Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Speaking of botched-up ex-Filipino 7Axx Franken watches being re-listed for optimistic prices by would-be profiteering re-sellers ....

as we were at the bottom of the previous page. One of the worst offenders is the Yahoo Japan seller who goes by the ID of swotlab.

Seiko7A38 at February 14, 2014 at 8:39 AM

And yet another thread - a category for watches that aren't exactly blatant Frankens .... just not quite as they should be.

The first, not a complete surprise to me really, from one of the regular offenders - 'Badingski', a.k.a. Ramoncito Bangit. 

Perhaps I need to create another more specifically titled topic in this section: Heads up on another blatant 7A28 Franken ....

Because this latest offering from Filipino arch-watch-botcher Ramoncito Bangit Badingski is just exactly that. No half measures here. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121275155387

As usual the word 'ORIGINAL' is bandied all over the place. What you have to remember when looking at Badingski's botched-up 7Axx listings is that it doesn't necessarily mean original to this watch. The dial of course is out of a common-or-garden gold-tone 7A28-7029.

The 'Pepsi' bezel insert (conveniently not mentioned in the description) is the typical aftermarket repro' 6139-6002 item.

The non-original bracelet fitted appears to be one of the better quality FEIKO offerings that are cropping up lately.

That piece of junk masquerading as a 7A28-7030 sold for $112.50 on 21st February:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121275155387

Here it is now offered by swotlab on Yahoo Japan at the inflated opening bid price of 23,000 Yen or 26,000 Yen for Buy-it-Now. 

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k175072059

80's セイコー 7A28 クロノ/スピードマスタ ジウジアーロ

Knowing how particular Japanese collectors are, it makes me wonder how he gets away with trying to (re)sell crap like this. 

Seiko7A38 at January 31, 2014 at 5:30 AM

Apart from the ridiculously over-optimistic pricing and the fact that these two two-tone 7A38's are anything but rare ....

Can anybody else spot this watch-botching US eBay seller's not quite so deliberate mistake(s) ? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181313930721

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171231787902

I'd noticed that these two mixed-up 7A38's had both been re-listed at the same inflated prices, as Buy-it-Nows for another 30 days:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171256362076 and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181338790908 (20 days plus still left to run on both listings).

But then last night this apparently less-than-savvy seller re-listed them both again - for 7 days - but as auction listings. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171265749900 and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181347933867

The opening bid price on the 7A38-7190 (fitted -7280 caseback) is $149.99 and the 7A38-7280 (with -7190 case-back) is $159.99.

Those sort of prices might just tempt somebody into going for them (at the opening bid price).

It would be a pity if two different buyers were both to end up with watches fitted with wrong case-backs, because of his incompetence.

So I thought perhaps I ought  to send the seller a cheeky message pointing out his pretty basic cock-up(s). Better make that plural. 

PHK at January 31, 2014 at 9:51 AM

Looks to me like the case backs are switched.

Let's see......, 1watcher, and "Doesn't post to United Kingdom" Hmmmm. 

PK, "the greasy finger screen-wiping brigade."

But because this tw*t is inadvertently blocking bids from outside USA (or at least UK bidders), I can't even send him a message ! 

Anybody Stateside like to do the dirty deed ? 

That's my cue. I'm on it.

Message sent.

Dear Sir: Seiko 7A38-7190 is fitted with -7280 case back and the 7A38-7280 is fitted with -7190 case back. You have the casebacks reversed. For the prices being asked you could at least have the correct watch nomenclature. Then you will have to change the auction heading to reflect the changes.

Sincerely, Seiko 7A38 watch enthusiast.

Now watch, I'll be on their " banned no bid" list. (Won't be the first time!) 

PK. 

I just advised the seller to switch the case backs--- 

And a pleasant response;

Dear 656phk,

good morning, how are you. thank you so much, i really appreciate your info. thank you.

- sdcarbal.watch.repair.

Let's see what happens. 

PK 

Same here--> Dear hairspring,

good morning, how are you. thank you so much, i really appreciate your info. thank you.

Looks like the seller has since amended titles and descriptions on all 4 listings, but not thought to replace the erroneous photos. 

Buy-it-Now for the (corrected) 7A38-7190 listing has also been reduced from $300 to $200 and the 7A38-7280 from $325  to $225.

I guess that's a step in the right direction. Let's just hope he has actually physically swapped the case-backs. 

Thanks for your help, Guys. 

Post script: Looks like someone got an itchy trigger finger last night, and bought the 7A38-7280 against the Buy-it-Now listing for $225.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181338790908

.... Instead of waiting for the 7-day auction listing @ $159.99 to end. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181347933867

Seiko7A38 at March 22, 2012 at 6:56 PM

And yet another thread - a category for watches that aren't exactly blatant Frankens .... just not quite as they should be.

The first, not a complete surprise to me really, from one of the regular offenders - 'Badingski', a.k.a. Ramoncito Bangit. 

With hindsight, he's provided so much material, I probably could have made this a dedicated Badingski 'Wrong Un's thread. 

I've already posted this in the 7A38-7050 model specific thread earlier today, but it won't hurt to copy and paste it here:

A 7A38-7050 was listed on eBay overnight by Filipino arch-watch-botcher Ramoncito Bangit a.k.a. eBay seller Badingski.

At first glance it might look better than some of his other offerings, but true to form, it is not all original despite his claims.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201051705508

Check out the incorrect hour and minute hands he's fitted - compare them with previous examples in this thread.

Because of the mis-match, one must assume the lume in the original hands was as badly degraded as the dial batons. 

Not only is Badingski a more than occasional stranger to the truth, seems he's also a master of understatement. 

Note his: CASE BACK : Original,STAINLESS STEEL BACKCASE signed SEIKO LOGO #, SLIGHTLY POLISHED,

More like skimmed to within an inch of its life.

Apologies for being unable to post a picture (posting via mobile site), but I feel compelled to ask... is this a real 7A28-7010?

It looks nothing - NOTHING - like examples on this forum, so I'm guessing it's either super-special or totally fake... 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390796031250

Well it was one once, Mark ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390796031250

You simply need to read the seller's description:

It's your typical Filipino botched watch fodder. But unlike Badingski, clm1002 is generally pretty forthright in his descriptions.

By Filipino standards it's not so bad. Sometimes the watch cases are buffed to a mirror finish. But the case-back is a mess.

What makes that one look particularly different is the dual finish aftermarket replacement stainless bracelet that's been fitted.

Had the seller not disclosed it, I would (time permitting) have flagged it up in this other much frequented thread in this section:

http://www.seiko7a38.com/apps/forums/topics/show/7488840 Yet another 7Axx on an undisclosed non-original bracelet

Take some time out to page through it. I think you may even find a couple of similar 7A28-7010's and 7A28-701A's in there. 

PS - with large wrists like yours, I'd be very wary of buying any 7Axx from the Philippines. Many have very short bracelets. 

It was the dial that got me - the Chronograph font is totally different and somehow the spacing just doesn't look right. Maybe I'd spent too much time reading the thread elsewhere describing the design of a new dial... anyway, it looked weird to my (admittedly untrained) eye. Won't be touching it with a bargepole, small bracelet or not!

No, that small block capital CHRONOGRAPH font (with QUARTZ printed underneath it) is perfectly correct for this model, Mark.

The 7A28-7010 (and its black dialed 7A28-701A sibling) are both JDM models (Japanese Domestic Market) - and JDM only.

Almost without exception, all JDM models have this instead of the usual italic Chronograph script you're familiar with.

Also their dials are usually devoid of the SPORTS 100 logo (where applicable). See this recent question in another thread.

Where it may get a little confusing for newbies is when there exist both normal export and JDM versions of the same watch ....

For example the 7A28-700x Aliens (in both case finishes) - so you'll encounter both versions of the dial, sometimes mis-matched between incorrect case and bracelets too (the JDM versions frequently come with a distinguishing SPEEDMASTER  logo'd clasp).

As indeed this 7A28-7010 would have, had it still been on the original bracelet. Probably why clm1002 didn't include a photo of his. 

Spotted this hideous 7Axx Franken posing as a 7A48-7010 listed on Yahoo Japan by a store seller zzzpakupakuzzz this morning.

http://page14.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s370614380

▲1円 セイコー クロノ ムーン 7A48-7010 腕時計 CF212

Whereas the dial and well-polished case-back are from the original 7A48-7010, that's about all that's left of it now.

The watch case is a 7A38-7060 - possibly a two-tone that has been polished to death, as is the Tachymeter ring fitted.

The bracelet is some aftermarket two-tone jubilee bracelet that's been fitted using the original Seiko bracelet end pieces.

Although the 7A48-7010 is no oil painting, this is what it should look like:

Not the same watch as on the previous page, but another 7A38-7180 fitted with incorrect replacement hands, listed by US eBay seller pmounce (a.k.a. Mike Mounce who usually offers his cast-offs on the SCWF trading post). No mention of the hands in his description.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380870014087

Selling a great running, black dialed Seiko 7a38-7180 quartz chrono with day/date.

The 7a38 ,15 jewel quartz movement is running great. 

All functions working correctly, but service history is unknown.

The watch has blemishes and the black finish has wear and is missing in places, mainly on the bracelet.

The watch comes on it's original Seiko SQ bracelet.

As before he's an old library shot of mine, to show what the correct gold-coloured hands look like.

Another horrendous mess, purporting to be a 'Collectable' Seiko 7A38, from one of the worst of the Filipino watch-botchers .....

restoredwatches (a.k.a jfm_watches or nippontime, depending on the direction of the wind, flavour of the month):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310937836792

Although the seller describes it as a 7A38-7060, the watch appears to be possibly wearing the case-back off a two-tone 7A38-7069.

Apart from the wrong case-back, 'Feiko' aftermarket bracelet; bezel gold plating polished off, etc., etc ....

I suspect this watch started life as a two-tone 7A38-7190 before being 'restored'. Something looking rather more like this:

There are a few devious UK-based eBay watch botchers who aren't averse to 'pulling the wool' over the eyes of potential buyers. 

I'd noticed this 7A38-7180 listed by nuffsaid-2011 a couple of days ago, but I've been too busy (at work) to have time to flag it up.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121415641976

In good used working condition with some light usage wear but nothing major as shown. The crystal is in good condition with only one very light scratch which is too fine to see in pics. I dont think that the strap is original because it marked SPEIDEL but looks the part and is in good clean condition. If you are unsure or need to know more please ask questions before you bid. If you live outside the UK please contact me for postage cost before you bid. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AND HAPPY BIDDING.

Apart from the bleedin' obvious Speidel replacement bracelet fitted, there's something else the seller has conveniently forgotten to mention. That's the Tachymeter dial ring: it's got white, instead of gold lettering. See the photo of my 7A38-7180 higher up the page.

Now why anyone would take the trouble to swap a dial ring (out of a potentially more desirable stainless 7A38-7270 or a black chrome 7A38-7290) into a dog-eared 7A38-7180 Is beyond me. So, I'd hazard a guess that this is in truth a 'cobble together' of a 7A38-7180, 7A38-7290 and that ugly Speidel band. Note also that this is one of those private listing - bidders' identities protected auctions - another good reason to avoid this one like the plague. 

Funnily enough there's another 'head only' 7A38-7180 listed on eBay UK at the moment: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201153238547

- which is missing its Tachymeter dial ring.