Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

This partly functional well-worn 7A38-7050, missing its SQ clasp and most of the bracelet adjustment links, which looks like it may have been exhumed from the bottom of a muddy pond, was listed a couple of days ago, by a German eBay seller, as a 7-day auction, with a highly optimistic opening bid price of 150 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254427016175

Seiko Chronograph Sports 100 7A38-7050. 

Gehäusedurchmesser: 31,8mm ohne Krone (44mm mit Krone)

Höhe: 12,5mm

Die Uhr läuft gut, hält gut die Zeit, Datum schaltet.

Der Chronograph funktioniert nicht!!! 

Die Uhr hat rundum starke Gebrauchsspuren! Kratzer im Glas, Lünette, Gehäuse. Das Band ist unvollständig.

Sehen Sie am besten die Bilder an. 

Aus den o.g. Gründen wird die Uhr als DEFEKT an Sammler und Restauratoren angeboten. 

Privatverkauf ohne Garantie und ohne Rücknahme.

Seems I was wrong about 'highly optimistic' pricing. Or should I say: at least one other person thought it was worth 150 Euros.  The above 7-day German eBay auction for a very rough looking, partly functional 7A38-7050 ended earlier this evening, selling for the opening bid price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254427016175

This well-worn 7A38-7050, with non-functioning chrono', was listed at lunchtime today, by a Spanish eBay seller, with an over-optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 330 Euros, or the option to make a much lower, more realistic offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124013041009

Rare Seiko Cronograph Sports Vintage 7A38-7050. El estado es Usado. Reloj funcionando mantiene la hora perfectamente esfera en exelente estado, botones suaves, calendario en ingles y arabe (( LA ACTIVACION DEL CRONO NO FUNCIONA, El CRONO NO FUNCIONA )) correa armis original con todos sus eslavones, reloj todo original, caja, bisel y cristal con rayas y rosaduras tipica del uso y los años, fabricado en marzo de 1984, una pieza de coleccion rara de ver. Se vende para reparar o como proyecto de restauracion. Para esta pieza no se aceptan devoluciones.

Over the course of the last 10 days, the Spanish eBay seller of that partially functional and well-worn 7A38-7050 made a number of revisions to his listing.

I'm not sure why he went to the trouble, but these changes included replacing all 12 of his original set of photos, with these new ones:

Even the above hand-held shot of the case-back was different. All they really served was to show just how knackered the bracelet was. 

It sold at lunchtime today, not for his over-optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 330 Euros, but ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124013041009

As revealed by the alternative 'true selling price' link for a best offer of 200 Euros:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=124013041009

Seiko7A38 at October 5, 2019 at 8:56 AM

This 7A38-7050, in average well-worn condition, was listed early this morning by an Italian eBay seller, as a 7-day auction, with a typically over-optimistic opening bid price of 470 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143402835361

With the length of time some of these speculatively over-priced eBay listings for Seiko 7A38's drag on for, with so many being re-listed over and over again (and eBay now automatically deleting all evidence of ended listings after 60 days), it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of all the items on my eBay watching page. I can't remember exactly when, but some time towards the end of last year, the Italian eBay seller had reduced his ridiculously over-optimistic opening bid price from 470 Euros to 380 Euros. He also added the full model number to the listing title and then continued to re-list it as a 7-day auction .... ad nauseam. 

Here's a summary of the last 4 re-listings (all that are returned by a search).

Checking my eBay watching page, I noticed that the Italian eBay seller ended that latest re-listing, this morning, because of an error in the listing. Presumably the error was still in the pricing. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143498980545

This non-working, partially complete, well-worn 7A38-7050 was listed this morning by Italian eBay seller cmax-28762, 'for spares or repairs' with a laughably optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 169 Euros, or the option to make a much lower more sensible offer. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133348542394

Seiko Quartz Cronograph Sports 100 ref. 7A38-7050 AO non funzionante condizioni estetica vissuto foto dettagliate corredato di spezzoni bracciale orologio vintage molto raro vendo come parte di ricambio o progetto di restauro ideale per collezionisti o riparatori in cerca di ricambi.

Despite having subsequently reduced his original fanciful 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price from 169 to 149 Euros, yesterday morning, Italian eBay seller cmax-28762 ended his listing for that non-working well-worn remnant of a 7A38-7050, because of an error - presumably still in the pricing. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133348542394

Needless to say, it was back on eBay again, re-listed yesterday evening, with the 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price further reduced to 'only' 134 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133359289986

And so it goes on.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133359289986

Ended and re-listed once again, for the sake of a reduction of 5 Euros, FFS ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133360718196

Makes you wonder why he doesn't just list it as a low start auction, instead of these Buy-it-Now listings, and let the market decide what it's actually worth. An opening bid price of 29 Euros (not 129) would be a good place. 

Sub-titled: The comedy of errors continued .... 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133360718196

I didn't spot it at the time, but Italian eBay seller cmax-28762 re-listed it yet again, just a matter of seconds later, with the same slightly reduced Buy-it-Now price of 129 Euros. The basket case 7A38-7050 resto' project sold at lunchtime today.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133360774911

Not for that Buy-it-Now price, but as revealed by the alternative 'true selling price' link, for a surprisingly generous best offer of 111 Euros.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=133360774911

Let's hope that's the last we've seen of it. 

Evidently not. It's back on eBay again - re-listed this afternoon.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133384513603

Devious Italian eBay seller cmax-28762's much re-listed 7A38-7050 basket case resto' project / parts watch appears to have sold again, earlier this afternoon. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133384513603

Not for the 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 149 Euros, but as revealed by the alternative 'true selling price' link, for a best offer of 120 Euros.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=133384513603

At the risk of tempting providence - let's hope that's the last we've seen of it ! 

This 7A38-7050, in average worn condition, which was listed earlier this evening by a German eBay seller, with a Buy-it-Now price of 350 Euros (or the option to make an offer) seems to be attracting a lot of interest.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264793820884

Seiko 7A38-7050 Chronograph vom 03/1984 mit Service vom 07/2020 (reinigung des Werkes und ölen an den relevanten Stellen laut Seiko-Serviceplan mit Möbius 9000 Quartzöl)

Die Uhr läuft demnach perfekt und sollte für die kommenden Jahre quartzgenau arbeiten.

Getragener und voll funktionsfähiger Zustand mit Tragespuren an Gehäuse / Boden / Lünette und Armband.

Original Edelstahlarmband Seiko Z1148 mit einer geschlossenen Länge von ca. 19cm.

Drücker mit sehr guten Drückpunkt und einwandfreier funktion. (wurden auch zerlegt, gereinigt)

Glas "Sternkreuz" neu

Batterie Silberöxid neu

Bodendichtung neu

Drückerdichtungen neu

Kronendichtung neu. 

Typischer Stretch am Armband und Abrieb der schwarzen Farbe, was bei diesen Modell leider fast immer der Fall ist. 

Alle funktionen der Uhr arbeiten einwandfrei. (Uhrzeit, Chronograph inkl. Reset auf 12 Uhr alle Zeiger).

Großer Reset (Drücker unten rechts 2 Sek.) natürlich auch mit einer Zeigerdrehung der großen,-kleinen Sekunde und kl. Minute auf 12 Uhr.

International bidders are welcome. Shipping worldwide insured and trackable.

Please feel free to ask me any question about the watch. 

The watch working perfect in every way.

Seiko bracelet original Z1148 with a closed lenght of aproxx. 19cm

Crystal (Sternkreuz) new

Battery Silveroxid new

Gasket at bottom and pusher new

Crowngasket new

Stretch on the bracelet and missing black color inbetween the links. This is typical on a 7A38-7050 and nearly evertime if the watch is been used. 

Seiko 7A38-7050 Chronograph from 03/1984 with new Service from 07/2020. 

Bitte bedenken Sie, dass es sich um eine gebrauchte Uhr handelt, welche nicht auf Wasserdichtheit getestet wurde.

Auch bedenken Sie bitte, dass es keine neue Uhr ist und über die viele Jahre getragen wurde (nicht von mir) welches sich auf den

allgemeinen Zustand auswirkt d.h. Kratzer an diversen stellen Gehäuse (auch Goldabrieb), Boden, Lünette, Armband (auch stretch an diesem)

Versendet wird ausschließlich mit DHL als Paket mit Sendungsverfolgung.

Kein Versand and DHL Packstation. 

Da es sich hierbei um eine private Auktion handelt, übernehme ich keine Garantie und Gewährleistung. Ein Umtausch ist nicht möglich.

And there it was gone - sold in under an hour for the full 350 Euro Buy-it-Now price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264793820884

I have a couple of saved searches set up on the Italian classifieds site, Subito.it - one if them obviously being 'Seiko 7A38'. I receive email notifications fairly regularly, but tend to ignore them, because they're either re-listings of the same old crap, or watches that are already listed in parallel on eBay. This 7A38-7050, in average to well-worn condition, which I can't remember seeing before came up as 'newly listed' at the top of today's search result. Needless to say, being Italy, it's typically well over-priced for the condition @ 550 Euros. 

http://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/seiko-cronografo-sports-100-quartz-7a38-7050-siena-327712481.htm

Here's another 7A38-7050, in rather better condition than the previous example, that was listed on Subito earlier this evening. There's no price shown other than €1, which usually means they're soliciting offers. I'm pretty sure this same 7A38-7050 was listed a couple of days ago with an asking price of 450 Euros (but that listing was deleted, before I had the chance to write it up).

http://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/seiko-7a38-7050-messina-351663152.htm

This 7A38-7050, in apparently decent cosmetic condition, was listed earlier this evening by a German eBay seller (same one as in July - henzz1337), with a not wholly unrealistic Buy-it-Now price of 425 Euros, with the option to make an offer. Studying the seller's photos, I suspect the bracelet's small black interconnecting links may possibly have benefited from being touched up.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264981435355

Seiko 7A38-7050 Chronograph mit grünen/türkisen Zifferblatt vom April 1984 mit einer Service 12/2020.

Das Quartzwerk wurde teilzerlegt, gereinigt, überprüft, geölt (Möbius) und wieder zusammengesetzt und mittels Zeitwaage eingestellt, somit befindet sich die Uhr, technisch im einwandfreien Zustand.

Drücker Zerlegt, gereinigt, neue Dichtungen. (Bodendichtung neu)

Glas kratzfrei

Batterie neu (Silberöxid)

Armband original Z1148 mit dem typischen "Stretch" für dieses Modell und einer geschlossenen Länge von ca. 18,5cm

Alle Funktionen arbeiten einwandfrei (Uhrzeit, Datum/Tag, Chronograph + Reset aller Zeiger auf 12)

Drücker knackig und leichtgängig. 

Zifferblatt und Zeiger im guten Zustand. 

Normale Tragespuren auf Gehäuse und Armband vorhanden.

_________________________________________________________________

Seiko 7A38-7050 Chronograph with green/turquoise dial from 04/1984 and fresh service in 12/2020.

Movement cleaned, inspected, oiled (Möbius) and adjusted. Technically in very good shape.

Pusher cleaned and new gasket

Crystal new (Sternkreuz)

Battery new (Silver oxide)

Backgasket new.

Bracelet original Z1148 with the typical stretch for this model and a closed length of approx. 18,5cm

The Watch working perfect in every way

Dial and hands in good shape without defects. 

Signs of wear on bracelet and case. 

Shipping only inside of Europe insured and online trackable.

Da ich den Artikel als Privatperson verkaufe, erfolgt der Verkauf unter Ausschluss jeglicher Gewähr­leistung oder Garantie.

Versendet wird ausschliesslich via DHL als versichertes Paket bis 500.-€ mit Sendungsverfolgung innerhalb der EU.

Checking my eBay watching page, I noticed that the above 7A38-7050 sold at lunchtime today. Not for the full Buy-it-Now price of 425 Euros, but for a best offer (withheld by eBay). However, I have it on very good authority that the actual offer accepted was for 400 Euros. Cheers, Finn. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264981435355

I received a saved search notification from Italian classifieds site Subito, of a couple more 7A38's which had been listed recently. Amongst them was this 7A38-7050, listed by profiteering Italian re-seller 'Giuseppe', in the early hours of this morning, with a typically greedily marked-up asking price of 520 Euros.

http://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/seiko-quartz-chronograph-7a38-7050-mint-verde-raro-reggio-calabria-367391503.htm

Comparing the dings on the bezel (at 22 on the outer rim and 29 on the inner rim), this is pretty obviously the same 7A38-7050 which was offered on Subito back in September last year (no price was stated, other than 1 Euro). Except it isn't quite the same. Looks like Giuseppe has made a half-arsed attempt at re-touching the small black bracelet interconnecting links - and failed. Perhaps, judging by the finish, he used an old toothbrush and underseal.