Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

A new watch 

A Kamatz 517000,  in Mint condition,  All Stainless,  Using a Seiko 7A38 movement---I like the French  "Tricoleur"  sub-dials         

Nice catch, Don.  My mint Tricoleur dialed Kamatz 518000 Oscar Bravo (powered by Shimauchi V906) says 'Allo, 'Allo. 

PS - Anybody out there got a Kamatz 519000 Tango Charlie - Tricoleur dial or otherwise ? 

Doing the usual biannual exercise today, going through my watch boxes, advancing time (and dates) to British Summer Time. 

Found a couple which needed their batteries replacing, including this lovely Yema Spationaute III 38mm reduced, model # N80A696, so I thought I'd give it a little wrist time - as I still hadn't broken in the Fleurus shark strap properly.

Seiko7A38 at February 17, 2017 at 9:28 AM

This is for Jonas (not 'Mr Jones', but 'JJ') who may eventually get around to joining the forum.  Meanwhile, he's been pestering me with all kinds of questions via email. Had me looking in one of my collection boxes earlier today, to check something out before replying to him. It wasn't actually this particular watch, but another 7A38-726x. As I put the other one back in the box, I realized I hadn't worn this lovely condition 7A38-726A in years.  Picked it up on eBay in June 2009 for less than £40 - it had a fairly common (self-inflicted) fault - indeed, it's described in this other thread. Came fitted with a horrible dark green shark strap, which I quickly swapped tor this cheap tan lizard grain strap as a 'stop gap'. Quote: "Excuse the strap. I was going through a Lizard phase". It's still on there. 

Apologies for the 'Quote & Reply' (which I usually actively discourage) but it's a follow-up from my post on the previous page. 

Jonas's email enquiry (about the correct original strap for a gold-tone 7A38-7260) spurred me into looking for some Seiko straps to improve my own watches. After all that cheap tan lizard strap I'd fitted to my 7A38-726A had only ever been a 'stop gap', right ? 

Finally, after nearly 8 years, I found the correct original Seiko p/n BRJ36G strap. It arrived this morning and I just fitted it. 

Bloody expensive NOS strap cost nearly as much as the darned watch did, back in 2009  and I'm not sure it looks any better. 

$1925.75…for a Gen1…!  So, that means mine must be worth at least $1900…

Took mine out for a "track day" with my English Car Club friends. Even with all that electronic timing, I still like manual analog timing.

7A28-7040. Especially for you, Paul, that kind of wristshot. Although it´s not really sharp.

Careful Achim - readers may get the wrong idea.  I was going to respond with a wrist shot of my 7A28-7040, which I haven't worn in ages, but as I delved into my watch box, instead I picked out my subtly modded 7A38-7070, which lives in the next slot to it.

Yeah - I know; typical boring pale blue oxford shirt cuff and brick wall background, but they're so much easier to take - in focus. 

Orient J39722-70 - soon to be joined by its white-dialed sibling. 

PALE is the operative word…Good God Man, you need some skin color…

That's because I prefer leather on my watch straps, rather than my own skin, Paul. 

Here's a typically pasty Q&D shot of my Yema N81X26 on its original light tan strap - suitably faded from over exposure to sunlight.

One of my all time favorites from the 7A series: 7A28-702A. Yep…James Bond model…(if you are color blind) 

Simple clean black dial with white numerals. Easy to read at a glance.

Or, better yet…throw it on a NATO and call it an "Ultra Rare Civilian RAF Gen1" 

SEIKO 7A38-706A …again… This time on the set of a Chinese TV show filming here in Vegas. The "call sheet" for wardrobe said to wear casual clothes, something you would wear on a Saturday afternoon. And I just happened to have a suitable timepiece.

We are a couple of blocks off the "Strip." In the background, and out of focus are the Palms and Rio casinos.

Wearing my 'second string' stainless 7A38-7000 SAA07J today.

Late in the day post of my Seiko Sports 100 7A38-7029----I have not worn it for about a year and just remembered why I have 4 of this model.  

I was wondering why  my watches kept saying THUR--when I was sure it was WED     

Oh…Far Out…You  must be on California Time…Man 

Right day & date on my Seiko 7A38-702H Sports 100  "SAMPLE" case build.  

A  Seiko 7A38-702H  "Franken"  Silver dial not original to this model.  I still think Seiko should have offered a silver dial.  

Very nice, Don.  Subtle, looking as if it was something Seiko themselves might have done - as all the best Frankens should.

Speaking of which .... I'll see your 708L dial and raise you a 709L - with SPORTS 100 logo. 

One of my own 7A38-7020 Franken creations, which hadn't seen the light of day in a while (and needed a new battery fitting). 

The parcel from Italy, containing my trio of incoming Orient J39's finally arrived late this morning. I was hoping they'd have been here by the weekend. As it transpires, the other two are going to require some minor work, so here's a Q&D shot of the first, which apart from needing a quick wipe was ready to wear. The almost mint condition and ever so slightly blingy Orient J39012-50.

Something I hadn't spotted before (from the Italian seller's small photos), is that not only is the minute ring numbering printed in red, but so are the divisions and numbering  of the sub-dials. Different - if not particularly legible against a gold background.