Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Are you guys across the pond missing a bridge? London Bridge? I think I found it! In Arizona of all places! 

My 7A38-706A traveling companion. 

I received this 7A38-7289 today. It replaces the mint 7289 I regretfully sold to a friend who talked me out of it. 

I am pleased with this 7289.  All functions work - band full length - no scratches. 

FRANKEN Warning---My 7A38-702H beater  today--Just enough gold color--

My only 7a38, the 7a38-7029 I have on today:

Dan

There was no need to take another photo especially for our forum, Dan. 

The one you posted on WristSushi earlier today would have done just fine. Thanks all the same ! 

Thanks Paul, but gotta keep it real here!  Having fun poking around here - learning bunches!

D.

Nice one, Dan 

For most of this week I've been wearing this 7A38-7080 beater, which comprises the best bits of two such watches I've bought recently.

I've posted my musings about the black coating Seiko used (or rather the lack of it on one watch) in this thread, earlier in the week.

My water tested 7A38-7029    Bought on Bay for "best offer" of $ 60.00.   New Sappire crystal.  Silcone grease on pushers and case back, new C-clips on pushers.  Getting these bands back on is NOT fun. 

The trick is to use 8-10mm Universal 'extra telescopic' spring bars rather than conventional 10mm double flanged, Don. 

http://www.cousinsuk.com/catalog/watch-straps-bracelets-fittings/universal-spring-bars/spring-bars-universal

A pack of 100----I'll need more watches     Thanks Paul 

I just posted that Cousins link as an example, Don.  I'm sure you could get them from Esslingers (or elsewhere) if you tried.

In fact, Cousins used to offer the 8-10mm Universal spring bars in packs of 25 for about a Quid. Obviously now discontinued. 

Indeed, if you scroll futher down that page you'll see they still offer the 16-21mm Universal spring bars for £0.95 for a pack of 25. 

I case anybody doesn't follow my logic, 'Universal' spring bars come without flanges, so you can compress them more during fitting, which is a major advantage when trying to re-fit a B1171 bracelet to a 7A38-702x. Or anything else with an awkward 10mm lug fitting.

As Seiko intended - on an unmolested 7A38-7029 sample case:

As retro-fitted by Yours Truly on a built-up 7A38-7029 sample case:

Seeing as I had to get it out of my watch box to take that photo, the obligatory wrist shot:

Upon reflection (and closer examination of that second photo in my previous post) I may have given you some duff info. April Fool. 

Seems I picked out the wrong 7A38-7029 from my collection box.  That one looks like it's fitted with 10mm single flanged spring bars - something I'd experimented with briefly, before coming up with the much easier to fit  8-10mm Universal 'extra telescopic' solution.

Here they are fitted to my 7A38-7020 709L dialed franken, fitted with the Z1020S bracelet (which is harder to fit than the B1171S).

Very good-----These are great watches, they have the "look" and Paul , I remember you saying Seiko's sales for this model was huge    Do you know the composition of that greenish / blue film Seiko puts on the back ? 

Search me, Don. Some sort of PVC or Polyurethane coating, perhaps. 

Anyway, back to the WRUW. It's Saturday, typically overcast and drizzling, but I don't care because this afternoon, I'm wearing my newest incoming relatively bargain-priced Yema Spationaute III Aragatz, which the postman delivered just before midday today. 

This is exactly as received, so it still needs a bit of a clean. There are one or two light scratches on the bezel and crystal, which I can live with. The really only annoying but very minor fault is the sweep second hand has lost its lume pip. More hand pulling needed. 

My Seiko 7A28-7079---Just for the photo.  The PVC is still on the back.  

donwatch at March 7, 2014 at 1:46 PM

My signature Seiko 7A28-7079 --All gray Sports 100 

Re-post !! 

I'm losing it. I thought I had - and looked, but thought it was a page further back    Nice photo though

A little something for myself.

I took the 7A38-7289 movement from that "Franken" 7A48 watch that was on eBay last week and installed it in my 7A38-7060 case.

(Lugs and Leather)

PK 

Got my new-to-me 7A38-7070, replaced the bezel insert, had two rather rusted pushers not contacting, so had to take apart and clean) and crystal! just need to redo the hands and lume now..