Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at November 29, 2017 at 11:02 AM

It's that time of year again - 'Tis the Silly Season apparently. 

Anyone who has read all the way through this thread cannot fail to have noticed the numerous mentions of a certain 7A38-6000 listed by an Austailian eBay seller marcspix, who asked various silly 'pie-in-the-sky' prices for it between 2015 and 2016. It was last seen in February 2016, when it theoretically sold against a best offer of $750 Au, to a member of this forum. I guess that sale must have fallen through, because it's back on eBay once again today, this time with a Buy-it-Now price of $1499 Au. - double the figure it supposedly sold for. If you don't want to read back through the whole thread, just see some of the previous posts, run a search on marcspix 7A38-6000. That brings up a good few. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302547139411

'Tis definitely the Silly Season. 

The last time this grossly over-priced 7A38-6000 was listed on eBay, it took numerous re-listings and 11 months, between March 2015 and the beginning of February 2016, for it to eventually allegedly sell for a best offer of $750 Au. Yesterday it took only 11 hours for someone else to get suckered. 

This poor example of a 7A38-6000, fitted with a black leather strap was listed at lunchtime today by an Italian eBay seller, with an opening bid price of 49 Euros. It took a few minutes to recall where I'd seen the drastically cut-down replacement bezel insert before, but I reckon it was likely donated by a Yema Yachtingraf (the L5 0Q46 Ana-Digi model). Google Images and you'll see what I mean.  If you're considering bidding on it (as I was - for a resto' project), suggest you first try zooming in on the seller's primary image. There's a lot of detritus floating on the dial surface, which put me off. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152843338861

OROLOGIO SEIKO 7A38-6000 CRONOGRAPH SPORT 100 MOLTO RARO TUTTO FUNZIONANTE CALIBRO CASSA 37 ESCLUSO TASTI GHIERA GIREVOLE DATARIO CORONA ALLE ORE 8 CINTURINO BUONO NON MARCHIATO QUALCHE LIEVE GRAFFIO IN GENERALE USURA DEL TEMPO BATTERIA NUOVA, NB SI PARTE CON PREZZO IRRISORIO SE L OROLOGIO NON ARRIVA AD UN ASTA DECENTE VERRA RIMOSSO NEI LIMITI STABILITI NON INTENDO REGALARLO X ALTRE INFORMAZIONI AL 3385424289

The above Italian eBay auction for a 7A38-6000 in poor non-original condition ended a few moments ago, selling for 79 Euros after 16 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152843338861

Given the poor non-original condition, one would have thought that 79 Euros was enough to pay for such an example. Apparently not according to the Italian eBay seller.  It was back on eBay yesterday evening, re-listed with a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 220 Euros ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152855981420

Needless to say, that ludicrously over-priced 30-day Buy-it-Now listing ended with the watch unsold. The Italian eBay seller re-listed it again earlier this week as a 10-day auction with an opening bid price of 10 Euros. It's so far struggled to make 13.50 Euros. Bearing in mind it only made 79 Euros the last time it was auctioned, it's not difficult to predict the outcome. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152895412453

Meanwhile, there was another 7A38-6000 listed by another Italian eBay seller, earlier this week, albeit very briefly, late on Thursday evening. It was just a head only, in average worn condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122958103007

OROLOGIO SEIKO 7A38-6000 CRONOGRAPH SPORT 100 VINTAGE

Bellissimo orologio seiko vintage speedmaster appena revisionato. movimento perfetto.

Presenta segni di usura.

It sold quickly, as a Buy-it-Now for 130 Euros, the listing having received only 14 views during the 13 minutes it was live.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122958103007

The outcome of that latest re-listing for his mess of a 7A38-6000 by the deluded would-be Italian eBay seller wasn't quite what I expected. The 10-day auction was scheduled to end at 18:25 (UK time) today. But at 6:09 this morning he ended the auction early (just outside the 12 hour window), because of an alleged error. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152895412453

From memory, the last time I'd very briefly looked at it, bidding was still only somewhere around 23 Euros. From checking the (cancelled) bidding history it seems it hadn't got much higher - the highest cancelled bid was only 29 Euros.

Needless to say, it was back on eBay less than 3 minutes later, re-listed yet again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152908647899

Note this time he's reduced the opening bid price from 10 Euros to only 1 Euro. Obviously a completely pointless exercise, because he clearly wants a lot more than the watch is worth. 

This 7A38-6000 in well-worn condition was listed about half an hour ago, by a UK eBay seller, with an opening bid price of £99, but a reserve set. It has to be said, it's difficult to judge its true overall condition from the current set of photos that the seller has uploaded - half of which are frankly appalling. The bezel insert doesn't appear to be in too bad condition, but the bracelet looks distinctly tired.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292454724472

Please see for sale my Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph, originally bought by me in either 1987 or 1988 from memory on my first leave home.

The watch is entirely original with the original Seiko linked bracelet. The face is what I would describe as a white/silver colour with dark blue round insets for the minute hand, second hand and 100th/second hand movements.

The large sweeping second hand has a red tip. The rotating outer bezel is lined with a blue insert.

The watch was worn by me for several years but I then it was by and large forgotten by myself over several house moves.

I found it again several months ago and have decided to sell it as they would appear to be rare and appreciating collectors pieces now.

I took it to the jewellers who confirmed this and had it checked for functionality and I had a new battery installed. Otherwise it has been left as is, as advised by the jeweller for the sake of complete originality.

All the movements are in perfect working order and I had a video of these operating but could not upload it with the pictures to Ebay.

The face is in very good order as is the bezel, again only with minor marks.

As can be seen from the pictures it has some wear marks to the bracelet and clasp but these are only surface marks. (Apparently it is quite unusual for a watch of this age to still have its original Seiko bracelet). There are other slight marks to the case from wear but again I was advised that these could be polished out, if desired.

The model number of this watch as inscribed on the rear case are 7A38-6000 within a small square box are the further letters AO. Serial number is 496533 It is further inscribed with

SEIKO STAINLESS STEEL

WATER RESISTANT

JAPAN S

Please see the photographs which are the best my mobile would allow and feel free to contact me if I have left anything out or you want any other details.

Well, blow me - that didn't last long ! The 'error' presumably being the photos. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292454724472

The latest eBay auction by the Italian eBay seller ended earlier this morning, with the bidding price at 51 Euros after 33 bids. Notice I didn't write selling price (or sold), because I expect it'll be back again soon. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152908647899

No great surprise - it's back on eBay, re-listed yet again. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152923154176

That latest re-listed auction by the Italian eBay seller colel.ros for his mess of a 7A38-6000 ended at lunchtime today, once again selling for 51 Euros, but this time after only 7 bids. I wonder if he'll get the message anytime soon. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152923154176

Meanwhile, yesterday morning, another Italian eBay seller had listed a somewhat more original example of a 7A38-6000, with what I'd usually call a typical Italian fanciful 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 550 Euros. If you'd taken time to study the photos, as I did, its condition wasn't anything particularly special (IMHO).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112853856714

I sell wonderful Seiko 7A38-6000 Quartz Vintage dated February 1985, the images speak for themselves, impeccable watch completely original and working, complete with original box and receipt of purchase dated 05/94 with the price still in lire.

To my surprise, when I checked my eBay watching page this morning, it had already sold, a little over 24 hours later, for the full 550 Euros Buy-it-Now price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112853856714

As confirmed by the eBay Purchase History.

Here's a 7A38-6000 that was listed yesterday evening by a German eBay seller, with a possibly over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of 400 Euros (or the option to make an offer). It's fitted with a non-original replacement bracelet - albeit one that looks the part and appears to fit extremely well (of more anon). Apart from the bracelet, it's worth studying the seller's photos closely; although the bezel insert appears to be in good condition, the watch case isn't so - there are numerous small dings on the sides, visible in a couple of the photos.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123014391583

English part see below.

Meine Seiko 7A38-6000 muss ebenfalls gehen.

Sehr seltenes "Panda" Modell mit blauen Totis und blauer Drehlünette.

Die Uhr ist aus November 1984. Sie wurde vor ca. einem Jahr generalüberholt und es wurde ein neues Glas eingebaut. Das Armband ist nicht original, dafür sehr lang (>19cm). Die Optik entspricht in etwa dem Originalband.

Es handlet sich um eine gebrauchte Uhr mit Gebrauchsspuren. Sie ist für ihr Alter aber top in Schuss! Zustand siehe Fotos. Alle Funktionen sind gegeben.

Versand ausschließlich versichert als DHL Paket.

Der Verkauf erfolgt unter Ausschluss jeglicher Gewähr­leistung.

-----

English:

Seiko 7A38-6000 blue panda. Rare model. Serviced not a year ago. New crystal, bracelet not original but close in looks to the correct one. Works fine. See pictures. More details -> contact me.

EU sale. Worldwide possible - contact me first. Shipping at cost! No returns.

The German eBay seller is of course Jonas (a.k.a. 'Mr. Jones'), a stalwart member of UhrForum.de, SCWF and member and occasional poster here. I had previously spotted this 7A38-6000 a month ago, when Jonas posted this wrist shot of it in a WRUW thread on SCWF.

Questions about the non-original bracelet were asked at the time. 

Jonas's 7A38-6000 went remarkably quickly; gone by lunchtime today - sold not for his Buy-it-Now price of 400 Euros, but ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123014391583

As revealed by WatchCount.com's Look-up tool, for a best offer of 340 Euros.

As confirmed by the eBay Offer / Purchase History:

Incidentally, I did exchange a couple of messages with Jonas about the unusual non-original bracelet fitted. He disclosed that it was an after-market 18mm 'generic' item, that he bought on eBay from a UK seller who is no longer registered. 

This well worn 7A38-6000 fitted with a rubber strap was listed late last night by a Serbian eBay seller, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of $99.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273120289236

For sale is vintage quartz mens divers wrist watch SEIKO-7A38-6000-CHRONOGRAPH SPORTS 100

-PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION

-PLEASE LOOK PICTURES FOR DETAILS

-new battery

-vintage rubber watch strap(has visible signs of use and aging)

-watch has lot of visible signs of use

-SOLD AS IS!!

The above auction by a Serbian eBay seller, for a well worn 7A38-6000 fitted with a rubber strap, ended late last night, selling for a surprisingly high $305 after 31 bids. Why so high ? Checking the bidding history, it had already earlier been bid to $228 - which, in real terms, would sensibly have been more than enough to pay for something in this condition. Then in the final 5 seconds two other bidders sniped it with bids of over $300.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273120289236

This well-worn, beaten up and distinctly grubby looking 7A38-6000 was listed yesterday morning by a Zero-feedback Italian eBay seller, as a 7-Day auction, with an opening bid price of 49.90 Euros. It didn't come up in my saved searches until much later in the day, presumably after the seller had amended the description to include the model number. Strictly one for the brave, foolhardy or wabi lover !!! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253527126067

OROLOGIO SEIKO SPORT 100 CHRONOGRAPH!!! MODEL- 7A38-6000- SPORT!!!DAY DATE VERSION!!!L OROLOGIO HA LA CASSA IN ACCIAIO E MISURA DIAM. mm 35 DAY DATE AL 3 !!IL QUADRANTE DI COLORE BIANCO A 3 CONTATORI DI COLORE BLU!!!WATER RESISTANNT!!!L OROLOGIO FUNZIONA PERFETTAMENTE !!LA BATTERIA E STATAS OSTITUTA DA POCO!!!IL CINTURINO ORIGINALE IN ACCIAIO CON LOGO SEIKO!!!CHRONO A 1\100 DI SECONDO!!!SI PRESENTA CON LIEVI SEGNI DI VISSUTO !!! PER ALTRE INFO CHIAMATEMI PURE AL 3496160198 MAX !!!VENDO AL MIGLòIORE OFFERENTE!!BUONA ASTA A TUTTI !!!CIAO!!!

This well-worn 7A38-6000, evidently in need of some TLC, was listed earlier this evening by a UK eBay seller, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of £99, but a reserve price set. Sounds familiar ?  Well, as soon as I saw the seller's first photo (the rest are of shall we politely say of 'somewhat variable quality'), I instantly got that feeling of Déjà Vu. It's not too long ago since it last put in an albeit very brief appearance. Just scroll back up the page to my posts of February 18th this year.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292509931095

Please find for sale my Seiko Sports 100 Divers chronograph. I purchased this watch in 1986/87 on my first leave home.

The watch is all stainless steel with a beautiful white silver face in which are arranged the three dark blue small faces.

These are 10th seconds, seconds and minute with individual hand movements.

The 10th second face also displays the date.

The main hands are fluorescent and the second hand has a rare red and white tip.

The rotating Bezel is a beautiful cobault blue colour and in very good condition for the year.

The watch is entirely original with no later additions and the strap is again the original, which is also rare for for a model with this age.

The watch model is 7A38-6000 (now rare and highly sought after)

Other markings on the rear are Seiko stainless steel, Water Resistant, Japan S and the serial no. 496533.

I wore this watch both in service and at home. I recently found it again after a house move having forgot about it for many years. Although completely original, it is obviously not pristine and I will describe it's shortcomings as well as the above virtues, so all prospective owners know exactly what they are bidding on.

Please note carefully>>>>>>>

Watch entirely original and genuine in every respect as described above.

Tenth of second and second movements fully working as are their respective push buttons.

The minute movement face does not appear to work and the push button is sticky ( Left of watch face in photo's)

The bezel freely rotates as it should.

Main watch hands working perfectly. ( large second hand does not move but cant remember if it ever did )

Side winder and date adjuster fully operational)

Completely original bracelet strap with hole increments in the bracelet clasp for individual wrist fitment. From memory I had a number of the links removed from the bracelet on purchase for a better personal fit for me.

The bracelet is intact and fully functional but could probably do with some tightening/adjustment, as a number of the links have become stretched from my time of wearing it.

The face glass is completely intact and appears very clear with no real signs of any scratches or marks.

The case, base and bracelet obviously have some wear marks but these are not excessive or indeed take away from the piece, considering it's vintage. I am sure any blemishes could be buffed out by a jeweller but that would be a matter for the new owner.

I do not have the original instructions or case for the watch.

All covered as far as I can honestly describe and happy bidding to all.

A rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful and rare appreciating classic time piece, which while not perfect should present the collector or speculator with a great investment.

The watch will be well packed and posted within one day of the auction ending. I will only post the watch by Royal Mail 1st Class signed for to all locations for the buyer and my own protection.

Please note I will not end the auction early in any circumstance so please don't message me asking to do so.

The watch also has a reasonable reserve as advised by someone with knowledge of these watches, as I would rather keep it than give it away.

Good luck all.

There is one point (pun intended) potential bidders / buyers should be aware of. The latest set of photos aren't much better, but there's now a subtle difference visible in the condition of the watch. In his new description, the seller has written:

.... the second hand has a rare red and white tip. and ....

( large second hand does not move but can't remember if it ever did )

Well it certainly seems to have moved since his previous set of photos (if not by its own volition), because the sweep second hand is now pointing halfway between the 56 and 57 minute marks, rather than lying directly over the 55 minute baton - and the tip of the hand is now missing, presumably broken off by some clumsy person trying to persuade it to move, using too much force.  Here's how it looked before (to save you scrolling back up the page):

Postscript: The previous buyer (who opened a case on eBay and returned it in disgust) posted a salutory warning on the Seiko Passion FaceBook group today.

Having gained little interest for most of the week, with bidding apparently stalled at 58 Euros earlier this morning, I was half expecting this well-worn 7A38-6000 to go unsold (with reserve price not met). The 7-day auction by a Zero-feedback Italian eBay seller ended about 10 minutes ago, in something on a mini snipe-fest, selling for 159.99 Euros after 8 bids. As there's a considerable jump from the lower losing bid (118 Euros), one can assume that 159.99 Euros was the reserve price and the winning bidder sniped higher than that.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253527126067