Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

This very tidy-looking example of a 7A38-702H was listed 10 days ago by a US eBay seller, with a low opening bid price of $0.99. It might not be mint, but was in a darn sight  better cosmetic condition than many well-worn (and over-priced) examples you regularly see listed. The main indicator being the almost total lack of wear to the 12-sided gold plated bezel. In fact, its top surface was still in the original matt finish, with no hint of a shine. The seller had omitted to mention the model number in either his listing title or description - and of course there was the gamble of buying a watch with a flat battery. Still, at least that meant the case-back hadn't been butchered by some ham-fisted amateur.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122596587535

Vintage 1980's Seiko Mens Quartz Chronograph Sports 100 Wristwatch ~ Exc. Cond.

This listing is for a seldom worn vintage 1985 era mens Seiko Quartz Chronograph wristwatch. An excellent looking model in well kept condition. The clasp works perfectly. The watch needs a battery replacement and is currently not running. This is 100% original and has never been cleaned or repaired, also has never been in or under water. The original Seiko box and instruction booklet are not available so this auction is only for the item in the photos. I will carefully and securely pack the watch and ship it in a well padded box with a tracking number to the U.S. only. Please be sure to use all of the photos as part of the description of this item.

SHIPPING: This item will ship by USPS in a well packed box with tracking to the U.S. only.

PAYMENT: Winning bidder to make payment within 72 hrs of auctions end by PAYPAL only.

Thank you for viewing and if you have any questions about this item please don't hesitate to ask!

Unfortunately, the short-sighted seller was blocking bidders from outside USA, otherwise I might have had a punt at it myself.

Sold in the early hours of this morning, for a mere $17.50 after only 5 bids. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122596587535

Properly listed, with worldwide availability and fitted with a new battery, I'd hazard a guess it would easily have made $175. 

While it may not be in quite pristine condition; in need of a good clean, a twisted first bracelet joining link straightening and a couple of new springbars, nor as cheap as that last one, this 7A38-706A will probably turn out to be the best bargain buy for this week, if not the whole of December. Again, as I sometimes do, I picked it up post facto (too late) from a worldwide search on completed listings. The listing was live on eBay Germany for just 35 minutes yesterday afternoon, during which time it received only 6 views.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132424126674

E272⭐⭐Vintage " Seiko Chronograph " Quarz Metallarmband Nr. 7A38-706A ⭐⭐

Yup, it sold for a mere 69 Euros ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132424126674

I'm not sure what possessed the German eBay seller.  It's not as if somebody lowballed him into selling what is a desirable model for such a 'giveaway' price. No revisions appear to have been made to the listing. Checking WatchCount.com reveals that he'd set it up as a Buy-it-Now for only 69 Euros from the outset. 

Something was telling me I should have recognized that German eBay seller's ID:

alex-goldankauf-langenfeld. It took a while, but the penny finally dropped. 

It's the same seller I bought my bargain basement stainless 7A38-7270 (for less than a Tenner) from on Chrismas Eve, 2014. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141507220113

This one's really a rather amusing coincidence. At the beginning of the week I received a somewhat vague plaintive message through the website contact form. The sender included the sentences:

I have a Seiko "Sports 100" with the 2 tone bracelet and the long clasp. The bracelet broke and I'm looking for a new one but I have had no luck on-line.

My immediate thoughts were that he was looking for a p/n B1171C bracelet for a 7A38-702x (coincidentally, as shown at the top of this page). But, just in case, before I gave him the bad news, I wrote back asking him for his watch's case-back model number. Just as well, because it transpired he was actually talking about a 7A48-7009. So I replied once again, giving him the Seiko part number for the bracelet: Z1093C, the similar 'bad news' - and wished him luck with his quest ! On Wednesday he wrote back:

I forwarded you some pics just in case you're interested. Thanks for your help. Found a missing link in my junk drawer. Backed up the pin on the clasp, put the link in and all is good. I needed the little piece that slides in to the link. Luckily the link I found was of that type. I'll keep looking for a replacement. Your info will be very helpful.

So his bracelet wasn't actually 'broken' as such - he'd just lost the retaining piece from an adjustment link. Here's a couple of his photos which show exactly that:

I didn't think any more about it and was just relieved to have cleared another email from my inbox. I'd told him with a completely clear conscience that I didn't think he stood a cat in hell's chance of finding one. Obsolete, no longer available and all that. Just think about the number of 7A48-7000 / 7009's you see on eBay fitted with leather straps or clearly non-original replacement bracelets. I'd even found an alternative myself, a few years back, by fitting an Orient stainless bracelet, whilst fettling a work colleague's 7A48-7000, which was suffering from a badly stretched original Z1093C bracelet. See this thread in the Workshop section.

Do you ever get annoyed by all those thumbnail 'suggestions' for other supposedly 'related' items that other people have allegedly viewed, or that you might possibly be interested in, which keep incessantly popping up, when you're searching eBay - or even just looking at an item ? I know I certainly do !!

Thing is, I wasn't even subconsciously thinking about 7A48-700x's or a Z1093C bracelet at the time, when this popped up on eBay Italy as yet another bloody suggestion. It was listed as a one-day auction, with an opening bid of just 3 Euros. The title was: cinturino in acciaio vintage SEIKO (translates as: SEIKO vintage steel strap). The brief description read the same, with dimensions tacked on: CINTURINO IN ACCIAIO VINTAGE SEIKO....ansa dritta 18mm....lung.16cm.

The links look more like the Z1093C's curved profile in the seller's second photo:

Luckily I managed to win the auction without attracting any bidding competition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263921632694

I'm still not absolutely 100% certain it's definitely a p/n Z1093C. I didn't dare ask a question of the seller, for risk of arousing his suspicions, but if it turns out to be one, it's got to be the eBay Bargain Bracelet Buy of the week.

And that, Gentlemen is what you call a good spot ! 

About 15 minutes ago, DHL delivered a very large yellow packet, enveloping a tiny cardboard box, which contained an almost mint Seiko p/n Z1093C bracelet. It's a little grubby, so obviously worn. It has absolutely zero stretch between the links and appears to be the full original length (there are two adjustment links hidden beneath the clasp).

Before anybody thinks about emailing me asking if it's for sale - Sorry, it's not. 

Back in April 2015, thanks to a 'heads up' from forum member Ross McS, I bought a cheap job lot of 'NOS' watch cases, which included an empty 7A48-7000 case, without crown or case-back. I'd admittedly bought this 'on spec' hopefully intending to use it to improve my ex-work colleague (Steve)'s much-loved (read abused) 7A48-7000, but when I suggested it, he said he wanted to keep his watch as original (to him). So I put it to one side - ear-marked for a future project.

Edit: found the original eBay link (which doesn't work anymore, sadly):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEIKO-4-FOUR-CASE-WATCHS-VINTAGE-OROLOGIO-OROLOGI-MONTRE-RELOJ-REPAIR-ST94-DE-/331534607123

4 watch cases, including the 7A48-7000 for 14.90 Euros plus postage.

Now I have the correct and suitably cheap bracelet to go with the case. 

That said, it's unlikely I'll build it up as a stock 7A48-7000, because that's going to mean buying a donor, for the dial / movement and case-back. I have a couple of Orient J38 (re-branded 7A48) dial / movements I could slot into it, but as I'm not a great fan of moonphase, it's more likely to be some 7A38 dial / movement - i.e. a Franken. Maybe something along these lines. I'm never averse to plagiarism. 

Seeing this Z1093C bracelet, which doesn't appear to be in such good condtion as mine, listed by another Italian eBay seller, earlier this afternoon, made me even happier with my recent Bargain Buy ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132804311190

Splendido bracciale acciaio inox satinato con inserti oro, adatto per Seiko 7A48 7000 o 7A48 7009.

Il bracciale ha le anse da 20mm e può dunque essere montato anche su modelli 7A38.

È in condizioni pari al nuovo.

No I wasn't looking for another.  I have no need. It was the seller's inclusion of '7A38' in his description, that caused it to pop up in my saved search notifications.

As I've written many times before, it's never a good idea to run a retrospective worldwide eBay search on ended listings - to see what you might have missed.

But that's what I did this morning. 

Gentlemen - I give you last week's absolute giveaway bargain buy of the week ....

A very nice condition 7A38-7029 (albeit non-running) - sold for a mere $24.95 !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183536411026

Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph Wristwatch 7A38 7029. Watch is in very good condition however it is not running. Sold for parts or repair.

There were no revisions made to the listing. It appears that the seller listed it with that ridiculously low Buy-it-Now price from the outset.

WatchCount.com's Look-Up tool shows the listing was live for less than 15 minutes, after Midnight (UK time) on Thursday, during which time it received only 5 views, before someone hit the Buy-it-Now button.

I guess we should be thankful that it wasn't snatched up by Flobaca, or one of the other profiteering re-sellers. According to the eBay Purchase History, it was bought by a comparative novice eBayer, with a feedback of 12. Well done to him ! 

Some readers may not consider my most recent eBay purchase exactly a 'bargain'. Perhaps I shouldn't pre-judge it, prior to its arrival either. But in comparative terms, I was pretty chuffed when I won the auction.

For some time, I've fancied another Cartier Ferrari Formula in all black ion finish, with the black dial. I passed on a really nice one, which sold for 570 Euros a couple of years ago. Simon picked up another decent example for 400 Euros in the first week of August. Had I spotted it myself, I'd have bought it too. Something close to what I wanted came up on eBay Germany last week, except it had a bare metal bezel and a rather incongrous looking white Tachymeter ring. I placed a couple of bids on it, but didn't have any real intention of trying to win it. It sold for 687 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143017972449

The same Austrian eBay seller srilanka20082012 had also listed separately what were obviously the component parts of a similar appearing watch, that he'd broken up for parts. I saw the bracelet sold for 223.22 Euros. I placed an early bid on the pusher buttons, but they'd already been bid to over 62 Euros (for one !) before I deleted the listing from my eBay watching page. For some reason, I left the listing for the dial / non-functioning movement, on there. It was due to finish 10 minutes or so after the above watch.

Presumably his reason for breaking up the watch was the movement had obviously suffered from a battery leak. There's some discoloration of the back-plate in the area above the battery well, but I've seen a LOT worse. The dial and hands don't appear to have suffered from the effects of leaking fumes, as they sometimes can.

What I didn't understand was with 10 minutes before the auction end, was why the bidding had stalled @ 25 Euros. I really didn't expect to win it, but just for the heck of it, I double sniped it in the closing seconds - and won it for 25.50 Euros !! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143017979358

The funny thing is, back at the beginning of April this year, a similar used dial was listed by a German eBay seller, with a reasonable Buy-it-Now price of 25 Euros.

I was put off by what appeared to have been a number of small light scratches on the lower part of the dial. Then again, they may just have been dust.  I added it to my eBay watching page, but delayed buying it. I probably should have emailed the seller, at the time I first saw it, asking him whether it was dust or scratches in his photos. It eventually sold last month - and immediately the regrets set in. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202277431947

So it looks like I'm going to be building another Franken Ferrari in the New Year. 

This has probably got to be the eBay 7Axx bargain pick up of the YEAR - let alone the week ! How about a NOS Titanium 7A28-7080 for a mere 78 Euros !! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401674605645

Seiko 7A28 is a series of watches that introduced the first analogue display quartz chronograph movement to the world. Seiko launched the series in the early 1980s, and the movement went on to appear in many notable watches.

This watch is a nos (new old stock) watch from the 80's and it comes with original box and papers. Very hard to find, this watch is considered a "safe queen" (=typically something of use or value, that is kept locked away in a safe place so as not to devalue said item).

It sold at lunchtime today, evidently as a Buy-it-Now, rather than a Best Offer.

WatchCount.com's Look-up tool shows it was actually listed yesterday lunchtime, but oddly the listing appears to have received only 6 views during 24 hours.

The supposed 'giveaway' selling price is confirmed by the eBay Purchase History:

If something looks too good to be true, it usually is.  In hindsight, I think it's safe to assume that listing by a Zero-feedback Belgian eBay seller was some sort of a scam. The same NOS titanium 7A28-7080 is also currently listed by an Italian eBay seller, with a rather more realistic Buy-it-Now asking price of 745 Euros - same photos and description (but in a different typeface).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132898727843

Time for a long overdue bump for this thread - and at the risk of repeating myself:

As I've written many times before, it's never a good idea to run a retrospective worldwide eBay search on ended listings - to see what you might have missed.

But that's what I did this morning. 

This first bargain I'd missed actually slipped under my radar a couple of weeks ago. This defective stainless 7A38-7280, in decent cosmetic condition, complete with box and manual, was listed albeit very briefly in the last week of September (afternoon of the 24th) by a German eBay seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174042116206

SEIKO QUARTZ Chronograph 7A38-7280 Vintage 80er (Defekt)

Im Originalkarton mit Bedienungsanleitung.

Edelstahl Gehäuse mit Edelstahl Gliederarmband.

Batterie ist neu.

Habe die Uhr damals neu geschenkt bekommen. Leider funktioniert die Uhr seit kurzem auch mit einer neuen Batterie nicht. Deshalb wir sie hier als defekt angeboten. Hier muss wohl mal ein Uhrmacher ran.

Bitte seht auch meine anderen Artikel an. Habe hier noch eine funktionsfähige Festina Uhr.

Privatverkauf, daher weder Garantie noch Rücknahmeverpflichtung.

It appears to have sold very quickly, as a Buy-it-Now for 45 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174042116206

WatchCount.com's Look-up tool reveals just HOW quickly it sold ! The listing was live for just 4 minutes, during which time it only received 4 views, before someone hit the Buy-it-Now button.

Very much a case of right being in the right place and time and making, what may possibly have been a wise snap decision on that one.

I suspect there must have been a few folks scratching their heads over the next one. Late last night a US eBay seller, who evidently hadn't done their homework, listed a half decent looking example of a 7A38-7029, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of $9.99. But titled and described it as being a 7A38-6000 ! Presumably the seller cloned an ended listing for the wrong model (in fact this one) using eBay's 'Sell one like this' feature - designed for idiots.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183994260381

Rare Vintage Seiko Panda Chronograph Sports 100 #7A38-6000 Quartz Men's Watch!!!. Condition is Pre-owned. This belonged to a deceased relative and we suspect it needs a new battery but are unsure. It’s not running. Low starting bid. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.

It doesn't appear any bids had been placed and after the listing had only been live for 30 minutes, some crafty person persuaded the seller to add a Buy-it-Now price of only $49.99 and duly relieved them of it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183994260381

At least a few more got to view this one. Pity nobody placed a bid though. 

I hope to be able to snag some decent deals! Just kind of wary of the bay and scammers. This is a good thread to follow!

Follow it by all means, but it's unlikely to help you in finding a bargain-priced 7Axx yourself, because I usually end up posting examples like that recently 'back-doored' 7A38-7029 after the fact. 

Oh I see. Why afterwards?

Because they don't usually hang around very long. Check out my previous post about the stainless 7A38-7280.

Yes, I know it's only the beginning of the week, but I doubt anyone will find a better bargain (in terms of price paid versus condition) within the next 7 days.

This gunmetal two-tone 7A38-725A, admittedly not the most popular of 7A38 model variants, but in nice, well cared for, barely worn condition, was listed at the end of May by a French eBay seller, with a laughable 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 350 Euros, with the option to make an offer. It came with a Seiko 7A38 instruction manual (the Sports 100 version), but no box. My only criticism is that the bracelet had a few adjustment links removed, possibly leaving it a bit short.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293596364837

Chronographe Seiko Quartz Sports 100 cal. 7A38 

- Fonctionne parfaitement - pile neuve

- Presque jamais portée - Parfait état

- Notice fournie 

Chronograph Seiko Quartz Sports 100 cal. 7A38 

- Works perfectly well - new battery

- Almost never worn - perfect condition

- Instructions manual included

Given the deluded seller's lofty unrealistic expectations, I thought no more of it and simply added it to my eBay watching page, expecting, like so many others, it would remain unsold for a good while. However, checking my eBay watching page, to my surprise, I saw that it had sold this morning.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293596364837

The alternative eBay 'best offer true selling price' link, which I'd been relying on for the last 9 months or so had stopped working 3 weeks ago, much to my annoyance. I'd assumed eBay had put the kibosh on it. I'm not sure what prompted me to do so, but I thought I'd give it another try - and it worked !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewitem&item=293596364837

Checking the eBay Purchase History reveals that cheeky lowball offer of 55 Euros was the only one the seller had received - and fortunately for the canny buyer, despite being only 16% of the seller's unrealistic asking price, he accepted it.

Thought that was too good to be true.  I can only assume the French eBay seller must have come to his senses and reneged on the transaction.  His almost mint 7A38-725A was back on eBay this morning, re-listed exactly the same as before.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293612029794

So I guess I'll have to nominate instead my incoming bargain basement priced (albeit non-running) Jean Lassale Thalassa 7A74-019 as the bargain of the week. OK, so it wasn't technically eBay, but actually an auction by LiveAuctioneers.com, but what the heck, Thalassa 7A74's don't come any cheaper than this  ....

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/85633289_jean-lassale-two-tone-chronograph-watch

Full details in the Jean Lassale Thalassa Quartz Chronograph .... 7Axx thread.

As the quick-witted fairly recent UK buyer of a bargain priced stainless 7A38-7020 doesn't appear to be a member of this forum, I guess I'll have write about his good fortune on his behalf.

Earlier today, Craig Duggan posted this on the Seiko Passion FaceBook group:

After a number of replies, questioning or refuting his claim of having paid 'next to nothing', he retorted: Not that I need to prove anything but here you go ....

Followed by this screenshot from his phone:

From that, it takes just a matter of moments to run a search on completed listings:

Here's the main details of the original UK eBay listing, which ended on 5th July:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254644602582

Seiko Quartz Chronograph Sports 100- 302052 Watch (Spare/repair)

Seiko Quartz Chronograph Sports 100- 302052 Watch ( Spare/repair ). 

The watch is being sold as spare or repair and is untested and has some wear and scratches on the glass. Would suit someone that knows who to restore this sort of watch to its glory days. 

Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class.

WatchCount.com reveals the listing was live for only 6 minutes on that Sunday morning, during which time it only received 4 views, before canny buyer Craig Duggan wisely hit the Buy-it-Now button.