Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u170084518

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Out of curiosity and admittedly in an attempt to expose the utter greed of this nasty little profiteering re-seller, I ran a 'closed' search on Yahoo Japan auctions on 7A28-500A, to see what prices any decent examples might have sold on there for recently. Despite fhipe's claim about their alleged rarity, these things crop up fairly regularly on Yahoo Japan. I found two recently ended auctions:

Ignore the fact that both look almost black in these small thumbnails (trust me, they are green); both listings suffer from rather dark photos. I homed in on the second.

It ended on 19th November, selling for 73,000 Yen (+8% Japanese sales tax). Looking at the high feedback number of the encrypted winning bidder ID, I'd strongly suspect it sold to an international buyer using one of the proxy bidding services. That watch still has it's JDM inspection sticker. Look carefully at the Japanese seller's photo and you'll see it's curled up slightly on one corner, adjacent to the 'A' of the 7A28-500A stamping.

No great surprise that the case-back sticker on fhipe's 7A28-500A is identically aligned and also has a slightly curled up corner in exactly the same position. Who needs serial numbers ?

I'm not sure what exchange rate he's using, but according to xe.com, 78,840 Yen equates to almost exactly $700 USD today. Personally I wouldn't even pay that much for one of these ugly things, but apparently there are folks out there, stupid enough to pay more. Lots more.

December 14, 2017 at 11:26 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173037650663

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Things have moved on somewhat since I started this thread nearly 6 years ago. What were then considered 'crazy' prices have unfortunately since become the norm. It's not unusual to see some of the more desirable collectable models, for example the 7A28-7000 'Ripley Aliens', listed on eBay with Buy-it-Now asking prices of $1500 - $2000. New old stock 7Axx's, particularly genuine NOS with box and tags have always commanded a premium, but $1729.89 for a relatively common 7A28-7049 ?

THIS IS A 1000% BRAND NEW OLD STOCK SEIKO SPORTS 100 CHRONOGRAPH.

IT HAS THE LEGENDARY CALIBER 7A28 QUARTZ MOVEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO LITERALLY RUN WITHOUT PROBLEMS OR NEEDING SERVICE FOR 30 to 35 YEARS.

THE ERA OF THIS WATCH IS ABOUT 1983 TO 1984.

IT HAS BEEN LOVINGLY OWNED BY A SINGLE COLLECTOR WHO BOUGHT IT NEW AT AN AUTHORIZED SEIKO SHOP IN THE USA. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN MOSTLY KEPT OUT OF THE WATCH IN CASE OF BATTERY CORROSION EXCEPT WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED EVERY SIX MONTHS TO RUN THE MOVEMENT AND CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTIONS FOR 72 HOURS TO KEEP THE MOVEMENT LUBRICATED AND EXERCISED.

IT KEEPS ACCURATE TIME MEETING SEIKO SPECS AND ALL CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTIONS OPERATE PERFECTLY AS THEY SHOULD. IN OTHER WORDS THE MOVEMENT IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AS IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY.

THE NEW MODEL SEIKO CHRONOGRAPHS HAVE DISPOSABLE MOVEMENTS WITH MOSTLY PLASTIC GEARS AND FEW JEWELS WHEREAS THIS SEIKO LEGENDARY 7A28 MOVEMENT HAS METAL GEARS AND 15 JEWELS DESIGNED TO LAST DECADES, PERHAPS 50 YEARS.

So rather than a modular, disposable plastic movement, the 7a series had a proper, quasi-decorated 15 jewel metal movement that could be regulated, disassembled and repaired. It even has a very traditional finger damper spring on the centre seconds pinion. Seiko really threw investment, thinking and effort into this one. This explains why, despite often impressive abuse, so many survive.

YOU PROBABLY WON'T FIND ANOTHER BRAND NEW MODEL OF THIS ILK ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

• Movement: Seiko Caliber 7A28

• Case: Brushed stainless steel

• Back: Engraved screw-in back

• Crystal: Hardlex Mineral

• Band: steel bracelet

• Water Resistant: 100 meters

• Warranty: 2 Years ORIGINAL FROM SEIKO

* Crown: PUSH IN

**Returns accepted only if the item is not exactly as described above which is 100 % NEW**

PS - I know it's a very popular model and I'm sure it will sell - just be interesting to see how much it actually goes for.

December 19, 2017 at 5:41 AM

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It seems we have a new pretender to the crown (King of the Crazy Prices).

Yes, I know we have a dedicated 'James Bond 007' thread in this forum section and I could have posted this there, but with an absolutely ludicrous Buy-it-Now price of $5000 where would you put it ?

This stainless 7A28-7020 SPR007J 'James Bond watch', fitted with a non-original replacement bracelet was listed this morning by presumably a Thai eBay seller, with a rather fitting user ID: the.kings.attic.antiques.and.vintage

Note the stated item location of Bangkok, Thailand.

However, checking the eBay seller's profile gives contradictory information:

Based in United Kingdom, the.kings.attic.antiques.and.vintage has been an eBay member since 30 Apr, 2015.

In can't be bothered to copy and paste the seller's lengthy description, which has been copied from a number of sources. You can read it for yourself. Needless to say, it makes no mention of the incorrect bracelet fitted, but what else would you expect from a chancer like this ?

March 16, 2018 at 9:03 AM

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The 'pretender' clearly has no staying power. :roll: I note with some mild amusement that overnight he has revised his listing, considerably reducing his 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price. Now yours for 'only' $2294 !!

March 17, 2018 at 5:01 AM

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Who says these threads (and the odd lowball offer) have no effect ?

No sooner than I'd written the above post he revised the listing again, further reducing his ridiculous Buy-it-Now price, currently now down to 'only' $1200. :roll:

Do I hear $600, $500 .... anybody ?

March 17, 2018 at 5:28 AM

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Posts: 14428

I really have better things to do than watch over-priced cr@p like this. :roll:

Our indecisive Thai eBay seller is turning out to be King of the Klutz's.

Looks like I missed one more revision (price reduction) he made mid-morning.

Now down to 'only' $900 (from his original 'pie-in-the-sky' $5000 BIN asking price) in less than 24 hours. If nothing else, that's got to be some kind of a record ! :lol:

March 17, 2018 at 9:39 AM

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I really have better things to do than monitoring the antics of this price-jerking idiot.

Seems I'd missed yet another revision to the Buy-it-Now price yesterday. :roll:

It's currently back up to $1500 !

Edit: Subsequently ended by the seller a couple of hours after I made this post. :roll:

Presumably the error was in the variable pricing strategy. :lol:

March 20, 2018 at 4:17 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183163905479

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Looks like the 'King of the Craziest Prices' is making a comeback attempt. :roll:

Earlier this afternoon, Italian eBay seller oldantiquestyle (a.k.a. Alberto Ulmi) listed a NOS stainless 7A38-7280 with a Buy-it-Now price of $1850 !!

The generic European / Italian market Seiko presentation box and paper hang tag could have come from anywhere (to make up the 'full set') and likely did, knowing Alberto. But from the pristine look of the JWC inspection sticker on the case-back, the watch itself is presumably new and unworn, although there is some slight twisting of the inner bracelet links evident on the 12 o'clock side.

Alberto has a bad reputation for being economic with the truth and has never been averse to misrepresention or keyword spamming. So it's no great surprise to see that he's also jumped on the 'James Bond' bandwagon. Nor it seems has his poor presentation and command of English improved any. Good Luke indeed ! :lol:

ORIGINAL SEIKO 7A38-7280

NEW TAG BOX ORIGINAL FULL SET

PERFECT WORKING

JAMES BOND MODEL

VERY VERY RARE

RARE COOL SUPER

FOR OTHER PICS AND INFO CONTACT

FOR OTHER QUESTION CONTACT MY!

GOOD LUKE LAST PAIRS!

SHIPPING TO EUROPE 35$ EXPRESS DELIVERY 2 DAYS

SHIPPING TO WORLDWIDE 45$ EXPRESS

DELIVERY 1/2 DAYS

ask for others methode

RUSSIA PRICE SHIPPING IS 80$

GOOD LUKE!

Presumably, the 'Last Pairs' he refers to are the trainers he's also selling. :roll:

As far as the VERY VERY RARE bit - of course we all know this is utter bnllsh!t.

The stainless 7A38-7280 and US market 7A38-7289 equivalent are relatively common. That said, like many 7Axx models, demand and selling prices are steadily increasing. I saw an average condition used example (albeit one with a proper full set) sell for $550 less than a week ago.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152966563163

So who knows, maybe Alberto will get ~~lucky~~ lukey .... eventually !

April 5, 2018 at 11:36 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183210743187

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I find this difficult to believe, but it appears that this lunchtime, somebody actually bought Alberto Ulmi's 'NOS' stainless 7A38-7280 for the reduced Buy-it-Now price of 'only' $1450 !

Their crass stupidity confirmed by the eBay Purchase History

May 13, 2018 at 11:15 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323825399010

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Posts: 14428

Another year on and it's time to give this neglected thread a 'bump'. It's been nearly 7½ years since I started it, back in January 2012. Things have certainly moved on, price-wise - and some of the more popular Seiko 7A38's are now regularly selling for what might have been deemed 'silly money' a few years back.

But some things never change. You'll still see the odd CRAZIEST price occasionally.

Without flicking back to check (that's cheating), can you remember what I started off my first post on the first page with ?

It was a NOS 7A38-704A, listed by an Italian eBay seller, with an absolutely ludicrous (at the time), pie-in-the-sky Buy-it-Now price of $2350. A couple of days ago, another 7A38-704A appeared on eBay listed by one of those Japanese 'proxy' sellers - japan_pre-owned_vintage with a similar asking price - $2581.

Couple of brief observations - note the contradiction in the description, which I've under-lined in red. It also begs the question: if this idiot really believes this watch is worth anything like that kind of money, why list it with only 6 tiny photos, measuring only 500x375 pixels (when eBay allows a maximum of 12 @ 1600x1200) ?

June 6, 2019 at 10:27 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//223967209868

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Seiko7A38 at December 14, 2017 at 10:17 AM

Seiko7A38 at August 3, 2017 at 4:53 AM

It looks like Indonesian eBay seller fhipe (a.k.a. Jeffry Kartika) is determined to wrest the crown from Italian seller Alberto Ulmi.
Here's his latest listing for another 7A28-500A, which appeared a couple of days ago - with a Buy-it-Now price of $4450 !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222599804083

Not only has Indonesian eBay seller fhipe (a.k.a. Jeffry Kartika) deposed Italian seller Alberto Ulmi as 'King of the Crazy Prices', it looks like he's cornered the market in ugly green watches. Yesterday he listed yet another 7A28-500A Giugiaro 'Steering Wheel' with a ludicrous Buy-it-Now price of $5450 - a cool $1000 more than his last one !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222754179311

Perhaps I shouldn't laugh too loudly, because his previous one supposedly sold for $2600. But could there really be another mug punter out there with so little taste and more money than sense ?

Evidently, mug punters looking for a weird-looking green Giugiaro designed 7A28 - and more importantly, wiliing to pay 'silly money' for the privilege, are few and far between. I don't regularly run worldwide eBay searches on '7A28', but earlier this afternoon, I did - and was highly amused to see this familiar 7A28-500A was the newest listed item. 3 years on and more, would-be profiteering Indonesian eBay seller fhipe is still re-listing it - the previous ludicrous 'pie-in-the-sky' price (now actually an opening bid) has since come down to 'only' $1500. :roll:

April 4, 2020 at 2:54 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274354308957

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Determined to regain his crown of 'King of the Crazy Prices', Alberto Ulmi is back ! This afternoon, using another of his eBay ID's: vintagedesign78, he listed a NOS 7A38-7080, with a typically crazy 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $2500 !!

For sale to my collection privaty deadstock nos 1984 Seiko 7a38-7080 with box and tag not manual.

Perfect working order see pics Chronograph perfect morning defect no scratches perfect condition.

New in box ��

For info mail ✌️✌️✌️

May 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133465030587

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I don't think I've had cause to mention a 7A28-7000 Aliens (silver or black) in a few years. Probably because I got fed up of pointing out the stupid prices being asked and started ignoring them. But I couldn't really let this one pass without comment.

This NOS 'Ripley' 7A28-7000 'Aliens' was listed yesterday morning, by a UK eBay seller, with a bloody ridiculous 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of £2850 !!

Apparently he doesn't really want to sell it. Yeah right.

Seiko Ripley 7A28-7000 NOS Aliens Watch . Condition is New with sticker still on the back. Sent in seiko box, but not the original.

I bought this with the full intention of wearing it daily, however upon finding it out it’s incredibly desirable by a community of Aliens fans and vintage seiko enthusiasts... I feel as if I owe it to the world that this minty classic goes to someone who will appreciate it more than I.

I had no idea what I was buying, I just liked how it looked. It’s never had an owner besides me. It has had a new battery fitted today however there is scratches on the bottom which was caused by the seller in the shop who I presume replaced the battery a decade ago. The battery had begun to leak however the inside looks mint and every function works flawlessly from what I have tested.

Any questions please ask. I’m very hesitant to sell it hence the price. However as this is so incredibly rare to get in this condition, I’m sure you understand this is for serious collectors.

Or people with more money than sense. :roll:

In fact, this isn't the first time that the UK eBay seller has listed it. He previously listed it on Monday, with an even higher 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of £3000 - which it didn't actually sell for ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133464694054

The alternative 'true selling price' link reveals it supposedly sold earlier yesterday morning for a best offer of £1800. But presumably someone came to their senses.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewitem&item=133464694054

July 15, 2020 at 4:50 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133465030587

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Although they're not my cup of tea - and I wouldn't ever consider paying anything like their usual asking / selling prices, I am watching the above UK eBay seller's frantic efforts to flog his 7A28-7000 'Ripley Aliens' with great bemusement.

He ended the previous re-listing yesterday evening, because of an error - presumably the error was in his rather over-ambitious pricing.

After another false start ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133467840650

He's re-listed it yet again, earlier this morning, with the 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price reduced to 'only' £1500 - half his original totally unrealistic figure of £3000. :lol:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133468432050

July 18, 2020 at 6:35 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133468432050

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Posts: 14428

Checking my eBay watching page, I see that 7A28-7000 'Ripley Aliens' sold (again) this morning. Not for the UK eBay seller's much reduced Buy-it-Now price of £1500.

But as revealed by the alternative 'true selling price' link, for a best offer of £1025:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewitem&item=133468432050

A far cry indeed from his original ludicrous 'pie-in-the-sky' asking price of £3000. :roll:

July 21, 2020 at 9:47 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274354308957

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Posts: 14428

Seiko7A38 at May 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM

Determined to regain his crown of 'King of the Crazy Prices', Alberto Ulmi is back ! This afternoon, using another of his eBay ID's: vintagedesign78, he listed a NOS 7A38-7080, with a typically crazy 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $2500 !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274354308957

Other than adding to to my eBay watching page, I can't honestly say that I'd been watching Alberto Ulmi's listing for a NOS 7A38-7080 that closely. I did notice that he'd considerably reduced his original ridiculous 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $2500 by more than half by the beginning of August. Here's a few more screen prints I'd taken at various intervals over the last 3 months.

.... and a full list of the revisions to that listing.

Earlier this afternoon, having ultimately reduced the Buy-it-Now price to 'only' $1100, he ended the listing because of an error (presumably in the pricing). :roll:

Less than a minute later, it was back on eBay again, re-listed - with the Buy-it-Now price increased back to $1750 !! :lol:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274466694056

August 21, 2020 at 11:35 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274466694056

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It may have taken him 4½ months, but Italian eBay seller vintagedesign78 (a.k.a Alberto Ulmi) appears to have eventually managed to find a buyer for his NOS 7A38-7080. It finally sold 2 days ago for $1450 - still a hefty, borderline crazy price to pay, but a far cry fom his original ridiculous Buy-it-Now asking price of $2500 !

September 16, 2020 at 11:36 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284095930712

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By an amusing coincidence (with it being 'Black Friday') and 'think of a number', another NOS 7A38-7080 was listed by an Italian eBay seller earlier this evening, with a Buy-it-Now price of 1450 Euros (not $ US). Could it be the same watch ?

ITALIANO

Vendesi uno splendido Seiko Ref. 7A38-7080 originale al 100% ed in condizioni impeccabili. Ha un bellissimo design, molto sportivo, con cassa e bracciale trattati al PVD di colore nero opaco. La qualità è ottima, ed è equipaggiato con il calibro Seiko 7A38, capolavoro di ingegneria elettronica applicata alla meccanica, talmente affidabile e preciso che nessuna azienda al mondo ha mai saputo eguagliare o neanche avvicinarsi...! Scontato dire che tiene il tempo con assoluta precisione. Le foto sono parte integrante della descrizione, per maggiori info e foto, prego contattare fantaliric@libero.it

ENGLISH

For sale a stunning vintage Seiko Ref. 7A38-7080 100% original and in flawless conditions. It has a beautiful design, very sporty, with a matt black PVD case and bracelet. The quality is excellent, and it is equipped with the Seiko 7A38 caliber, a masterpiece of electronic enginering applied to mechanics, so reliable and accurate that no company in the world has ever been able to match or even come close...! It goes without saying that it is absolutely accurate. The pictures are an integral part of the description, for more pics or info please contact fantaliric@libero.it Buy with confidence, we have successfully sold all over the world.

November 27, 2020 at 12:57 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284095930712

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Well, I guess we'll never know, because yesterday afternoon, in time honoured fashion, the Italian eBay seller ended that listing for the NOS 7A38-7080 as allegedly no longer available.

December 2, 2020 at 3:42 AM