Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Another beauty!

Great watches here ...

Today it´s my 7A38-701A with black day/date-wheel and bezel

A beater 7A28-7049 today.

@ Achim: I'm quite partial to the occasional mildly-modded 7A38 myself.  My 'customized' 7A38-7270 - with lots of non-original bits.

Sir Alan at February 27, 2013 at 11:35 AM

Nice pictures - that watch (well the case & bracelet) needs a dip in the ultrasonic bath!!!

@ Simon and Harry: 

There's nowt wrong with a bit of blackened age-hardened wrist cheese  in a watch bracelet  - as long as it's your own !! 

My original 7A38-7270 SAA093J - owned 25 years from new, nothing replaced, still with all its acculated wabi and some of my DNA.

Arrived today, installed new battery and came back to life! I will of course seek an original metal bracelet, but until then, the leather one will have to do...

@ Seiko7A38: Paul, your 'customized' 7A38-7270 looks great! It always reminds me to an old Citizen automatic chrono. 

I know exactly which one you mean, Achim. 

Though that wasn't actually my inspiration. It started off as a completely original stainless 7A38-7270 with a couple of minor issues.

I purchased it with the initial intent of using it as a spares donor. The first thing it got robbed of was the original B1615S bracelet ....

I replaced that with a N.O.S. Seiko p/n Z337S bracelet (as a stop-gap). Later I found out where the Z337S bracelet was meant to be used - on an 8223-704B. That watch is also stainless, but with a black chrome bezel, to match the black inserts in the bracelet. So I fitted a black chrome bezel (as used on the 7A38-7180 and -7290). At which point it looked like this (next to my original 7A38-7270):

But the main hands let it down, so they got replaced by a pair of the 'polished edge' hands as used on the 7A38-7070 / -7080 ....

Then the sweep and second hands were replaced by those bright orangey-red ones, as used on the black chrome 7A38-7140.

It's still not quite finished yet. These things never are. Got a couple of other parts I want to replace, to improve this Franken 7A38.

Including a better watch case, with more defined edges. By which time there will be virtually nothing left of the original 7A38-7270 ! 

I think this, my 7A38-7070 is my favourite 7A38:

I completely see why! Very nice example you have there. Since I started collecting 7A38's, six months now, I've never seen one for sale. So, for the time being I console myself with one of my 7A28-704*'s.

I will admit I don't usually wear this one very often, but I fancied a splash of colour to brighten up an otherwise dull Sunday afternoon. 

My 7A38-7140 SAA051J:

One of my 7A28-7080's. This one dates from February 1984. I bought it from a very nice gentleman in Paris who thought it was time for another exclusive Seiko, a Grand Seiko. And who needs two watches, right? He wore this watch for almost 30 years and took good care of it. It was serviced in 2012. Maybe it is not " a real minter" but it is more than good enough for me.

Getting up close and personal with 'Big Blue'. My favourite 'everyday wearer' 43mm Ø Yema Spationaute III. Darn those reflections ! 

Lovely colours Paul. My #2 should be making its way across the Atlantic later this week 

Thanks, Simon. 

Any more thoughts on choices of alternative straps, you might be considering fitting in place of the original Yema Shark strap ? 

I'll warn you, if you decide to go for one of these Fleurus shark straps, they're nowhere near as pliable - and take forever to 'break in'.

gufi at March 2, 2013 at 7:40 AM

Great watches here ...

Today it´s my 7A38-701A with black day/date-wheel and bezel

hi that looks very nice all the best woody 

Sir Alan at March 2, 2013 at 11:58 AM

I think this, my 7A38-7070 is my favourite 7A38:

hi like the divers type bezel on these. all the best woody. 

Seiko7A38 at March 3, 2013 at 9:03 AM

I will admit I don't usually wear this one very often, but I fancied a splash of colour to brighten up an otherwise dull Sunday afternoon. 

My 7A38-7140 SAA051J:

hi very nice not seen this one before. all the best woody                               (Duplicated quoted image removed by Admin)

Spring has sprung I think. Its shaping up to be a glorious day 

I thought I'd wear my Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal 531

A lovely Spring morning, indeed, Simon. Cool Fezza.Here's my Franken Fake Fezza 7A38 glinting in the mid-morning sun: