Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Paul, the blue looks much better. How about a brownish band to go with the gold ?  

Anyway here is my Ferrari Formula Cal. 531 (Seiko 7a38) with elusive, scarce light gray dial. Case is well worn-but not abused--"worn well & well worn".   Love the RED hands. 

Subtitled: A tale of two Spationaute III's - and the same shark strap.

Yesterday, I was wearing this one, which I've posted many a time before, fitted with a very blue Fleurus shark strap.

For obvious reasons, my pet name for this watch is Grande Bleu.

The trials and tribulations of how I finally arrived at that particular choice of strap is documented in this thread:

My newest incoming Yema Spationaute III .... and strap changes !

Today, I'm wearing another 43mm Spationaute III, with the same 'minimal printing' dial,  but not in quite such pristine condition.

I picked it up relatively cheaply on eBay France about a month ago (item # 17180682913). It was described as non-funtional - for spares or repairs. My original plan was to break it up for parts, to use the dial and hands in one of my 38mm 'reduced' N8A066's.

But it was such an easy fix - gunged up pushers and bent setting switch lever, that I took pity on it. It came as a 'head only', without a strap (or the strap fixing pins). Not a problem - I still had that NOS Graf 22mm strap, which I'd first tried (and rejected) on 'Grande Bleu', back in January 2012, lying unused in my spares strap drawer. In hindsight, it doesn't look so bad on the wrist, n'est-ce pas ? 

I'm back.     Today a Seiko 7a38-7260.  From July 1987.

Welcome back, Don. 

At the risk of being boringly predictable, here's yet another Yema Spationaute III Aragatz N80P96. 

This is the one I picked up on eBay in the States for $70 a couple of months ago, now fitted with a dark navy ZRC 'double jonc' strap.

Seeing that scabby 'spares or repair' 7A38-7000 listed on eBay by a Turkish seller last week, prompted me to dig out my own basket case restoration project - which I'd given the pet name El Caracortada (= Scarface) as a comparison. It ain't so bad really. 

My recent purchase and first from Yahoo Japan    Seiko 7a28-7160  marked  Honda  F1 GRAND  PRIX RACING TEAM 

Well…looks like I'm back. Seems that this latest iPad update allows me to post photos again. (Greasy fingers smearing screens notwithstanding)  

Yema N8 1X26.

I took the leather watchband off my 7A38-6010 and replaced it with the original bracelet. It seems to ride better on my wrist.

Black Friday watch  - the JDM equivalent of Paul (PHK's) blingier 7A38-6010 - the all black chrome 7A38-6030 SSJS0028. 

With many thank to Japanese forum member Daisuke for helping me secure this one for my collection. 

A 7a28-7029  "franken"     Dial out of a two-tone 7a28-7020.  De-blinged  

That's different, Don. But wouldn't it look better fitted with the Black / Gold Tachymeter ring from the two-tone 7A28-7020 ? 

Here's a quick and dirty (as received) shot of my newest incoming Yema N8 Flygraf, which arrived on Thursday ....

It needs a strip-down and light cleaning. The crystal is a little cloudy on the inside, so over the holidays, I plan to pop that out and have a go at polishing out the light scratches. The 'mark' @ 15 on the constant seconds sub-dial is a tiny raindrop.

Nice Fly Paul, they remind me of my Breitling      The franken above is a temporary one / really think I should pop off the lid ? and make a swap   

I must admit to having had lascivious thoughts about that NOS 7A38-6000 which was listed on eBay earlier this week. Seems it wasn't meant to be (see my update to the relevant model specific thread).  But even if I'd been fortunate enough to add it to my collection, I don't think I could ever have beared to part with my original 'Dinky Diver'. The sweep second hand may not have a red-painted tip and it might be fitted with a non-original vintage Seiko 'Beads of Rice' bracelet, but regardless, it's still a firm favourite - and a keeper.

Took it out yesterday to remind myself. 

Something not quite so pretty, from the same collection box today. Perhaps one of the ugliest 7A38's produced - my 7A38-6060.

Paul, I agree with you on the 7A38-6060 it has everything but the "kitchen sink"     Here is my most common 7A38-7289 from March 1989-----The old classic look.  

A Diver a day keeps the Dress watch at bay.  Here's another old favourite I hadn't worn in ages - my very subtle 7A38-7070 Franken fitted with the all-black 709L dial out of a 7A38-7080 and 7A28-7040 hands.

A Dress watch a day keeps the Diver Out of the Bay      Here, on the shortest day of the year is the brightest  YEMA N81W63 (Seiko 7A38 Mvt)  on a very vintage Shark band.  

Nice one, Don. Keep 'em coming - you know I'm not averse to the odd bit of bling myself. 

In the meantime I'm still going through my Divers - digging out a few old favourites I haven't worn in a long while - like this ....

My ex-Wimstore 'freebee' Orient J39701-70 (with what I now believe to be a factory-fitted 'mix 'n match J39001-70 two-tone dial) ....

See my last three posts from May this year on page 2 of this thread for an explanation - on a non-original Seiko p/n G1410S bracelet.

Another Seiko 7A38.   A 7A38-7280 from Feb. 1988---Why are all hands on this series black except the sweep ?