Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at October 16, 2015 at 5:02 AM

Seiko7A38 at October 7, 2015 at 5:47 AM

I was just going back through my eBay watching page, clearing out a few more ended listings (I'd reached the maximum 200 again). 

Noticed this still grossly overpriced 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III had ended unsold back in August - but hadn't been re-listed.

It was listed on eBay in April 2014 with a ludicrous Buy-it-Now price of 1499 Euros; soon reduced to 949 Euros and later to 749 Euros, then re-listed ad nauseam until August 2015.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231648101295

The original set of posts on this forum were on page 9 of this thread, but the long running saga goes back much further - to 2009.

I'm sure this won't be the last we've seen of it, because it's still on their website:

http://www.montre-luxe-occasion.com/vente/montre-yema-spationaute-iii/

 

As I predicted - it's back on eBay again - now well into it's 6th year of re-listing. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231721831553

So, finally after some 6 years (to the best of my memory*) and umpteen re-listings (previously using ID 1placevendome), yesterday evening French eBay seller montre-luxe-occasion re-listed that 38mm reduced Yema Spationaute III N80A696 as a 7-day low start no reserve auction.

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

You can page back though the thread to find a few earlier references to it, but here's the original 1PlaceVendome website listing:

http://www.1placevendome.com/produit_spationaute_iii.html (same set of photos and case-back serial # 2 270).

* It took me a while to find it again, but here's the post I made on the RLT forum in May 2010 referring to this same watch:

Now, if I do remember correctly, THAT particular Spationaute III was one of the rarer white faced versions. 

The seller '1PlaceVendome' soon turned up another example, which first appeared on eBay in November last year ....

Which has been re-listed, and re-listed and relisted, ever since, at 750 Euros .... ad nauseum. ('Last year' then being 2009). 

It'll be interesting to see what it makes this time around. 

The eBay auction for that 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III ended a few moments ago, finally after six years, selling for 301 Euros (approx £217) after 22 bids - a fraction of some of the stupid Buy-it-Now prices that have been asked for it in the past.

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

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

Meanwhile over on LeBonCoin, where once upon a time it was possible to pick up the odd bargain, now and then, gross speculative over-pricing continues unabated. This Yema N8 Flygraf was listed on there earlier in the week, but I'd omitted to write it up before.

No surprise, like the one I mentioned on the previous page, with a slighly higher 'pie-in-the-sky' price tag, it's still unsold. 

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/891715880.htm?ca=1_s

Yema Flygraf

Athough conveniently not mentioned by the would-be seller in their description, this one is fitted with a non-original replacement crown, which presumably doesn't screw down like the original - hence why it sticks out like a sore thumb. 

This decent-looking used example of a Yema N8 Flygraf was listed on eBay on Sunday evening by a UK seller. I'd run my worldwide eBay search on Yema about half an hour earlier, but it was picked up by one of my eBay saved favourite searches the following day.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221960490624

YEMA Flygraf

Vintage mans watch with Mercedes hands

Made in France, shark skin strap

Full working order.

This watch is in great condition for it's age, it has slight scuffs on glass,

but please look at all photos and judge for yourself.

I can only estimate overseas postage,

so please don't pay until I know where it's going, then I will correct.

Or ask for postage details to your country. 

Postage will have to be signed for, so it may cost a little more.

An estimated cost to France is £15.00 tracked and signed for.

I had to chuckle to myself that the seller had tagged it as Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding) in the Item Specifics section. 

But what really intrigued me was the strap that was fitted. A 'double jonc' ribbed black shark strap - pretty obviously original Yema.

I've seen a few of this style strap (in navy blue) fitted to Spationaute III's in the past, but never on a N8 Flygraf before ....

So naturally it piqued my interest.  But I kept reciting my mantra: I really didn't need another Yema N8 Flygraf

By about 6pm yesterday evening, bidding was still well under £100 (@ £79, IIRC), so I reluctantly decided to have a punt at it.

A couple of other snipers had a pop at it, but still sold for a very reasonable £115.13 after 15 bids - to me. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221960490624

Here's a couple of Yema N8's that were listed on LeBonCoin earlier this week - all typically over-priced to varying extents. 

The first two advertisements have slightly odd non-descript titles. 

A Yema Spationaute III - from the single photo looks to be in reasonably decent condition:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/895585492.htm?ca=1_s

Montres diverses

Next up, a ludicrously priced black dialed N80P896 Pseudo Plongeur.

Looking closely at the second photo, you can see that although fitted with a new-ish leather strap the bezel looks quite battered.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/895914381.htm?ca=1_s

Montre de collection

Worse still is this grotty N8 Flygraf (mis-spelt) on a NATO:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/867066060.htm?ca=1_s

Rare montre yema flygraph chrono/rattrapante

.... and if the photos don't look familiar, it's the same one ....

Seiko7A38 at November 7, 2015 at 6:07 AM

The French eBay auction for that poor condition Yema N8 Flygraf, which was listed at the end of October, ended yesterday evening, selling for 58 Euros after 17 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272028758364

.... As documented on the previous page - same photos; Flygraf similarly mis-spelt and sold for 58 Euros on eBay last month. 

Fortunately the Japanese attach more realistic values to these things. 

Sometimes sellers will go to the other extreme and describe a half-decent looking watch as Junk !

This 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III model N80A696 was listed on Yahoo Japan auctions earlier today:

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w132356099

Google translates the seller's Japanese description (badly) as follows:

YEMA Yema Chrono Speedmaster rare rare SEIKO 7A38 

It is the same feeling like a seiko 7A38.

Clock at the time of shooting, has been running but I do not know when or battery expires.

In addition, chronograph Ugokima is not truly reset hear.

We are sorry, but it is fortunate if you can acknowledge.

Beauty products, who are looking for completion goods thank you like you please refrain from the tender.

Also, junk treatment. Attaching no claim, we hope in a no return.

In addition, it is shipping, but is sending out only outside the fixed form (300 yen).

Seiko7A38 at November 19, 2015 at 6:05 AM

Seiko7A38 at September 24, 2015 at 5:37 AM

Another white dialed N80P896 'Pseudo Plongeur' was listed on LeBonCoin yesterday afternoon.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/858685874.htm?ca=1_s

Montre chrono yema

That Yema N80P896 Pseudo Plongeur was re-listed on LeBonCoin yesterday evening - with a different title and description ....

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/884887316.htm?ca=1_s

Montre yema double quantième

(but still using the same 2 photos from the previous listing):

One can only assume that the price hike from 70 to 85 Euros means the would-be seller has had the battery replaced. 

.... and re-listed 'encore une fois' late yesterday evening:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/897151698.htm?ca=1_s

Yema chrono double quantième

Two different photos this time - and the price reduced to 80 Euros. Perhaps that battery wasn't so expensive after all. 

This is more of a potential scam alert, than a 'heads up' to any would-be purchaser. 

Purely by chance, yesterday evening, I spotted this eBay listing for a Yema N71X33 (7A28) by a zero-feedback Polish seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272071382165

Google translates the Polish seller's fanciful description as follows:

The watch is an attribute of every human success. It is also a great addition for an elegant man. Yema watch brand is a way for it to fill up your wardrobe eloquent trifle. A classic, very refined surprise its owner practicality and original design. Hello. Sell ​​Old watch Yema Paris N7s in b.dobrym. The watch comes with his own family collection was purchased in Rome and is our original and efficient, dekielekposiada features (3 photo). more informacjiudzielę by phone or e-mail can fast shipping by courier or mail.

If the opening bid price of 900 Polish Zlotys (equivalent to £150 GB / $228 US) wasn't enough to deter all but the most foolhardy ....

I was intrigued that the photos were water-marked with OLX (eBay's direct competitor in some geographies).

So I went looking for the original listing on OLX.pl. Not too difficult to find ....

http://olx.pl/oferta/zegarek-vintage-yema-paris-n7s-CID87-IDaJzIF.html

There, I'd expected to find it listed for a lower price - but to the contrary, on OLX the asking price was 1500 Zlotys ! 

According to the last part of the somewhat briefer OLX description: Price not negotiable. watch worth about 3500zł 

Whereas the same 4 photos in the eBay listing appear further down the body of the listing, the primary image isn't of the same watch.

It's Mark Mills (Bartleby) photo of his NOS example 'borrowed' from this thread on SCWF.

http://www.thewatchsite.com/21-japanese-watch-discussion-forum/19404-french-connection-yema-n7-7a28-1-a.html

Seiko7A38 at December 13, 2015 at 11:50 AM

Fortunately the Japanese attach more realistic values to these things. 

Sometimes sellers will go to the other extreme and describe a half-decent looking watch as Junk !

This 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III model N80A696 was listed on Yahoo Japan auctions earlier today:

That Yahoo Japan auction listing for the 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III model N80A696 ended about 20 minutes ago.

It certainly got the 'junk treatment' (requested by the seller, in their description) selling for a mere 5100 Yen after only 2 bids. 

That's equivalent to just $42 USD / £28.30 GBP. Probably got to be one of the best 'bargain buy' Yema N8's of 2015. 

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w132356099

I was asleep in bed when I was out-bid. 

Spotted this 38mm 'reduced' Yema Spationaute III model N80A66 listed by one of the Indonesian blogspot sellers a few days ago.

http://www.maximuswatches.com/2015/12/yema-spationaute-iii-chronograph-quartz.html 

YEMA SPATIONAUTE III CHRONOGRAPH - QUARTZ

The photos on the blog page are quite small, but when you right-click and save them, they download as a reasonable 1024x768.

Presumably the seller's full name is Maximus Adhimulja Kodrata. 

The groove-cut screw-down? crown is obviously a replacement (an unidentified type that I've seen used a few times before). The constant seconds hand is a replacement, too - and I'd suspect that the hour and minute hands have been re-lumed (compare their brilliant white to the distinctly yellowed lume pip of the sweep second hand). A couple of the hour markers: 7, 8 and 10 look manky. The watch case looks just a bit too shiny to me, which indicates it's probably been re-finished (the case-back looks very well worn).

That all said, the asking price is a not unreasonable 990,000 Indonesian Rupiah, which equates to only $71.60 USD / £48.50 GBP.

I didn't get round to running all my usual eBay searches at the weekend, so here's a couple of late spots ....

For anybody who might possibly be interested - both auction listings now have a little over one day left to run.

Firstly a rather well worn Kamatz model 507000 - that's the small diameter boys / ladies version, listed by a Romanian seller:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121858291646

HELLO. FOR SALE THIS RARE KAMATZ CHRONOGRAPH 15 JEWELS,FRANCE MADE, PRODUCED WITH MOVEMENT SHIMAUCHI LTD ,15 JEWELS, USED FOR SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH JAPAN MADE, ALL STAINLESS STEEL, ALL ORIGINAL 100%, GOOD CONDITION , EXCELLENT WORKING. THANKS.

The other one listed by a US eBay seller is in all likelihood a Yema N80P896 Pseudo Plongeur ....

And a pretty good example of how not to list a watch on eBay. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161935737401

The seller's description merely states:

IN GOOD SHAPE ******DATE STAMP ON CAMERA NOT WORKING PHOTO TAKEN 1/2/16******

That said, it's been bid to $112.50, mostly by one enthusiastic bidder, which with the additional GSP program charges, already makes it an uneconomic buy for anyone outside the US. 

This Yema N8 Flygraf (misspelt Flygraph), fitted with a non-original stainless bracelet, was listed on LeBonCoin yesterday afternoon:

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/907467109.htm?ca=1_s

Montre Chronographe pilote Flygraph Original Yéma

The seller hasn't stated any price, but is soliciting reasonable offers.

Note the lume missing from the minute hand, more clearly visible in the second photo.

Seiko7A38 at January 8, 2016 at 4:55 AM

The other one listed by a US eBay seller is in all likelihood a Yema N80P896 Pseudo Plongeur ....

And a pretty good example of how not to list a watch on eBay. 

That said, it's been bid to $112.50, mostly by one enthusiastic bidder, which with the additional GSP program charges, already makes it an uneconomic buy for anyone outside the US. 

That diabolically poor US eBay auction listing for the Yema N80P896 ended a few moments ago. Thanks to the dogged determination of that same bidder, it ended up at an astonishing $278 (approx. £191.22) after 16 bids.  The mind truly boggles. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161935737401

This Yema N7 (7A28 equivalent), a seldom seen model N71X32 variant, was listed on LeBonCoin yesterday afternoon. Asking price is only 50 Euros, but whereas the seller claims it's in perfect working order, it can't be - because it's missing a sweep second hand.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/montres_bijoux/907933172.htm?ca=1_s

Montre homme YEMA

Seiko7A38 at December 10, 2013 at 1:47 PM

It's been noticeable that Yema Spationaute III's (be they NOS or used examples) with the yellow(ed) lume markers are less popular. 

Watchfactory.com / Izeldor's most recent listing on eBay ended yesterday evening, selling for $227.50 (approx. £138.83) after 2 bids:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190993077798

Seems the same holds true two years on.  Their most recent listing for one such NOS Yema Spationaute III, with an opening price of $250 (as opposed to $225), which ended yesterday evening around 8:30pm (UK time), failed to attract any bids and went unsold.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191774140851

Athough some would-be French sellers (both on eBay France and LeBonCoin) continue to stubbornly re-list their Yema Spationaute III's and N8 Flygrafs at ridiculous 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now asking prices of 500, 600 Euros and more .... It's still worth watching out for the occasional sensibly priced offering. I couldn't fail to spot this Yema Spationaute III (which includes both 'Aragatz' and the model number N80P76 in the title) that was listed earlier this week by a French seller, with an opening bid price of 45 Euros. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172062498582

MONTRE YEMA SPATIONAUTE 3 ARAGATZ CCP FRANCE N8OP76.

LE BRACELET EST UN PEU ABIME VOIR PHOTO.  LA MONTRE EST EN BON ETAT.

The strap fitted may well possibly be the original Yema navy shark strap. Cosmetically, from the front, at least, the watch appears to be in nice well-cared for condition, with a virtually unmarked bezel and crystal and nice clean dial and hands. Unfortunately this once pristine example is marred; the case-back has been badly butchered by some ham fisted oaf. The deep scratches inflicted in their efforts to unscrew the case-back extend onto the watch case. 

Seiko7A38 at October 3, 2015 at 9:59 AM

Another poorly titled (and badly photographed) listing for a dressy Yema N8 offered through the GSP programme by a US eBay seller. This time it's a N81W53, but once again the additional charges for potential European buyers push the price well out of sensible economic range.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181889457421

Yema Paris Man's Quartz watch model # N81W53. Like new condition, new battery, new band, looks and runs great.

That dressy Yema N81W53 which had been re-listed a good few times since October last year (and previously since March 2015, with a different set of photos - ironically, by the same eBay seller, then with the model number in the listing title) finally sold this evening:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181984608994

All three bids were placed by the same winning bidder, who seemed particularly keen to get his hands on it - after all this time.