Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Well, if nobody else besides myself is going to bother posting wrist shots any more, I guess I'll have to start the next page. 

Wearing this common-or-garden 'Argos Special' stainless 7A38-7190 SAA053J this afternoon. This is my 'second string' example, with slightly scabby sub-dials. I must get around to replacing that dial one day. 

This isn't actually the watch I was planning to post a wrist shot of incidentally. 

I shot that one literally earlier this afternoon. It's back in pieces again. 

This is going to get boring quickly. Here's another common-or-garden 7A38 model - one of my lesser examples of the two-tone 7A38-7020 SAA010J. You only get one guess as to why I got it out of the collection box this afternoon - Yup another one that needed a battery replacement. 

Well, I deliberately left it for 6 weeks and still nobody else posted anything.  So I guess I'll carry on where I left off - in splendid isolation.  Here's a Q&D almost 'as received' shot of my recently acquired RACER J39723-70.

I suppose I should post a wrist shot of my newest incoming arrival - and what might conceivably be the last Seiko 7A38 that I ever need to buy - as it finally completes the 'full set' of my collection, Gentlemen, may I present my recently acquired, almost NOS condition 7A38-714A SAA049J, which arrived late this morning.

Sticking with black chrome to match my current mood.  7A38-7070 SAA033J.

I was looking for a couple of decent wrist shots of my two 7A38-6010 SAA040J's to upload to Instagram. I wasn't really happy with any of those I'd taken previously, so this morning I rattled off a few more. These are the best efforts.

My NOS example:

My 'second string' example, in almost mint condition, save for a couple of tiny flaws, which came fitted with rubber strap, that I replaced with a NOS G1157F bracelet.

I still haven't sorted out the slightly distorted bracelet joining link (on 6 o'clock side) of my otherwise almost mint 7A38-6000 SAA039J yet, but I took a couple more photos of it this afternoon. With hindsight, this is probably the better one which I should have uploaded to my Instagram.

Wearing this stainless 7A38-727A SAA131J this morning.

Wearing this stainless 7A38-727B SAA149J this morning - uncomfortably. Bracelet is a shade too tight. Going to have to dig into my 7A38-7270 'bits box' and see if I can find another B1615S bracelet adjustment link.

Just quickly trying on this NOS 7A38-7290 SAA095J which I bought last October and has remained in its presentation box. It still has the hang tag dangling from the bracelet (bottom RH corner). This photo reminded me that I need to carefully clean those small traces of sticky blue residue off the bezel. 

I'd almost given up trying to take a decent wrist shot of my newly acquired Orient J39601-70. The lack of contrast between the strange colour combination of Taupe dial and gold printing made it particularly tricky to capture. I'm not actually claiming this one is 'decent' (I even set the day wrong). Just that I've given up for today ! 

Here's a Q&D (literally dirty, but already a lot cleaner than received) shot of my newest acquisition - a Cartier Ferrari Forumula Cal. 531, model # F6104884.

I've been wearing my self-built two-tone 7A38-7020 'split dial' Franken the last few days. Noticed how grubby it had got and gave it a quick clean. Grabbed this wrist shot this morning, between the showers, so please excuse the odd bits of lint.

Here's a couple of Q&D wrist shots of a pair of Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal. 531's that I've been messing about with for the last few hours. The highly polished one on the tan leather strap is my most recent non-Seiko 7A38 acquisition; the black ion plated one with a white Roman dial, on black leather, I've owned for over 9 years. I'm tentatively considering swapping a few parts between them.

I've just replaced the battery in this 7A38-7050 SAA025J and fortunately managed to grab a quick wrist shot between the showers. 

On to the next one. 

Sunny Sunday afternoon shot of my 'battered beater' B.A.D. (battery acid damaged) Orient J39908-70, which finally this morning, after 9 years of ownership, I've gotten round to fitting into a better condition donor watch case. It's still no oil painting ....

Time for me to post my Seiko 7A38-7290 after seeing Paul’s NOS example here and on Instagram. This watch, in rather mint condition, was given to me as a birthday present a few years ago. Couldn’t resist getting a wrist shot outside with our “abundant sunshine”…!

(Thanks Paul)

I succumbed and bought another Yema Spationaute III 38mm 'reduced' (N80A696) off eBay a week or so ago. It wasn't if I really needed another, but it appeared to be in decent condition, fitted with the original Yema shark strap - and the (opening bid) 'price was right'. It arrived on Friday. Weather in UK has been foggy / overcast for the last 3 days, so the light isn't good. Here's a couple of 'as received' shots.

Nice bright sunny, but chilly December day here in England, so I probably couldn't have chosen worse conditions to try to take a wrist shot of my Orient J39723-70. Past experience should have taught me to expect reflections in the domed crystal.

I took literally dozens of photos like that (and instantly discarded them) and was on the point of giving up. Went back indoors and snapped this one in the hallway as I closed the front door. It's not great, but will have to suffice, as my camera battery's just about to run out.