Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at March 9, 2019 at 6:05 AM

This JDM 7A38-7110 in average condition (with a typically scratched domed crystal) was listed on Yahoo Japan, a couple of days ago, as a 7-day auction, by a 'Store' seller. The opening bid was 14,000 Yen (plus 8% Japanese Sales Tax), making the 15,120 Yen shown in the summary. I had to chop the listing about a little, to remove the superfluous sidebar adverts. 

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/l511409791

(Partial quote carried over from the bottom of the previous page.)

The above 7-day Yahoo Japan auction, for a 7A38-7110 in average worn condition, by a 'Store' seller ended a few moments ago. Bidding had been slack for most of the week. Last time I looked at it this morning, it was still @ 20,000 Yen (+ tax) after 6 bids. The auction finishing time was automatically exended 15 minutes, due to several late placed bids. It finally sold for ¥40,500 Yen + 8% Japanese Sales Tax, making ¥43,740 Yen after 16 bids. That's equivalent to approx. £296 GBP / $392 USD. As is often the case, from the comparatively high feedback number of the encrypted winning bidder ID, I suspect purchased by an international buyer.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/l511409791

Another JDM 7A38-7110, which appears to be in a similar condition to the one sold a week ago, was listed on Yahoo Japan, earlier today by another 'Store' seller, as a 5-day auction with an opening bid price of 25,000 Yen (plus the 8% Japanese sales tax), which makes up the 27,000 Yen shown in the summary.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f338565945

Google translates the Japanese seller's description as follows:

·Product name

Seiko SPEED MASTER Speedmaster 7A38-7110 Chronograph 3-needle Day Date SS

-State of the product

General second-hand goods

・ Measurement (cm)

Case size About 3.8 Arm circumference (inner circumference) About 17.5

Machine type quartz Material SS

weight - accessories None

There are scratches on the windshield We have only confirmed operation. Please do not bid on your note as we do not check the special mechanism and the difference between days.

· Please be sure to read before bidding.

Please be sure to read our auction rules here for smooth transactions and trouble prevention .

The product is all images. Please check the product specifications and conditions, and the presence or absence of accessories in the image.

Brand products are appraised by an appraiser who incorporates the latest information every day. Please rest assured.

Since an auction is an auction system, a successful bid amount plus consumption tax is required.

There is no system usage fee.

The above 5-day Yahoo Japan auction, by a 'Store' seller, for a 7A38-7110 ended a couple of minutes ago, selling for ¥25,500 Yen (+ 8% Japanese sales tax), making a total of ¥27,540 Yen, after surprisingly receiving only 2 bids. That's equivalent to approx. $248.65 USD / £190 GBP.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f338565945

This 7A38-7110, in average worn condition, was listed yesterday evening by a UK eBay seller, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of £1. The seller's brief description tells you very little. The lightly domed crystal, which are often scuffed, appears to be remarkably scratch free, so I suspect it's probably been replaced at some point. This is a SPEEDMASTER JDM model, usually only found in Japan, so in all likelihood was purchased off Yahoo Japan. That said, I'm not inclined to trawl back through the previous pages of this thread, checking case-back serial numbers to see if it has featured in these pages before. Be my guest ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352654032861

Vintage rare Seiko 7a38 chronograph from 1984.

All original, fully functional, in good condition!

Please see my other items and feedback as a seller.

I often receive feedback saying item is better than described.

The above 7-day UK eBay auction for a JDM 7A38-7110 ended a few moments ago, selling for a strong £311.56 after 24 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352654032861

This JDM 7A38-7110, in average well-worn condition, with a typically scuffed domed crystal, was listed on Yahoo Japan earlier this morning, as a 4-day auction, with an opening bid price of 1000 Yen.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r323988265

Google translates the Japanese seller's description as follows:

SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH Chronograph Quartz 7A38-7110 Speedmaster Battery Replacement USED

Brand: SEIKO

Product Name: Chronograph Quartz

Movement: Quartz

Model: 7A38-7110

Color: Silver

Size (approx): Length 39.6 mm (including lugs) × Width 38.7 mm (excluding the crown) × Thickness 12.1 mm

Weight (approx): 94.0 g (including belt)

Arm circumference (approx.): 17 cm

Material: SS

Accessories: body only

Other: movable parts (battery-replaced)

This item will be used.

There are rubbing and small scratches with use, and small scratches are also seen on the windshield.

A slight deformation is seen near the 12 o'clock side belt spring bar, and a scratch is seen on the case lug, but there is no problem with mounting.

There is adhesive dirt on the buckle part.

The battery has been replaced, and each part operation such as chrono is working without any problem.

Since the appearance has published the image, please bid it for only those who can check well and judge.

Contact us within 24 hours for the prevention of mischievous bids.

When there is no connection, it may be judged that there is no intention of a successful bid and cancellation processing of the successful bidder Mr. convenience may be carried out. Thank you for your understanding.

Payment requests processing within 3 days after it makes a successful bid.

If payment processing is not performed even if 3 days have passed after a successful bid, it may be judged that there is no intention of a successful bid and cancellation processing of the highest bidder convenience may be performed. Thank you for your understanding.

It becomes an article of basic no claim no return. Please bid it for only those who can judge it after checking the image well.

Please feel free to ask questions from the question column if you have any questions.

※ Please note that the question just before the end may not be answered.

The above Yahoo Japan 4-day auction for a JDM 7A38-7110 ended earlier this afternoon, selling for ¥35,500 Yen after 29 bids, equivalent to approx. $322.65 USD / £254 GBP. The auction finishing time was automatically extended by 20 minutes, due to late bids placed. Going by the 5-digit feedback number of the encrypted winning bidder ID, it was likely purchased by an international buyer, using one of the proxy bidding services.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r323988265

I'll put my hand up for that one, another one going to the land down under. 

I had stopped hunting for this one the past year as I had attempted to cut down on watch purchases but had relapsed recently.

Went a bit above what I wanted to pay ideally, but I guess it is roughly the average price of the two previously sold this year on Yahoo Japan.

Might get the crystal polished a bit, remove that adhesive off the clasp and hopefully fix what possibly looks like a bent pin/springbar in that endlink.

Well done that man.  Makes more sense to buy this JDM model at source (Yahoo Japan) than pay somebody else's marked up price on eBay. You may struggle with polishing that Hardlex crystal. It can be done, but it requires a lot of effort. Why not just fit a NOS replacement ? The original Seiko p/n 320W64GN00 is still showing in stock in North Ryde. Ditto the bracelet pin and tube (p/n's 81601169 and 81180189) should you also need them. 

Ah definitely, JDMs are definitely significantly cheaper on Yahoo Japan.

You make an excellent point haha! That's probably the way to go, thanks for those codes. Previously, I'd just been checking parts codes at boley.de. May I ask how you check their availability? Cheers.

See here: Seiko Oceania Parts Database Catalogue Search - New Version

Legend, thanks so much. Will get in contact with my watchmaker to see if he has an account with them. I'm assuming from the information on the website that I'd be unable to order them myself without a trade account.

Correct. I used to order from Seiko Oz via Smith & Smith in Sydney (now defunct).

As we were discussing, a few posts earlier, here's a perfect case in point. This JDM 7A38-7110 was listed just before midnight (UK time), by a Mexican eBay seller, with a highly over-optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $599, or the option to make a more sensible lower offer. It's only in average worn condition. The watch head looks like it may have been lightly polished, having lost most of its original matt silver finish. It has a short bracelet. You could easily find a much better example on Yahoo Japan (where I expect this one came from), for that kind of money. But I suspect some mug punter will snap it up. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293136189164

It's been a while - 8 months since I'd seen a 7A38-7110 listed on Yahoo Japan (or eBay or anywhere else, for that matter). This non-working example, in average worn condition, with a typically scratched domed crystal, was listed earlier this afternoon, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 1 Yen.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t706925526

Google translates the Japanese seller's description as follows:

It becomes SEIKO speed master chronograph 7A38-7110. 

Currently not working.

At present, please offer a bid after understanding. 

Please take a look carefully as the pictures are all. 

* If you are not satisfied, please refrain from bidding .

For trouble prevention. Thank you for your understanding because I want to make a comfortable transaction. 

** In the case of multiple successful bids, not TOTAL, one point, one point

Please describe the number of successful bids and contact us. 

◎ Please take a good look because the photos will be all. 

* Since it is used and exhibition by amateurs only, if you are seeking perfection

Please refrain. I hope in the tender of those who can understand. 

* For smooth dealings, please give me the transfer by the bid of those who can do it within 3 days.

** Closed on Wednesday, 7th of every month. Other irregular holidays.

(Because I am working elsewhere, I may not be able to answer questions or respond immediately. See also Self introduction.)

The above 7-day Yahoo Japan auction for a non-working 7A38-7110 ended a few moments ago, the finishing time having been automatically extended by a total of 15 minutes, due to late placed bids. It finally sold for a hefty ¥51,000 Yen after 48 bids, equivalent to approx $387.75 USD / £299.90 GBP.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t706925526

As I've already let slip in a few other threads, a couple of weeks ago, in a moment of weakness (or complete and utter boredmon induced by the COVID-19 'Lockdown'), I finally caved in and created an Instagram account. Somehow, I've since managed to amass 60+ followers, without uploading a single photo. I have found quite a few nice photos and made a couple of useful contacts. However, I remain distinctly unimpressed, particularly by the generally poor standards of literacy and those attention-whoring posters whose obvious intention is to rack up more 'Likes'.

I usually check my Instagram feed once a day. Late last evening, poster Mith723 (forum member mathamithra) posted this teaser photo of a SPEEDMASTER clasp. It is simply captioned: Beauty 7a.

It points you to a second very poorly cropped photo of his 7A38-7110:

By coincidence, earlier today, this well-worn 7A38-7110 was listed on Yahoo Japan, by a 'Store' seller, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 1000 Yen (+10% Japanese Sales Tax). The photos show it's suffering from the customary scratched domed crystal and there are lots of minor scrapes and dings around the watch case.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u354622223

Google translates the Japanese seller's formatted description as follows:

I'm not sure why, but the YJ 'Store' seller appears to have ended that 7-day auction for a well-worn JDM 7A38-7110 after only 2 days, cancelling all bids in the process. He's since re-listed it, looking exactly the same as before.

http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t725123214

My Buyee watchlist appears to confirm that, but I'm none the wiser for it.