of revisions to his listing earlier today ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=253064327428

He replaced 3 of the original photos, making one of them the new primary image. I wish could say they were an improvement.  

Further revisions followed, including more shuffling the order of the images  - but no new photos (that are actually in focus) as yet ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=253064327428

Most recently the would-be German eBay seller also reduced the Buy-it-Now price from 329 Euros to 289 Euros:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253064327428

While potential buyers are trying to make up their minds about the condition of that one from the seller's poor quality photos ....

Another 7A38-7070 was listed yesterday evening by an Israeli eBay seller, with a risibly over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of $370.

I say that, because it's not in particularly good condition and fitted with a NATO strap. But at least you can tell that from the photos.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/122621926562

Welcome. I'm happy let you peek to the small portion of my personal watches collection. Here & Now I present to you:

Brand: Seiko

Model: Sports 100 Quartz Chronograph

Ref.# 7A38-7070

Age: 1984

FEATURES:

- Day/Date - Chronograph - Rotating Bezel -

TECHNICAL DATA:

Mineral Crystal - Seiko Signed Stainlees Steel Case & Case Back - Seiko Original Black Dial Ref.# 709LT - Seiko Steel Crown & Pushers - 41mm Case Diameter (excluding crown & pushers) - Quality Seiko Japan Signed Quartz 15J Chronograph Day/Date Movement Cal. 7A38 - Nylon 20mm Blue/Red NATO Strap - !Water Resistance NOT Tested! - Recently Fully Serviced - All Function Works Properly - Please See Photos -

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Payment via PayPal Only. I'll ship within 1 business day via EMS with a tracking number & insurance.

Shipping cost - $29.99 USD - WORLDWIDE!

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The German seller never did manage to upload any better ('in focus') photos of his 7A38-7070, but the listing still appears to have attracted some interest. The auction ended about half an hour ago, with it selling for 200 Euros after 5 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253064327428

This 7A38-7070 was listed by a US eBay seller, just over half an hour ago, with an over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of $500. It's fitted with a NOS Seiko bracelet (presumably p/n B1241S) and supplied with a loose Yobokies repro' bezel insert. I can't help thinking the seller's photos might have looked so much more appealing, had he bothered to fit it, rather than leaving the tatty original insert in situ. The seller states: 'The watch was serviced by a very well known Seiko vintage watch specialist'. Given his location of Littleton, Colorado and proximity (only 65 miles away), I wouldn't mind betting said specialist was Spencer Klein.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302414707089

This is a 1984 Seiko 7A38-7070 Sports 100 Chronograph. This is the world's first quartz analog chronograph. It's in very good condition. The dial and hands are excellent. The bracelet is an original that I found new old stock, so it has very little wear. The case shows some wear as does the bezel insert. I have sourced a replacement insert, but have never gotten around to installing it.

The watch was serviced by a very well known Seiko vintage watch specialist. During the service it was completely disassembled, ultrasonically cleaned, reassembled and lubricated. The case was rebuilt with new button and crown seals, a new crystal seal, a new bezel o-ring, and a new case back seal. I wouldn't swim with it, but it is much more resistant to the elements than an unrestored example.

It keeps excellent time and all functions work flawlessly.

Features:

World class 15 jewel Seiko movement - all metal and fully serviceable and adjustable

Day and date

Chronograph

Rotating bezel

NOS bracelet (original model, correct for this watch), full length with spare links

Fully serviced movement and case with new seals

Excellent dial and crystal

Spare aftermarket (Yobokies) bezel insert

Happy to answer any questions. Thanks for looking!

I note that earlier today, the US eBay seller made a couple of revisions to his listing:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=302414707089

The over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price appears to have been reduced (for a second time), now down from $500 to 'only' $400.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302414707089

I guess that's a step in the right direction.  But now the postage cost (to UK) has more than doubled from $22.50 to $52.75, by dint of his changing the shipping method from USPS First Class International to USPS Priority International. IMHO a complete waste of money, because in my experience it's never any quicker than First Class (thanks to ParcelFarce's involvement). 

The above US eBay listing for a 7A38-7070 ended this afternoon, selling for the reduced Buy-it-Now price of $400.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302414707089

Someone just hit the Buy-it-Now button. There's no evidence in the eBay Purchase History of any lower offers having been made:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidsLogin&item=302414707089

Seiko7A38 at June 18, 2017 at 10:37 AM

Here are a couple of eBay listings for less than stellar examples of the 7A38-7070, by shall we say confused eBay sellers. 

Particularly as both their listings include photos of the watches' case-backs, clearly showing the model number 7A38-7070. 

Coincidentally, both watches are fitted with non-original generic replacement stainless bracelets, in place of the Seiko p/n B1271S, and are described as such by both sellers.

The second was listed at lunchtime today as 'Seiko 7A28-7040 Speedy Bishop' by a keyword spamming German eBay seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152590607971

I hadn't forgotten about this one.  Over the last two months, the confused keyword spamming German eBay seller has continued to erroniously re-list this 7A38-7070, sometimes for only 3 days at a time, sometimes 7 days, with Buy-it-Now prices varing between 180 and 280 Euros - I reckon at least 10 times now (quick count) without success. 

Here's his latest re-listing which appeared on eBay this morning.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152670653444

Although he's reduced the opening bid price on this re-listing to 'only' 170 Euros, I think it's safe to predict a similar outcome. 

This 7A38-7070 was listed FS on WatchUseek a couple of days ago, with an asking price of $350.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/4513583.html  FS: Seiko 7A38-7070

The asking price might not be so unreasonable, if you could clearly see what you were buying. If you look at the actual WUS thread, you'll see that the seller's 4 images are embedded in frames, with large white borders. These frames measure 815x1056 pixels, but the actual images inside them are much smaller. I've just cropped them, before posting here and they come out at a mere 640x480 pixels. Too small for my old eyes to properly judge its condition.

I had my doubts about the originality of the finish on that 7A38-7070. In places it looked too dark (and others too good). Then there were obvious things wrong, like the sides of the SQ clasp, which should be bright polished along its perforated sides. So I sent the WUS seller a PM asking him outright if it had been bead-blasted. He conceded that he believed it had (by Jack of IWW, during his restoration) and agreed to amend his FS advert to reflect this. Here's a screen print of the updated post:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/4513583.html  FS: Seiko 7A38-7070

I also told him, that IMHO, if he was to stand any chance of selling it, he needed to provide some larger, clearer high resolution photos. He's since uploaded these 4 to his revised post. 

Here's another eBay auction for a 7A38-7070, listed by an Italian seller this morning, with an opening bid of 1 Euro and no reserve.

First thoughts are that the bracelet looks rather short, but there are a couple of links stashed under the clasp.  Second thoughts were where I've seen his eBay user ID 19mic73 before ? It should, of course, have 'clicked' immediately. 

This is the same Italian eBay seller who has be re-listing two 7A38-7070's on eBay Italy and Subito.it, on and off for the last 6 months, with 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now prices of 400 Euros and 550 Euros. The first one (which I suspected had been re-sprayed) first appeared on eBay in the last week of February (see lower down page 1 of this thread). This is the other one, which he's previously been asking 550 Euros as a Buy-it-Now for. So I wouldn't be surprised to see some typically Italian blatant shill bidding over the next couple of days. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162641101558

Vendo orologio Seiko 7a38 7070 cronografo al quarzo anni 80 per eccellenza. Esemplare perfettamente funzionante. Cinturino originale in ottimo stato. Non garantisco su guarnizioni ed impermeabilità vista la data di produzione. Introvabile in queste condizioni. Fate voi il prezzo. Fanno fede le foto dell'annuncio. Non si accetta la restituzione.

Well if it wasn't going to be shilled, there was one other likely possible outcome to that auction.  I myself bid it up to just under 100 Euros. Last time I looked at the auction, late yesterday evening, bidding was headed for 200 Euros (see the eBay Bid History for cancelled bids - the highest was actually 200 Euros). So no great surprise (nor disappointment on my part) when an eBay Bid Cancellation notice wafted into my email inbox earlier this morning. Presumably it was sold off eBay via a 'back door' offer. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162641101558

This 7A38-7070 was listed earlier this evening by a French eBay seller, with a risibly over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of 350 Euros (and currently no Best Offer option). Ignore the fact that it comes in a period correct Seiko presentation box, because in this instance it's a bit of a red herring. Look closely at the photos of the watch itself. The seller may state in his description that the dial and hands are in beautiful condition, but they're not. Both are suffering from discoloured degraded lume. The bracelet appears to be well worn, with slop in the hinged link joining pins. Take away the box and you're looking at an example that might make 150-200 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263169471160

Montre plongée SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH SPORTS 100 quartz

Couronne d'origine linette bidirectionnel 60 clics

fonctionne parfaitement

boite acier et fond acier

verre minéral rayé

Cadran en bel état

Aiguilles en bel état

Mouvement 7a38 quartz parfait état

40MM hors couronne

bracelet acier d'origine

7€ pour la France

13€ pour l’Europe

24€ pour le reste du monde

PS - If like me, you were wondering where you'd seen the French eBay seller's ID watchover15 before, he's previously sold a couple of Yema N8's on eBay, fairly recently, both of which were documented in the 'Spotted' thread.

Here's another 7A38-7070 in rather better (good as mint) cosmetic condition, which also comes with a box. It was listed earlier this afternoon by an Italian eBay seller, with a hefty Buy-it-Now price of 625 Euros. I normally associate the round black plastic Seiko Sports presentation box with JDM watches, but it's not the first time I've seen one in Italy. The seller claims it's a 'full set', but I don't see any evidence of the SAA031J hang tag.  In uploading them below, I've re-ordered the seller's photos somewhat; the watch itself is the important thing, not the packaging.  A very nice example - but pricey. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122708723161

Vendo Seiko 7A38-7070 con corredo completo coevo dell'epoca presente sin dal suo acquisto.

Condizioni strepitose dato che è sempre rimasto inutilizzato.

Completo di ogni cosa presente al momento dell'acquisto:

Controscatola, Scatola, Garanzia timbrata da concessionario italiano, Libretto istruzioni in italiano e multilingua. Tutte le maglie presenti.

Diametro 40mm, spessore 11,5mm, W.R. 100m, movimento giapponese, ghiera perfetta, rara da trovare in queste condizioni.

Presenta ancora tracce della plastica adesiva azzurra sul fondello.

L'orologio è perfettamente funzionante in ogni sua parte.

A disposizione per ulteriori foto o informazioni.

Grazie.

No great surprise, that very nice example of a 7A38-7070 sold quickly - snapped up late last night.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122708723161

Not for the full 625 Euros Buy-it-Now price, but as shown by WatchCount.com's look-up tool against an offer of 561 Euros.

As confirmed by the eBay Purchase History: http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidsLogin&item=122708723161

It's noticeable how quicky nice examples sell (sometimes regardless of price), whereas the dross - or should I more politely say 'lesser examples' take a little longer to shift. Particularly if they're mis-described and stupidly over-priced for their condition. One such, is the well-worn example, fitted with an obviously non-original bracelet, listed by German eBay seller kugelharry, which first appeared in mid-June with a pie-in-the-sky Buy-it-Now price of 260 Euros (first mentioned halfway down page 3 of this thread). He's continued to re-list it, with different pricing - maybe a dozen times now. Here's a summary of some recently ended listings. 

I was going through my eBay watching page this morning, clearing out the dross, when I saw his last listing had ended (unsold) and been re-listed. Clicked on the link to the re-listed item, to find that it had been ended, because of an error in the listing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152698412291

Had he finally corrected the error in the title ?  Erm actually No. 

Here's his latest re-listing, now set up as an auction with an opening bid price of 150 Euros. Could this one finally succeed ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152706901055

Here's a decent looking example of a 7A38-7070 with box and papers, that was posted FS on the German watch forum UhrForum.de this lunchtime. Asking price is 380 Euros.

http://uhrforum.de/seiko-quartz-7a38-7070-sports-100-inkl-box-papers-t323240

[Verkauf] Seiko Quartz 7A38-7070 Sports 100 inkl Box und Papers