Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at August 14, 2019 at 8:27 AM

This Kamatz 518000 'Oscar Bravo' in "GOOD PRE OWNED CONDITION" was listed late yesterday evening, by a US eBay seller, who clearly has no idea of the true value of these things, with a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $599.99  - or the option to make a much lower, more realistic offer. It's being offered through eBay's GSP programme, which potentially adds a further $193.50 in charges to the ludicrous $600 asking price, for anybody foolish enough to contemplate paying it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163817216404

The upshot being that the 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price has been reduced by $100, from the original ludicrous $599.99, to a marginally less ridiculous $499.95. Plus, not forgetting the potential additional $170 in GSP charges. 

In yet another instance of recent Déjà Vu (from the previous page), a very familiar looking Kamatz 517000 re-appeared on eBay earlier this morning, listed by an evidently extremely lazy would-be profiteering US eBay re-seller, with an eye to making a fast buck for absolutely zero effort. Not only hasn't he bothered to take his own photos, re-using the previous seller's images (which can be found on page 33 of this thread), uploaded in a much smaller size, direct from his mobile phone, but he's also copied the bulk of their description. Worse still, neither has he bothered to replace the flat battery (which he appears to state they don't make anymore). Yours now for a mere $395 !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402361836641

MINT RARE COLLECTIBLE MEN'S FRANCE WATCH "KAMATZ" Leather Band Made In FRANCE. The watch need new battery. They don’t make it anymore. Condition is Pre-owned. Shipped with USPS First Class.

It had taken the previous US eBay seller more than 15 months to find a buyer. He eventually sold it to would-be profiteering re-seller netur-26 a week ago for $90. I guess it's going to be around for a little while longer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293680952741

Seiko7A38 at August 12, 2020 at 4:01 AM

Lately this thread seems to be turning into the 'Kamatz 5xx000 spotted' thread.

Perhaps I should more correctly have written: Lately this thread seems to be turning into the ridiculously speculatively over-priced 'Kamatz 5xx000 spotted' thread.

This Kamatz 518000 Oscar Bravo 'Panda' in average worn condition, was listed yesterday evening by a US eBay seller, with a risible 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $599.99. There is also the option to make a much lower more realistic offer. Note the title of the listing - obviously copied verbatim from that of deluded US eBay seller cousinsgold2011. One assumes they also took his lead for their pricing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133497841147

This beautiful watch has just been service

Works Perfectly

Please see all pictures

Thanks for looking!

**please see all pictures** 

Any questions please contact us. 

We strive for 5 star feedback and to make every customer happy. 

If for any reason you are not happy with your purchase, please contact us before leaving feedback. 

Check out our other great listings! 

Thanks for shopping!!!

As a temporary respite from the onslaught of over-priced Kamatz's on eBay, how about something different ? Like another not at all rare and typically speculatively over-priced Yema Spationaute III 38mm reduced. (There are already 2 similarly over-priced examples listed on eBay France, still unsold.) This well-worn example, fitted with another of those aftermarket stainless bracelets, was listed this morning, with a Buy-it-Now price of 450 Euros, pitching it roughly midway between the other two (@ 400 and 489 Euros - see below).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274472527904

Rare Montre YEMA 

Montre équipant Jean Loup Chrétien pour la mission Franco-Soviétique ARAGATZ en 1988. 

Vol spatial effectué à bord du vaisseau Soyouz. 

YEMA - Acier - Lunette tournante unidirectionnelle - Fond vissé et signé : "YEMA SPATIONAUTE III - Water résistant 100M - N8 0A 696".  Serie 4-401. 

Au verso 4-401, Vol longue durée, ARAGATZ, CCCP FRANCE. 

Le cadran a des rayures. 

Il faut la nettoyer. Car elle a été portée.  

Bel objet pour collectionneur.

Here's a quick re-cap summary: Yema Spationaute III 38mm Reduced on eBay

This Yema N8 Flygraf, in average worn condition, fitted with a non-original generic stainless bracelet, was listed yesterday evening by a French eBay seller, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of 50 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264848345766

Superbe montre YEMA FLYGRAF QUARTZ en etat exceptionnel.

Datant des annees 80 ce modèle est rare a trouver.

En parfait état de fonctionnement.

Superbe cadran en très bon état ainsi que son boitier acier en tres bon état général.

Bracelet acier NON YEMA

Petites rayures sur verre rien de choquant.

Diamètre de 4.26CM

Grand bracelet acier.

Bonnes enchères.

Seiko7A38 at July 31, 2020 at 12:31 AM

This well-worn Kamatz 517000 was listed yesterday evening, by a US eBay seller, with a highly over-optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $129.75, with the option to make a lower, more realistic offer, commensurate with its poor condition. It's being offered to buyers outside CONUS through eBay's dysfunctional GSP programme, which potentially adds another $57 in charges.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353155054076

I've fallen a few days behind with adding updates, not that this one counts for much. Earlier this week, the US eBay seller of that well-worn Kamatz 517000 ended the listing as item no longer available. Presumably it was sold off eBay in response to a lower 'back door' offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353155054076

The 7-day French eBay auction for a Yema N8 Flygraf, fitted with an aftermarket stainless bracelet, ended a few moments ago, selling for 234.88 Euros after 25 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264848345766

This Yema N8 Flygraf, in decent used condition, apart from a scratched crystal, still fitted with its original Yema leather strap, was listed earlier this evening by a French eBay seller, as a 3-day auction with an opening bid price of 80 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124334243385

SUPERBE ET RARE Montre YEMA FLYGRAF ETAT EXCEPTIONNEL ANNEES 80. 

État : Occasion 

Superbe montre YEMA FLYGRAF QUARTZ 

Datant des annees 80 ce modèle est rare a trouver. 

Dans l état a changer la pile. 

Bracelet cuir YEMA. 

Petites rayures sur verre rien de choquant. 

Diamètre de 4.26CM. 

Bonnes enchères.

The above 3-day French eBay auction for a Yema N8 Flygraf ended a few moments ago, supposedly selling for 211 Euros after 33 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124334243385

I say 'supposedly', because the auction was won by a Zero-feedback bidder who has 100% bidding activity with this seller, which usually indicates a shill. I thought it might have actually realized more than it did, but I suspect the intervention of the Zero-feedback bidder in the latter stages of the auction (they placed a total of 10 bids, starting at 188 Euros) probably deterred a few potential genuine bidders.

Seiko7A38 at July 12, 2020 at 9:19 AM

Seiko7A38 at April 1, 2018 at 4:26 AM

I suspect there are a minority of readers who are fed up of seeing me complaining about the profiteering that happens all too regularly on eBay. If so, I suggest they look away now. Yesterday evening I came across another blatant example of this practice by a long-time exponent. And I do mean 'long time', because he's been at it since at least 2009 and seems to specialize in selling this particular watch. I am of course talking about French eBay seller montre-luxe-occasion. If the eBay username isn't familiar, or you just want to refresh your memory, run a search on the forum on montre-luxe-occasion and you'll find where he's featured in this thread before, starting halfway down Page 9 - but the story goes back a lot longer than that. He was briefly a member of this forum before I banned him. 

Yesterday evening, this would-be profiteering re-seller listed a Yema Spationaute III 38mm reduced, with a risible 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 489 Euros. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232717339744

The primary image in his listing is a wrist shot taken by forum member Steve7A, which he'd posted at the top of Page 72 of the WRUW thread and subsequently used as his primary image, when he sold it on eBay last month (see previous page for full details of Steve's eBay listing).

Although all the photos have been 'borrowed' from Steve's listing, the description appears to have been copied from the original eBay listing (by 1placevendome), dating back to 2009 and later used by montre-luxe-occasion-com in April 2014 (that eBay ID was subsequently abandoned). Note the same case-back serial number 2 - 270. Turns out it wasn't an oversight on their part, as I intially thought, but a rather amusing 'coincidence'. 

Montre YEMA SPATIONAUTE III

Description : Montre équipant Jean Loup Chrétien pour la mission Franco-Soviétique ARAGATZ en 1988. Vol spatial effectué à bord du vaisseau Soyouz.

Chronographe 1/10e de seconde.

Excellent état- Entièrement révisée: Garantie 1 an

Boitier : YEMA - Acier - Lunette tournante unidirectionnelle - Fond vissé et signé : "YEMA SPATIONAUTE III - Water résistant 100M - N8 0A 696"

N° de série: YEMA 2 - 270

Cadran : Blanc, signé: "YEMA PARIS - quartz 100M" - Chronographe trois compteurs.

Mouvement : Seiko 7A38 - Shimauchi Ltd. V906 - 15 Rubis (SEIKO) - Excellent état de présentation et de fonctionnement. Entièrement révisé.

Bracelet : Superbe cuir Marron - 20 mm - Neuf- Boucle plaquée or.

Verre : Saphir. Excellent état

Dimensions : Épaisseur 12mm. Largeur hors couronne: 38mm.

In case that wrist shot of Steve's doesn't ring any bells, here's where he sold it last month, for $185Au - equivalent to approx. 115.30 Euros at today's exchange rate.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263528667999

Checking the mutual positive feedback left, it appears montre-luxe-occasion used a different (private) eBay ID to purchase the watch from Steve. I'm wondering now, if Steve realized who he was actually selling it (back) to, at the time. 

 

Please excuse the number of edits I've made to this post: I've just realized this is a case of Déjà Vu - in more ways than one.  The common denominator being that all too familiar case-back serial number: 2 - 270. Here's where it was first listed in April 2014 by montre-luxe-occasion-com, initially with a ludicrous Buy-it-Now price of 1499 Euros, later reduced to 'only' 949 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261453150023

The watch was re-listed umpteen times over the next 18 months - usually with a Buy-it-Now price of 749 Euros (see my last updates at the top of page 18 of this thread) until the end of November 2015, when montre-luxe-occasion eventually re-listed it as a 7-day auction with an opening bid-price of only 1 Euro.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231767528896

It finally sold for 301 Euros after 22 bids: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231767528896

Ironically I finished that post by writing:

Hopefully that'll be the last we see of it. 

I hadn't realized it was Steve who had bought it - and due to his changing the strap (and my having previously failed to spot the same case-back serial number in his eBay listing description) didn't make the connection until this morning. The upshot being that it's back once again - with the original seller, who's looking to make another fat profit by re-selling it. How long will it take him this time ? 

Well it evidently took would-be profiteering re-seller montre-luxe-occasion a couple of years to finally work up the nerve to re-list it again, but here is Yema Spationaute III 38mm reduced, model N80A696, case-back serial number 2-270, back on eBay again this afternoon !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233647319889

 

Description

Montre YEMA SPATIONAUTE III

Description : Montre équipant Jean Loup Chrétien pour la mission Franco-Soviétique ARAGATZ en 1988. Vol spatial effectué à bord du vaisseau Soyouz. 

Chronographe 1/10e de seconde. 

Excellent état- Entièrement révisée: Garantie 1 an 

Boitier : YEMA - Acier - Lunette tournante unidirectionnelle - Fond vissé et signé : "YEMA SPATIONAUTE III - Water résistant 100M - N8 0A 696" 

N° de série: YEMA 2 - 270 

Montre YEMA SPATIONAUTE III

Cadran : Blanc, signé: "YEMA PARIS - quartz 100M" - Chronographe trois compteurs. 

Mouvement : Seiko 7A38 - Shimauchi Ltd. V906 - 15 Rubis (SEIKO) - Excellent état de présentation et de fonctionnement. Entièrement révisé.

Bracelet : Superbe en cuir Marron - 20 mm - Vintage Neuf - Boucle en Acier doré.

Verre : Saphir. Excellent état

Dimensions : Épaisseur 12mm. Largeur hors couronne: 38mm.

Pile neuve (energizer)

PS - I'm not going to bother uploading his two watermarked photos, because they're very likely posted somewhere on an earlier page of this thread. What I can tell you, from checking my photo folders, is that they're two of the original set that he's used to list this watch as far back as November 2009 !!! 

With apologies for lateness and the size of the multiple quote, but I'm just carrying forward the history from previous pages. The lateness was in fact deliberate on my part - I thought I'd leave it a week to see if it was re-listed again. Double profiteering French eBay re-seller montre-luxe-occasion had ended the above quoted listing for a Yema Spationaute III N80A696 as allegedly no longer available on 26th July.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233647319889

They re-listed it 10 minutes later, with an extended title. That re-listing was ended in a similar manner, as allegedly no longer available, a week ago, on 13th September.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233660978151

I somehow suspect that isn't the last we've seen of serial number 2 - 270. 

Checking my eBay watching page, I see another French eBay seller followed suit, this morning and ended their listing for a Yema Spationaute III 38mm 'reduced', the one fitted with an aftermarket bracelet, which had previously been over-priced @ 450 Euros and was subsequently reduced to 350 Euros, 3 weeks ago, as allegedly no longer available. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274472527904

This Yema N71X31 '7A28', in average well-worn condition, described as 'junk' was listed yesterday on Yahoo Japan as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 6000 Yen. Pity about the abrasion to the sides of the watch case. Presumably caused by the owner wearing bracelets. 

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/l621113058

Google translates the Japanese description as follows:

Thank you for visiting. 

Seiko 7A28 equipped French YEMA chronograph N71X31 Men's watch junk with a case size of about 38 mm. 

There are no scratches on the dial and windshield, but there are many scratches on the case and back cover. 

The small hand on the right makes one revolution per second and rotates like a propeller. 

The small hand at 9 o'clock does not move, so it will be a junk item. 

The belt is made in France, but it is equipped with an aftermarket product. 

It is currently working, but it is unknown when to replace the battery. 

Since it is a used item to the last, please give me a no claim no return.

This Yema Spationaute III Aragatz 'head only', in average worn condition was listed this afternoon, by a French eBay seller, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 250 Euros, with the option to make an offer. On the plus side, the crystal appears to have only light scratches, most of the bezel inlay paint is intact and the Yema pin and tube strap fixings are present. Unfortunately, the case-back is badly scuffed and scratched and much of the engraving has been obliterated. Studying the photos a second time, the 10 o'clock pusher looks like it's planning an escape.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184457397351

YEMA SPATIONAUTE III Vintage - Old Watch - 

Bon état général, verre légèrement rayé mais d’origine, jamais polie. 

Le chronographe fonctionne, la montre tourne ! 

Montre avec une belle histoire.

The French eBay seller had re-listed that Yema Spationaute III 'head only' a couple of times. The second 7-day re-listing was about halfway though, when it was sold late this morning, (according to eBay Purchase History) for an offer of 250 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184476069582

This morning I ran one of my all too infrequent worldwide eBay searches on 'Yema'. It didn't bring up much of interest, other than this badly titled listing for a Yema N8 Flygraf. It was listed a couple of days ago, by a French eBay seller, as a 5-day auction, with an opening bid price of 1 Euro. It’s fitted with a non-original generic stainless bracelet and currently a non-runner. That said, although a bit grubby, the watch head appears to be in generally good cosmetic condition, apart from the usual slipped tool graunches on the case-back.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363133079266

montre vintage yema 

Plus en état de marche apparement.

The above badly-titled 5-day French eBay auction for a Yema N8 Flygraf, fitted with a non-original generic stainless bracelet, ended a few moments ago, selling for 146.67 Euros after 23 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363133079266

Remiss of me not to have spotted it before, but there's an almost NOS condition Yema Spationaute III on Catawiki at the moment. It was listed a couple of days ago, by a Belgian seller, as a 5-day auction, with an opening bid price of 180 Euros, with a reserve set. The alleged expert's estimate is € 400 - € 500, which for once isn't unrealistic. These have sold for more in recent years. Bidding is currently @ 190 Euros, with 3 days of the auction to run and two dozen watchers including myself.

http://www.catawiki.com/l/41235737-yema-spationauteiii-men-1980-1989

Judging by the lacquered wood presentation box, photocopied instruction sheet and 2-prefix serial number, I'd strongly suspect that it's one of that basement cache of NOS examples sold by US eBay seller izeldor a few years back.

Indeed, if I'm not mistaken, the Belgian Catawiki seller is actually a member of this forum: johngo, who once owned two of these ex-izeldor Yema Spationaute III's. 

Hey everybody,

I can confirm I am the seller of the Yema Spationaute III.

I have too many watches and have to part with some.

Reserve price is set very realistically.

Best regards,

John

The Yema Spationaute III and N8 Flygraf models are obviously most popular with collectors. Indeed, I seem to have accumulated a surfeit of them myself. However the range of models produced by C.G.H. is very diverse and includes quite a few attractive dressy models. These haven't featured much in this thread recently.

Here's a Yema N81W53 that was listed on LeBonCoin earlier this week. It appears to be in fairly decent used condition, with minimal wear to the gold plating of the hinged lug boxes. The French seller is asking a not unreasonable 159 Euros.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/1859793282.htm/

The seller is offering domestic shipping by Colissimo (not international), but it never hurts to ask. Seems LeBonCoin have upped their game since I last looked in there and are now offering the option of secure (escrow) payment - at least on this item.

Remiss of me not to have spotted these before, particularly with '7A38' included in the listing title. This job lot pair of Yema N80P896 'Psuedo Plongeurs' was listed a couple of days ago, by a French eBay seller, as a 5-day auction, with an opening bid price of 160 Euros. There are still almost 3 days of the auction remaining. The white dialed version has a chronograph fault and the case-back of the black dialed version appears to have been skimmed.

http://ebay.co.uk/itm/293785373790

Montres Chronographes Yema Mouvement 7A38. État : "Occasion" . Vente en lot de deux Chronographes Yema diametres 39mm Entrecornes 20mm. Vente en lot de deux uniquement.

Le Noir, tbe, Pile Neuve, Bracelet Cuir Rallye Neuf. Fonctionne Parfaitement.

Le Blanc, be, Pile Neuve, Verre Neuf, Bracelet Cuir Rallye Neuf. Fonction Chrono ne démarre pas. Peut-être un réglage du mouvement. A voir. Le reste fonctionne Parfaitement. Emballage soigné. 

Deux Chronographes types Chronomat de chez Breitling. A saisir.