Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Merry Christmas Paul 

Merry Christmas To All! And Have A Happy And Safe New Year! 

A little something subdued. Swapped In the blue dial from my 7A38-706A into a 7A38-7270.

I kind of like it.

Paul in Las Vegas 

(no luck at the pawn shops!)

Subtle Frankens are always the best, Paul.  Wearing one of my favourites today: my modded 7A38-7070 with all-black 709L dial.

Another old favourite today - my original (meaning first) 'bitza' Yema Spationaute III Aragatz with mission flags dial. 

Here is my Franken - A 7A34-7019. SAMPLE case with a running movement. 

Call that a Franken 7A34 Don ?  Here's one I prepared earlier (3 years ago) - made out of TWO salesman's sample cases. 

One of the consequences of owning a sizeable collection of quartz chronographs is the occasional need to replace batteries. I just opened one of my collection boxes to find FOUR of them had died since I last checked it.  Here's my 7A38-702A - running again. 

Orient J39701-70 (with very dark blue dial) on Feiko 20mm after-market bracelet, this cold but sunny winter's afternoon.

Happy new year to everyone!

It was time to take outside my beloved 7A38-7070.

Ahhhh.....just realized I forgot to adjust the date! It's a proof how lazy I am!

A bright white one today    My 7A38-7289     Grubby crown and all ---Yes this is the Grubby One Paul. 

I've just finished tidying up my most recent 7Axx watch, a very nice 7A28-7050.

This was one of the 7Axx series that I didn't think I would own, only because I've not seen many/any in good condition and I didn't like it enough to want to throw lots of money at one.

So, when one came up on the bay at the start of the year, I kept an eye on it, but really didn't consider seriously bidding.

With only a few hours of the auction to run, it was sitting at a very low price and I started to consider bidding, mainly on the grounds that if it went for low money (i.e. sub £250) I'd probably kick myself for some time. So, I watched the auction run down and put in a last few seconds bid that I was certain would be beaten but at least I wouldn't regret not being involved.

And, to my surprise I won.

The seller had declared it was on the wrong bracelet, but luckily I own enough 7A28-704x watches that have a very similar bracelet. There was also the slightly scratched crystal, but Cousins still stock them.

So, having had a jolly good clean (it was actually relatively clean already) and fitted a new caseback gasket (it didn't have one!!) and re-greased the pusher and crown gaskets and the gasket that allows the watch head to rotate, and fitted the new crystal here it is:

It's got plenty of weight and wrist presence, the orange pushers pick off the hands nicely and the main hands are very legible.

Today it's my 7A38-7010 on a genuine "Feiko" bracelet.

It finally arrived this morning. My somewhat belated and unintended last-minute Christmas present from me to me. 

A stainless 7A38-7270 unwittingly won on eBay Germany on Christmas Eve for a little over a Tenner. See Page 2 of this thread.

This is almost exactly as received, this morning - save for re-setting the date / time and hands and adjusting the bracelet clasp.

Obviously needs a replacement crystal and a good clean (pushers are sticky), but it all works and has a full length bracelet. 

I can't believe (well actually I can) I missed that, I would have bid on it. Well done that man but I think you should sell it to me now 

Originally posted by Phil in the (wrong) 7A38 model specific thread on January 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM

Sort of pinched your idea (from here) Paul and bought myself a yellow stitched Hadley Roma for an alternative look for my Vulcan.

I'm going to have to change my phone I just can't capture the colours at all. This is a great strap very tactile.

And now to complete my other subtle Franken, my 7A38-706A with the black face dial swapped from my 7A38-7270. (See Dec. 24th post above.)  Oh ya that's got "Military" written all over it. Maybe a little sandblast of the case. Throw it on a NATO and I'm thinking RAF Gen 1.01!

I had a heck of a time with this one because the stem would not stay in. Rendered the watch useless. Looked good though! Finally got fed up and took the back off to see if the problem was indeed the little arm was not engaging the shaft. With the movement in the holder the stem locked in just fine. Pushed the release tab and the stem comes out. Movement placed back in the case, stem pushed in and it doesn't catch and falls out! And then it dawns on me that maybe the stems are a different length. Grabbed the 7A38-7270 that I swapped, pulled out the stem and sure enough it was longer. Took that one and placed it in the 7A38-706A and it fit perfect. Pushed the shorter one into the 7A38-7270 and a perfect fit. And now as you guys across the pond say, "Job Done"

Paul in Vegas. 

Seiko7A38 at December 29, 2014 at 8:55 AM

Subtle Frankens are always the best, Paul.  Wearing one of my favourites today: my modded 7A38-7070 with all-black 709L dial.

Seiko7A38 at February 19, 2012 at 5:26 AM

Wearing my favourite modded 7A38-7070 this morning ....

a rather subtle (even if I say so myself) self-built 'Franken' fitted with a 7A38-7080 709L dial and 7A28-7040/9 hand set:

Must control myself .... 

Here's what I'm wearing. My 7A28-7049.

Today we have a simple and rather common 7A38-7069.

I like simple!

Paul in Vegas