Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Here's an almost as received shot on my newest incoming arrival - a comparatively cheap (£200 quid from Stroud Auctions) Jean Lassale Thalassa 7A74-018, which has suffered water damage - evidenced by the rust staining on the Tachymeter ring, between 500 and 250. I bought it with my eyes open - as a potential restoration project, but ended up paying rather more than I'd hoped. All I've done is rotate the hands and date using the crown / quickset - so at least it isn't seized solid as I'd expected. Two of the pushers have a nice clicky feel to them, but I suspect I'll probably end up having to replace the movement. Not a problem. More anon.

2020 has been something of a year of disappointments for me. Not just the sad news of the impending demise of this forum, but (voluntary) redundancy from my employment and (eventual) retirement - though not before time. So it came as no surprise (as I'd predicted) that my Christmas present to myself - a mint condition Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal. 531 model # F6104882, with a white dial, didn't arrive. According to DHL it was delivered yesterday afternoon - but in Germany !!

I had been hoping to post a wrist shot of it on this chilly Chrismas morning. Alas not to be. So instead, here's one of my most recently received non-Seiko 7A38 - an almost mint Orient J39911-50, which arrived a week ago. In case anybody might be wondering why I'd bought it when I already had 3 of the equivalent RACER branded J39907-50, it's because I didn't have the Orient branded version with a white dial.

All together now - We 3 Rings of Orient are.  Wishing all members and readers:

Merry Christmas, Happy and prosperous New Year.

More holiday bling.  My gold-tone 7A38-7000 SAA008J, which I've owned for more than 10 years. Can't honestly remember when I last wore it, but when I got it out of the collection box, I had to advance the date using the quickset from 12 to 27, so it's got to be at least a couple of years since I'd last even bothered to reset it. 

Typically, when I came to put that gold-tone 7A38-7000 back into the collection box, I noticed a couple of other watches had stopped - including the stainless 7A38-7000 in the adjoining slot. So this morning I had another long overdue session of fitting replacement batteries. This is the first stainless 7A38-7000 SAA007J I ever bought, back in March 2009. Checking my spreadsheet records, this is the third battery I've just fitted - and I paid a mere $116.50 for it back then. Ah, those were the days. 

Better late than never, here's a couple of wrist shots of my belated Christmas present to myself, which finally arrived at the beginning of this week after some lengthy tribulations. My Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal. 531, model # F6104882 - henceforth to be known as 'the Brexit watch'.

To coin a much hackneyed phrase of mine ....

It's not as if I really needed another example, but I could never resist a bargain. 

Here's a Q&D shot of my newest incoming Yema Spationaute III Aragatz.

Delivered this morning by my favourite lady postie. Very much 'as received' apart from a quick wipe and fitting a replacement battery, after which everything worked OK. It's completely original, including the darkened sweat-stained Yema navy shark strap. Pity about the scratched crystal, but for the price I paid (16,500 Yen, approx. £117 Quid off Yahoo Japan), I really can't complain. Somehow I even managed not to get caught for 20% VAT or Customs clearance charges, which always makes an international purchase that bit sweeter. Dare I publicly admit this is my 19th ?