Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Ahem. Didn't somebody infer not too long ago that the 7A38-7110 was supposed to be one of the rarest JDM variants. 

Talk about 'London Bus Syndrome'.  Listed yesterday on Yahoo Japan .... a third example in the space of 5 months. 

http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h192278086

セイコー　スピードマスター　クロノグラフ　クォーツ 7A38-7110

Google translates the Japanese description (replete with all the usual caveats) as follows:

I think it is used, it is currently running, there are individual differences in belt but I think that it is up to about arm around 17cm, chronograph function will also be working, there is a scratch on the glass, crown and has been replaced, the goods please look well certainly photograph there are individual differences, or visit beforehand question always, those who will be willing to scratch, dirt, etc. do not bid our product because it is used and antique extent and therefore scratch will be used we do not guarantee the waterproof, sorry commodity because it is used and antique also, please, but I canceled thank you to those who can pay by next Friday after the end of the auction, if there is no payment by Friday, Please look at the self-introduction column person certainly bid, delivery method does not guarantee the goods compensation etc. absolutely or courier shipping cash on delivery of Yamato because it is written in the self-introduction column requirements of specific trade law is a non-standard-size mail, courier shipping Yamato Transport is http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/estimate/kanto.html here, in the usual case watch is 60 size, shipping of non-standard-size mail exactly I do not know the exact fee is not brought to the post office, but please click http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokunai/one_two.html here for reference, in the case of a normal wristwatch you have to be packed in a compact as much as possible is 140 yen to 205 yen, because it is used goods, but you would like delivery method other delivery method also, please for your understanding that the carriage might vary by size and weight who will correspond postage prepayment of Yamato, please consult beforehand from the question column.

I think I may need to modify what I wrote on the first page under 'Buyer's Guide and Specifications'. 

Rarity Factor: 5/5 - Extremely Hard To Find. Better make that: 4/5 - Was hard to find and appearing more frequently on Yahoo Japan.

The example above, with an opening bid price of 25,000 Yen has gone unsold and been re-listed for a second time (link is the same).

It's just been joined by another 7A38-7110 listed by a YJ store seller:

http://page15.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t393682843

稀少【セイコースピードマスター7A38-7110クロノグラフ国内】

Google translates the seller's description as follows:

[Product name] Seiko Speedmaster Chronograph 7A38-7110 SJS048

[Comment] It is the Speedmaster of 7A38 equipped was released in 1984.

I think those rare is often none is 7A38, but it's a watch comparatively rare among them.

[Size] About 40mm SS case with the outside diameter.

[Waterproof] life waterproof

[Drive] quartz chronograph

[Genuine breath around the arm] Approximately 18cm around the arm. 

[Accuracy and operation] confirmed, no problem.

[Accessories] None.

[Condition] There is a feeling on the whole, such as small scratches rasp scratches because the old model.

There are streaks and scratches on some glass.

☆ I have sent to the Yahoo auction as business antiquary.

Including the unused ones, exhibited commodity, all secondhand goods becomes. Please note the following. ☆

- It is within the tax. You do not need to burden consumption tax because it is included in the highest bid.

· Product is current sales. Waterproof is outside the scope of returned or security because we do not do waterproof inspection.

And waterproof notation of the legend does not guarantee the waterproof performance of the actual new ones at that time.

Commodity is selling out as soon as bid. It does not do the middle or end prompt decision.

Shipping is Kuroneko Yamato. Shipping is 1000 yen nationwide.

Payment only supports simple settlement (JNB, Yokohama) and bank transfer.

• If we do not do the answers from the Q & A form on the WEB on our side [question].

Please contact us on the specify the product name to e-mail address below to contact us.

[Returns] Is not possible to receive the return of the customer convenience with respect to.

If there is a problem or waterproof derived from other than the goods that arrived, there was a significant difference in the description of item

Please contact me within 3 days as a date following the delivery completion date of Yamato Transport on HP.

I will return the successful bid price, including shipping accept the returned goods in that case.

※ If you would older than the number of days specified, you will not be able to accept returned goods. Please note

Used Clock "Hayakawa" is responsible with respect to dealings

Please be assured we will respond.

Contact E-mail address: ttn5adk2at@mx2.ttcn.ne.jp

Website: http://tootoo.to/user/naohikohayakawa/

How could I have been missing these for the last 5 years ? 

Unbelievable.  There's now a third 7A38-7110 concurrently listed on Yahoo Japan !!  So much for the 'rarity factor'. 

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r118918678

セイコー スピードマスター クロノグラフ Cal.7A38 ジウジアーロ

There may only be one small YJ hosted image ....

But the seller has embedded plenty more (@ 800x600 pixels) in their description:

Google translates the Japanese description, replete with all the usual caveats, as follows:

Product Details

Is used goods. Accessory is not only in the body.

It is the Speedmaster 7A38-7110 of early 1984 made​​.

Day of the week because it is Chinese characters, is the elegance of domestic sales.

We replace the battery. I do not do the OH, but you are operating normally.

Stopwatch we also work, and the movement of the reset button is bad.

It does not work that it is not strongly pushed the reset button located on the 4 o'clock position.

Because I think that it heal adjustment, thank you towards the successful bidder's.

I think that it can be seen in the image, but the wound is often on the glass.

Please judge good seeing the image for more state.

Thank you very much in a no claim.

Please ask the point to be worried about.

Payment details

Payment is Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and Japan Net Bank.

Please give me the transfer commission successful bidder burden.

Shipping Details

I am planning a non-standard-size mail or courier COD of Yamato Transport.

Notes

For more information, please judge the image. There may be omissions and oversights of us.

If there is a point to be worried about, and that an unknown, please ask before bidding.

I will answer understand range here.

You may not be able to reply to the question of the auction last day.

I am sorry, but I need your help by a no claim no return.

Consent, please tender enough.

However, if only to be materially different from description, I will cope with it responsibly.

Recently, bids from pretty bad people of the evaluation has been increasing.

Because we want to avoid trouble, the tender of such will be deleted at the discretion of me.

Please be forewarned.

That all said, it probably just needs a good clean and a new crystal and might well turn out to be a reasonably priced 7A38-7110 ....

The YJ auction for that third 7A38-7110 listed this month ended about 2:30pm (UK time) today. I wasn't watching it, obviously. 

It sold for 11,600 Yen (equivalent to approx. $106 USD / £65 GBP) after 37 bids by 8 different bidders.

http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r118918678

The other two have both since been relisted at the same prices (16,000 and 25,000 Yen). Their YJ item numbers remain the same.

Remiss of me not to have checked before. 

The 7A38-7110 listed by the YJ store seller naohikohayakawa (the one with a penchant for green floral backgrounds) sold against that most recent re-listing, for the opening bid price of 16,000 Yen on 28th September:

http://page15.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t393682843

The other 7A38-7110 YJ auction (at the top of this page) with an opening bid price of 25,000 Yen also ended on 28th September and went unsold once again: http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h192278086  Best I can tell, it hasn't been re-listed since (yet).

I hadn't bothered commenting on it recently, but the 7A38-7110 which was first listed on Yahoo Japan at the beginning of September (see top of this page), with a 25,000 Yen opening bid price, was subsequently re-listed (using the same YJ item number h192278086) and has since been re-listed over and over again on an almost weekly basis. I just got used to seeing it in the search results.

This morning I ran a quick search on YJ and had to do a double take - it had been joined by yet another 7A38-7110 ! 

Except this one more rightfully deserves a mention in the Craziest Prices thread ! 

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n142806460

セイコー 7A38 カレンダー付きクォーツクロノ/ジウジアーロ VFA

Google translates the would-be seller's Japanese description as follows:

This is a USED goods, but it is beautiful. Breath for exhibition is also cleaned because it is clean. Breath is about 19 centimeters. Genuine case of SEIKO SPORTS also included. British forces in equipped with adopted Suwa Seikosha made 7A-based movement also is made in 1984. Big button easy to press, even though the gloves is 7A38-7110 Features. I need your help by you in NC / NR that it was looking for this model. It is a rare watch than the original recently reprinted model of left-right asymmetry.

I'll translate the kibō-teki 158,000 Yen opening bid price for you .... It's equivalent to approx $1361 USD or £871 GBP !! 

Having re-listed his 7A38-7110 a couple of times with the same ludicrous 'pie-in-the-sky' opening bid price of 158,000 Yen ....

Yahoo Japan seller iridium8816 seems to have come to his senses. Yesterday he re-listed it as a low start no reserve auction:

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n142806460

I really like the smaller than usual sub-seconds dial, the watch reminds me of a Japanese cartoon character.  

That Yahoo Japan re-listing (as an auction) by seller iridium8816 ended at lunchtime today. I wasn't watching it (apart from being otherwise occupied, I'd mis-calculated the time difference), but looking at the discrepancy in finishing times: 21:53 versus 22:03, it looks like it was extended slightly - by 10 minutes, due to late bids placed.

http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n142806460

It sold for 34,500 Yen - equivalent to approx. $290.50 USD / £185 GBP after 35 bids by 14 different bidders.

Strangely, the other example, apparently in similar condition, which I documented at the top of this page, that was first listed by seller y_koji2002 at beginning of September with an opening bid price of 25,000 Yen remains unsold and has been re-listed once again:

http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h192278086

Ahem. Didn't somebody infer not too long ago that the 7A38-7110 was supposed to be one of the rarest JDM variants. 

When I started this thread, did I give the impression that the 7A38-7110 was a rare JDM variant ? 

Well they might not appear on eBay very often - like once every 5 years, but they're cropping up on Yahoo Japan with increasing regularity of late. Here's yet another example, listed earlier today by a YJ store seller (Hint: scroll down past all the advertising crap).

http://page24.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q53517788

◇ジャンク【セイコー】スピードマスタークロノグラフ 7A38-7110

Presumably categorized as 'Junk' (Grade D) due to the scratched crystal and flat battery - this example looks eminently rescuable.

That 3-day Yahoo Japan listing for a 'Junk' 7A38-7110 ended yesterday around 2:30pm while most of us (in the UK, at least) were still digesting our Christmas turkey. Going by the discrepancy in finishing time, it appears that the auction was extended by 5 minutes.

http://page24.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q53517788

It was bid to 15,100 Yen - plus 8% Japan Sales Tax, thus selling for 16,308 Yen (equivalent to approx. $135.50 USD / £87 GBP).

Talk about 'London Bus Syndrome'.  Here's yet another apparently not-so-rare 7A38-7110 listed on Yahoo Japan earlier today.

http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e156150461

☆セイコー スピードマスター 7A38-7110 電池交換済 作動OK☆

From the additional larger photos embedded in the body of the listing .....

.... and the Japanese seller's typically cautious description ....

This is clearly a very nice example in almost mint condition. However, like many watches coming out of the Far East, the bracelet has been re-sized (to fit a much smaller wrist). This one is woefully short of bracelet adjustment links. The seller states the wrist size is 'about 16cm'. That's a little over 6¼ inches. 

Bidding on that Yahoo Japan auction for the very tidy JDM 7A38-7110 (but with short bracelet) ended a couple of minutes ago.

Best I can tell, the finishing time was automatically extended at least twice, due to late bids placed.

http://page5.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e156150461

That's how it ended - sold for 38,600 Yen (approx. $322 USD / £211.50 GBP) after 13 bids placed by 4 different bidders

You've got to laugh (or wince) at some of the ludicrous prices asked by would-be profiteering re-sellers. 

Here's the exact same 7A38-7110, serial number 499024, in nice condition, but with a very short bracelet, which sold on Yahoo Japan on 5th January for 38,600 Yen (equivalent to approx. $322) now offered on eBay by the Indonesian seller fhipe for $1100 USD ! 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361193848845

Seiko 7A38 - 7110 "Made in Japan"

Very Rare JDM Release! 

Pre-owned watch in is working condition. All pushers and chronograph buttons are functioning normal.

Seiko Sports Box included. Wrist bracelet fits fairly small, measure approx 15.5 - 16 cm. 

This is not a brand new watch, so there are a few scratches around the watch cosmetic. 

Other specific features haven't been tested. 

Please note : Pictures were taken from actual item you are bidding on. Please check them "carefully" for its condition.

Checking my eBay watching page, I noticed that the risible 30-day Buy-it-Now listing by would-be profiteering Indonesian eBay re-seller fhipe had been ended early - yesterday lunchtime, because there was 'an error' in the listing. I wonder what that might have been. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361193848845

He re-listed it almost immediately as an auction, but with a ridiculous opening bid price of $625 - still $300 more than he paid for it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221691414665

Meanwhile, earlier today, this rather well worn looking 7A38-7110 fitted with a non-original bracelet was listed on Yahoo Japan.

http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u74837700 

希少☆セイコー　スピードマスター　クロノグラフ　7A38-7110☆ 

Google translates the Japanese description as follows:

Thanks for choosing is now seeing. The following description, please read the self-introduction.

[Product Description]

Seiko watches 7A38-7110

Size side about 3.9cm (including crown) Arms around about 17cm. 

During Quartz operation 

Band outside

No accessories 

Rare model. 

Nervous one please bid withhold because it is used. 

Please confirm the state with a photograph, such as scratches dirt.

[Notes] 

◆ Sorry, but tender of new please refrain please. Bid, you cancel it even if I have a successful bid.

Also, please note that there is a case to cancel even those who have more than one bad evaluation.

◆ Although the exhibit we have taken the real thing,

There are times when a little different shades depending on the environment that you see here.

◆ Use your shipping boxes and bags, there is a thing where I am allowed to use the things of reuse.

◆ products for home storage, there is the case that there is a damage of oversight.

Your understanding, thank you for your tender that had you consented.

◆ regard trouble after shipping, it can not assume the responsibility therefore please acknowledge.

◆ no claim, no return, please.

Incidentally, the other 7A38-7110 from the top of the page, which has gone unsold since last September, has also just been re-listed.

Would-be profiteering Indonesian eBay re-seller fhipe's most recent listing for his ex-Yahoo Japan 7A38-7110 ended half an hour ago. Needless to say, at the still well over-inflated opening bid price of $565, there were no takers. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221696093818

Strike 3 !! 

It's back once again this morning; re-listed - opening bid price now reduced to 'only' $475 - compared to the $322 he paid for it. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361226740669

The saying goes: If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361226740669

Or just think of a number - shades of Mad Martina perhaps ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361231289158

Belated Edit: That was obviously a slip of the keyboard finger.  Yeah right. 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=361231289158

Listing subsequently revised around lunchtime today - opening bid now down to 'only' $465. Keep going .... 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361231289158

In his latest re-listing for the ex-Yahoo Japan 7A38-7110, would-be profiteering Indonesian eBay re-seller fhipe has further reduced the opening bid price again to 'only' $425. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361241431054

Only another $100 Bucks to go and he'll be down to the price he paid for it.