Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

A comparatively diminutive 7A38 today - one that sadly gets little wrist time, on account of its small size.  My 7A38-7090 SAA035J.

First 7A28 - refurbed thanks to the knowledge on this forum. New correct Seiko crystal fitted - thanks to Paul for spotting there was one available at Cousins. Bit of a dodgy photo but not too bad as a before-leaving-the-house-for-work effort.

Rogus, nice black one.    Funny, I was going to post my 7A28-7079 this morning, but a friend called and we went on a motorcycle ride for  a couple of hours. So here is mine, I don't wear it much because it still has the blue film and inspection sticker on the back. 

While I'm in Franken-building mode I thought I'd wear one. 

From memory, this was the first 7A38 Franken I ever built. It didn't really start off with any kind of plan in mind, it sort of just evolved - as the original stainless 7A38-7270 was robbed of one part or another. The bracelet is a NOS Seiko p/n Z337S (normally found on a 8223-704B). The black chrome bezel is again a NOS part, which I remember as being one of the first items I ever bought from Cousins UK - normally used on the 7A38-7290 / -7295. The hour and minute hands are the 'polished edge' type from a 7A38-7070 and the orangey-red sweep and seconds hands are again NOS parts (courtesy of Seiko Oz), normally used on a 7A38-7140. Bit of a 'Bitza'. 

Couldn't decide between these two photos; ones a shade over-lit; the other dark and moody, so here's both of them:

Bit of an oddball today and something of a rarity (say compared to its SAA044J Titanium sibling). My stainless 7A38-7120 SAA091J.

PS - Excuse the odd bits of lint and dust - couldn't find my puffer. 

So, after a self-imposed month of posting only Seiko 7A38's I'm going to backslide to my old ways. Back to the other stuff. 

My recently acquired NOS Orient J39701-70 - still in need of a good clean (why I got it out) and the sweep hand re-aligning:

Seiko7A38 at September 25, 2014 at 9:05 AM

Wearing this self-built Franken 'Grey Panda' today, loosely based on a two-tone 7A38-7020 with 'cut and shut' split 703L dial plates.

It never hurts to revisit an old friend - even if it's only to cadge something off them and grind them down a bit. 

So this morning, to make amends, I popped the bezel off and gave it a very light rotary skim with 400 grade Wet and Dry. 

Trouble is, in doing so, I've possibly made it more closely resemble the original SpeedTimerKollection Franken which inspired it. 

Or perhaps not !!  

Here's the second of my recently purchased NOS Orient J39 Divers (taken after I'd given this one a cursory clean to remove 25 years of grubby fingerprints and shelf dust). As I wrote in the other thread, this one's colour combination is something of an acquired taste: the gunmetal / gold two-tone case and bracelet finish is distinctly 1980's; although the dial colour may look a bit sickly in this photo, that metallic champagne colour is gorgeous when it catches the light. For 59 Euros, I'm not complaining.  My Orient J39601-70:

Because they're my favourite non-Seiko 7A38's and it's Saturday. Yema Spationaute III Aragatz N80P76 'cadran drapeaux'.  

Because even the really scabby ones deserve an occasional outing.  My battered beater RACER TEAM COLLECTION J39026-70 ....

Probably quite an attractive looking watch in its day - in a Breitbling sort of way. 

Another J39 beater which shares the same set of 'parts bin' sub-dials hands, but fortunately isn't in quite such bad condition.

One I'd also dearly like to find a better example of, but as it's the only one I've ever seen, I guess it'll have to suffice for now. 

My Orient J39725-70 fitted with 'Feiko' 20mm after-market bracelet. It doesn't look any better which ever angle you shoot it from. 

So what happened to all the other regular posters ? 

Thinking about changing the title of this topic to: The ONE and ONLY WAIW (what am I wearing) thread .... 

Another beater today - my 7A38-704C, cunningly disguised (badly faded and by dint of one yellow pusher) to look a bit like a -704B.

Coming today, for one day only,  to a WRUW thread near you - ready or not .... it's  Franken FRED Force 10 FREday ! 

Assuming the forum stays up for 5 minutes, an explanation of this 'silliness' will follow in the Franken Fred build thread presently. 

Something topical.  A very Q&D wrist shot of my non-military issued, distinctly civilian 7A38-701B 'Vulcan' SAA005J.

Another yellow-dialed 7A38, topical too, in the light of prices they're going for recently. My almost NOS condition 7A38-7140 SAA051J.

Before anyone comments - No I haven't lost any black chrome / paint off the crown. Probably just dead skin where I quickset the date. 

With there having been so many of these listed on eBay (in the States) recently, it prompted me to get mine out and give it an airing ....

The common-or-garden US market 7A38-7069 SAA028J.

As nobody else seems to be bothering anymore, I make no apologies for the poor quality of this grainy Q&D wrist shot (taken indoors). Saturday to me means a Spationaute III - but today, a smaller one for a change - one of my 38mm 'reduced' model # N80A66 beaters.

A late in the day post. My one and only Yema Spationaute III.    It's a blue blue Sunday.  

Second string (picked up off eBay France last September for 40 Quid, in need of some TLC) stainless 7A38-7000 SAA007J today.