Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

This average looking worn condition gold-tone 7A38-7000 was listed on eBay in the early hours of this morning by a Dutch seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111995914917

Very early sample of Seiko's flagship chrono. Seiko's 7A38-7000, all original. Japan, 1983 

A sturdy 7A38 with large pushers and a very cool case design 

The watch is in a good vintage gold plated condition, see pictures 

Its crystal is in a mint condition (as new, not a single scratch) , dial and hands in a mint condition as well 

The clean movement is keeping good time. All functions operate fine 

Bracelet length + watch is 20,5 cm (maximum wrist size) 

Please contact me for any question regarding this watch 

Sold as is, no returns.

Looking at the seller's photos, I'd suspect this watch has been given a light overall polishing, which has resulted in the loss of gold plating from the bezel and corners of the watch case - possibly to remove evidence of 'rust' staining (from the base metal underneath), frequently seen on this model. Well over-priced for the condition @ $265, I expect this one will be doing the rounds for a while yet.

Well I'm blowed !  That's twice in quick succession that I've been (very quicky) proven wrong. 

Sold earlier this evening for the $265 Buy-it-Now asking price ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111995914917

What I want to know is who is paying these 'silly' prices for warmed-over average condition gold-tone 7A38-7000's ? 

Patina is savored by some!           

Did somebody mention patina ? 

This well-worn gold-tone 7A38-7000, fitted with an undersize 18mm leather strap, was listed yesterday evening by a UK eBay seller. Thoughtful of him to include a ruler in one of his photos.  The boxed lug width is 20mm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201668794335

Vintage Quartz seiko day date chronograph wrist watch working, buttons sticking will need service clean please see photos for what you will receive thanks and happy bidding.

That eBay auction for the well-worn gold-tone 7A38-7000 with an ill-fitting leather strap ended yesterday evening, selling for £54.77 after 21 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201668794335

When this very similar looking gold-tone 7A38-7000, also fitted with a tatty brown leather strap came up in my eBay saved favourite search notifications this afternoon, I thought at first, that it was another case of  Déjà Vu. But it's a not - slightly less plating wear and different case-back serial number. Oh, and the leather strap appears to fit the 20mm lug width properly on this one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112155419394

Arkcollectables-uk 

This auction is for a vintage Seiko chronograph gents watch. 

The watch dial is in good condition for its age and is fully signed, hands all original with no blemishes, crystal original and in good condition does have some very light scratches, push buttons and crown all original and have no plate wear. 

Watch case is gold plated, it does have very light wear, rear cover is a screw type and fits well to the case and is fully marked, watch comes on a brown strap still use-able. 

The movement has had a recent new battery, hands adjust smoothly, keeps good time, all functions work, only issue sweeping large second hand does not reset to the 12, advise a service and clean due to recent lack of use. 

A vintage collectable Seiko gents watch, measures 40mm across excluding the crown, please note watch has been bench ran not worn by us, in general watch is in a very light used condition with age related wear and tear, sold as seen happy bidding. 

SORRY BUT WE HAVE NOW STOPPED SELLING TO ITALY DUE TO LOSSES AND CLAIMS FOR LOST ITEMS. ALSO WE CANNOT NOW POST TO AUSTRALIA DUE TO ITEMS OF JEWELLRY/WATCHES BEING PROHIBITED IN THE POST????? 

PLEASE READ BELOW

PS - The fact that I just happened to post a couple of photos of my own gold-tone 7A38-7000 (fitted with the correct original Seiko p/n B1170G bracelet) in the WRUW thread earlier this afternoon (around the same time this eBay listing appeared) is down to pure coincidence. Honestly, Guys. 

That second eBay auction for a gold-tone 7A38-7000, fitted with a leather strap just ended, selling for £51 after 11 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112155419394

This gold-tone 7A38-7000 was listed yesterday by a German eBay seller with a preposterous Buy-it-Now price of 420 Euros. Compared to many previous well-worn examples we've seen, this one's gold plating seems to be in pretty good condition, with no perceptible rubbing wear or tarnishing. O.K., so nice examples of the stainless 7A38-7000 SAA007J may well be selling for 400 Euros lately - but this is the unloved gold-tone. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172503515293

Aus meiner Sammlung 

Seiko Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7000 A5

Seiko Quartz Uhrwerk 7A38A, 15 Jewels

aus den frühen 1980er Jahren. (etwa 1984) 

Habe den Kaufpreis bewusst etwas höher angesetzt, um Spassbieter etwas abzuschrecken.

Realistische Preisvorschläge werden gerne entgegengenommen und beantwortet. 

Komplett in Gold gehalten. (Edelstahl)

Verschraubter Boden. 

Der Zeitmesser befindet sich in einem für sein Alter sehr guten Zustand. 

Nur wenige normale Gebrauchsspuren. 

Man bedenke, dass die Bilder vielfach vergrößert sind.

In Wirklichkeit sind die feinen Spuren fast nicht zu sehen. 

- Alle Funktionen der Uhr sind TOP.

- Datums- und Tagesumstellung schaltet exakt.

- Tagesanzeige sowohl in Englisch wie auch in Deutsch möglich.

- Alle Drücker sind leichtgängig und verrichten zuverlässig ihr Werk.

- Die Krone ebenfalls leichtgängig und exakt.

- Das gebürstete Gehäuse ist in erstklassigem Zustand,

die schmale Lünette hat oberflächlich ein paar Kratzerchen. (sehr wenig sichtbar)

- Die Schließe weist ein paar normale Gebrauchsspuren auf. (Siehe Bilder)

- Der Boden hat ebenfalls nur leichte Gebrauchsspuren.

- Das Glas mit sehr wenigen, minimalsten Spuren. 

Seht euch die Originalbilder an. Sie zeigen den tatsächlichen Zustand der Uhr ganz gut. 

Insgesamt eine sehr, sehr gut erhaltene Seiko die jedes Sammlerherz höher schlagen läßt. 

Aber natürlich ist sie auch für den täglichen Gebrauch bestens geeignet. 

Sollten noch Fragen zu der Uhr offen sein, bitte mailen. 

Ich trenne mich nach und nach von ein paar meiner Uhren.

Also schaut doch ab und zu mal bei mir vorbei. 

Privatverkauf: keine Garantie, Gewährleistung oder Rücknahme.

I must admit, I don't always bother translating German eBay seller's descriptions (not my favourite language), but I did with this one.

Google translates the first couple of sentences as:

The purchase price consciously set a little higher, in order to deter something a bit.

Realistic price proposals are gladly accepted and answered.

Dear Wally - Here's a tip. Your 'pie-in-the-sky' 420 Euros is going to deter everybody. Try asking 220 Euros - it's more realistic. 

Needless to say, the above listing for a gold-tone 7A38-7000 remains unsold - with no sign of the German eBay seller reducing his risible 'pie-in-the-sky' asking price. 

Here's another example listed by another German eBay seller, this afternoon, with not quite such a ridiculous asking price - but @ 249 Euros, still well outside the bounds of what I'd call realistic. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162393365368

Speaking of more realistic pricing ....

This 'very nice' example of a gold-tone 7A38-7000 was listed a few hours ago by a US eBay seller, with a sensible opening bid price of $100 (and no reserve). It's being offered through eBay's GSP programme, so any potential buyers from outside USA would need to factor in the additional pre-paid Customs charges, on top of the winning bid price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162395991307

BEAUTIFUL

WATER RESISTANT

SEIKO QUARTS

SEE PHOTOS

FREE SHIPPING TO LOWER 48

GOT it     I was only bidder and there were no one following it.  $100.00 + free shipping.    

Well done, Don. Noticed you put in a safety snipe bid in the closing seconds - good move. 

I'm sure there were other folks watching it (I certainly was). You just got lucky - no-one bid against you. Happens sometimes. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162395991307

Here's a typical worn condition gold-tone 7A38-7000 listed yesterday evening by a US eBay seller, with an opening bid price of $19.99. It's refreshing to see one honestly described, as such, for a change. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322433938073

Case: signed Seiko Water Resistant 520097 Japan A Stainless Steel Back 7A38-7000, yellow gold plated, good condition but has wear on the gold plating, 41mm long and 40mm wide, flat mineral glass crystal with scratches. 

Movement: Seiko Quartz battery powered movement with a new battery, the watch is running and keeping time, the chronograph and day/date are working correctly. 

Dial: signed Seiko Quartz Chronograph, very good condition, gold in color with black/gold raised markers and black/luminous hands. 

Bracelet: Seiko yellow gold plated bracelet with a lot of wear, fair condition, the watch will fit a 6 1/2" wrist. 

A good Seiko Vintage Chronograph to restore. The pictures are of the actual watch for sale, no International Sales.

The above US eBay auction for a well-worn gold-tone 7A38-7000 ended half an hour ago, selling for $71 after 9 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322433938073

This typically well-worn gold-tone 7A38-7000 fitted with a distinctly non-original replacement bracelet was listed yesterday evening by a UK eBay seller, as 'Spares or Repair', with an opening bid price of 99 pence.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371889130688

Telling time correctly. New battery fitted wrong strap. Buttons and second hand are not working. Please buy for spares or repair.

The one-day auction ended a few moments ago, with this unloved example selling for £37 after 12 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371889130688

This average worn condition (and certainly not rare) gold-tone 7A38-7000 with chronograph faults was listed yesterday by US eBay seller rbetts2345, with an over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of $200. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282420455707

Rare 1984 SEIKO 7A38-7000 CHRONOGRAPH.. The watch runs and the time, day and date sets. The sub dials on the right and bottom work. I don't know about the one on the left. The sweep hand doesn't seen to work. It will need some service (I do have some spare parts including coils listed).

It has unusually shaped case and a distinctive bracelet..

There is wear to the case and crystal, but it looks very nice given its age. The case is large for its time. Very cool and c

I had to smile to myself about the seller's comment: (I do have some spare parts including coils listed). It begs the question why he hasn't tried using them himself to rectify the chronograph faults. It's a 5 minute job to swap a coil. Perhaps they're NFG ? Funnily enough, I've only recently commented on his water-damaged rust stained 7A38 parts in the Bottom of the 7Axx barrel thread.

Studying the seller's last photo, there is rust staining on the movement backplate; '710' spacer and inside the watch case, near the 10 o'clock pusher and also evidence of a prior battery leak visible on the backplate. Probably one best avoided at any price.

Here's another gold-tone 7A38-7000 listed by a US seller late last night (just after Midnight UK time). I'm not sure whether this one might be suffering from rust creeping from underneath the plating (as we've seen in a few previous examples), or if it's just plain grubby. Regardless, I doubt there will be any great rush, with the $150 opening bid price (and $55 shipping to UK). 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232300781187

Vintage Seiko 7a38-7000 Chronograph Day Date Gold Plated Quartz Mens Watch

Working well. Great condition. Quartz. Light scratches on crystal. 100% authentic.

CANADA PLEASE REQUEST A SHIPPING PRICE

Returns Accepted. All dimensions in photos. Please Ask Questions

It's not as if it really needed yet another example to prove the point. The gold-tone 7A38-7000 SAA008J is nowhere near as popular with collectors as it's stainless sibling - especially when stupidly over-priced and suffering from worn or corroded plating. 

Well, here's one anyway. Listed yesterday evening by another deluded German eBay seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172631857332

Seiko Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7000 A5

Seiko Quartz Uhrwerk 7A38A, 15 Jewels

aus den frühen 1980er Jahren

Preisvorschläge werden gerne entgegengenommen.

Äußere Teile Komplett in Gold gehalten, inneres Armband silberfarben. (Edelstahl)

Verschraubter Boden.

Der Zeitmesser befindet sich in einem sehr guten Zustand.

Uhr wurde gebraucht, daher normale Gebrauchsspuren, z.B. Goldene Beschichtung an den Rändern der Schließe leicht abgewetzt, kleinste Kratzer am Armband

Breite des Uhrengehäuses: 3,9 cm

Armbandlänge innen gemessen 19 cm

"water resistent" laut Angabe unter dem Gehäuse bis 30 meter

kann: Uhrzeit, Stoppuhr (umfangreiche Stoppeigenschaften), Datum und Wochentag anzeigen, Tachymeter.

- Alle 3 Drücker sind leichtgängig.

- Die Krone ebenfalls leichtgängig und exakt.

- Das gebürstete Gehäuse ist in prima Zustand,

Seht euch die Originalbilder an. Sie zeigen den tatsächlichen Zustand der Uhr ganz gut.

Insgesamt eine sehr, sehr gut erhaltene Seiko die jedes Sammlerherz höher schlagen läßt.

Aber natürlich ist sie auch für den täglichen Gebrauch bestens geeignet.

Englische Gebrauchsanweisung ist vorhanden.

Braucht neue Batterie.

Privatverkauf keine Garantie oder Rückgabe möglich

Der Artikel wird „so wie er ist“ verkauft, dies bedeutet: Mit der Abgabe eines Gebotes erklären Sie sich ausdrücklich damit einverstanden, auf die Ihnen gesetzlich zustehende Garantie bei Gebrauchtwaren völlig zu verzichten. Der Verkauf erfolgt unter Ausschluß der Gewährleistung. Bieten Sie nicht, wenn Sie mit diesen Regeln nicht einverstanden sind.

I make that a total of 5 such examples currently listed on eBay: (now) 3 in Germany and 2 the U.S.A. 

But while I'm at it ....

.... I suppose I should mention this other example that was listed on the Italian free classified site, Subito, a week or so ago.

http://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/seiko-cronografo-7a38-gold-roma-202718819.htm

This is getting silly. Yesterday evening, those 5 eBay listings in the summary in my penultimate post, all of which remain unsold, were joined by yet another gold-tone 7A38-7000, listed by another German eBay seller. This one has a low opening bid price of only one Euro, but isn't the best of examples. The dial appears to show signs of moisture damage and the lume is degraded. It's also fitted with a non-original Seiko bracelet. The part number visible in the seller's 4th photo appears to be B1160 - the correct bracelet is a p/n B1170G. I'd suspect it belongs on a mid-80's ana-digi, but the part number isn't recognised in Seiko's database (with a 'G' suffix).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232311353180

*TOP AUKTION*

Sammlerstück aus den 1980iger Jahren

Seiko Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7000 A5, vergoldete Herrenarmbanduhr

15 Steine/ Jewels

Durchmesser ohne Krone: 35mm

Uhr mit Armband im geschlossenen Zustand ca. 21cm

Die Uhr ist voll funktionsfähig. Sie befindet sich in einem sehr guten dem Alter entsprechenden Zustand. Kleine Kratzer sind auf Glas, Gehäuse und Armband vorhanden. Sehen Sie dazu die Bilder.

Die Uhr wird ohne Batterie geliefert.

Details und Zustand entnehmen Sie bitte den Bildern.

Gerne beantworte ich Ihre Fragen oder schicke Ihnen auf Wunsch weitere Bilder zu. Schreiben Sie mich einfach direkt über Ebay an. Schauen Sie sich meine weiteren Auktionen an um Versandkosten zu sparen.

Viel Spaß beim Bieten!

Da es sich hierbei um einen Privatverkauf handelt, übernehme ich für die hier angebotenen Artikel keine Garantie oder Gewährleistung. Eine Rücknahme oder Umtausch ist ausgeschlossen!