Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

From the number we've seen since I started this topic, perhaps not quite so 'RARISSIMO' as the seller would have you believe ....

..... And they just keep on coming. Not another NOS example this time, but a used 7A38-7140 from a Venezualan eBay seller.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271417435657

SEIKO 7A38-7140 SAA051J Sports 100

Running condition 

CASE: dings or dents. 

CROWN: perfect working order. 

PUSHERS: All working as they should. 

CRYSTAL: Good condition. 

DIAL: Good condition. 

HANDS: They all zero perfectly. 

MOVEMENT: 7A38 Quartz movement, functioning 100%. 

STRAP: The PVD coating 7.5 Wrist.

The eBay auction for that 7A38-7140 just ended a few moments ago @ $364 (approx. £219) after 23 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271417435657

Yet another NOS 7A38-7140 allegedly by Giugiaro has just surfaced on eBay Italy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221456728847

Seiko chronografo 7A38-7140 Giugiaro, Pdw diametro 40 mm, nuovo, scatola, documentii, anni 75, tuto originale, orologio raro, impecabile....

Less than stellar photos both, I couldn't find a larger version of the second image that's embedded in the seller's description. 

That Italian eBay auction for the NOS 7A38-7140 ended about 25 minutes ago. It sold for the opening bid price of 299 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221456728847

This less-than-ideal example of a 7A38-7140 was listed early this morning by watch-botching Filipino brothers apol_of_your_eyes. Although the dial and (chrono') hands look relatively clean and fresh (by usual Philippines standards), the black chrome coating of the watch case is well worn and it's been badly fitted with a cheap black patent leather strap in place of the original p/n B1356F bracelet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111446432713

Check out the ragged gap where the strap's been notched on one side.  I'd also be intrigued to know how the strap is retained. 

Apol brothers' eBay auction for their 7A38-7140 ill-fitted with a black patent leather strap ended about 45 minutes ago:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111446432713

It sold for $172.50 (approx. £103.87) after 7 bids.

Something I'd omitted to mention earlier in this thread probably deserves inclusion ....

In mid August NZ-based eBay seller thomasbangalter303 (real name Antony Low) had listed a NOS 713L dial for a 7A38-7140:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121402507529

Seiko 7A38 Dial, New Condition.

From his vague description: Seiko 7A38 Dial. Mint Condition. New Dial. Long time discontinued from Seiko.

He didn't seem to know what model it was from. The 7-day auction ended with just one bid placed, selling for $35 AU.

It was purchased by Simon - forum member 'Sir Alan' who subsequently built this attractive 7A38 Franken around it:

It's been over a year since we last saw a NOS 7A38-7140 listed by an Italian eBay seller with a stupid Buy-it-Now price. That was back in July 2013 and the asking price was initially $1800. The seller was goffre78 - a.k.a Alberto Ulmi - who is also eBay ID valentinasex.

http://forum.pocketcalculatorshow.com/topic/warning-beware-alberto-is-goffre78-is-valentinasex-is-a-trickster

Here's his latest offering, listed earlier this evening - a snip @ a mere $1900. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181516481535

ORIGINALE SEIKO ALIEN 7A38-7140 SERIE GIUGIARO CON SCATOLA TAG E MANUALE + VARI MANUALI SEIKO

X ALTRE INFO CONTATTATEMI DA MUSEO DELLA SEIKO INTROVABILE

ORIGINAL SEIKO VINTAGE WATCH 7A38-7140 NEW OLD THE STOCK BOX WITH TAG AND MANUAL AND MORE MANUAL SEIKO

X COLLEZIONISTI E NON

FOR COLLECTION!

SHIPPING TO EUROPE 25$ EXPRESS

SHIPPING TO WORLDWIDE 35$ EXPRESS

Needless to say, that stupidly priced 30-day listing for a 7A38-7140 by Italian eBay seller valentinasex (a.k.a. goffre78, real name Alberto Ulmi) ended yesterday evening - unsold. At the time of writing, he hasn't re-listed it (yet).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181516481535

Meanwhile erstwhile fanatical Australian 7Axx collector Stuart Lennard (a.k.a. ex-forum member 'ginny') has resumed the thinning down of his collection, overnight listing another eight 7A's on eBay: a mixture of 7A28's, 7A48's and 7A38's including this NOS 7A38-7140.

But then he does have three of them - all NOS. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121452920830

I've only bothered including half the dozen photos which Stuart uploaded to his listing as many are very similar and typically lacklustre.

NOTE SHIPPING WORLWIDE EXPRESS 4-5DAYS $42.00 WITHIN AUSTRALIA $13.00 

HERES YOUR CHANCE : NEW OLD STOCK SEIKO 7A38-7140 WITH BOX ,OUTER BOX, MANUALS AND TAG. (CASE BACK STICKER IS ATTACHED) 

ALL IN EXCELLENT AS NEW CONDITION. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK AS THEY SHOULD 

SORRY- DUE TO POSTAGE RESTRICTIONS I CANNOT SHIPWITH BATTERY

Customer is responsible for additional if any, custom fees, brockerage fees, duies and or taxes. I am happyto combine shipping.

Going by the white cardboard Seiko packaging, I'd presume this is the third one which he bought on eBay Italy at the end of January:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271379203298

See my last two posts at the bottom of the first page: Quote: 'I couldn't help but walk away with both'. Make that three now then.

Stuart Lennard's (ex-forum member 'ginny') eBay auction for his (third) NOS 7A38-7140 ended in the early hours of this morning:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121452920830

It sold for a hefty $650 (US rather than Australian) equivalent to approx. £405.50 after 32 bids.

Bearing in mind Stuart snapped it up for the opening bid price of only 300 Euros back in January, I bet he's pleased with that result. 

Seiko7A38 at October 5, 2014 at 4:04 AM

Needless to say, that stupidly priced 30-day listing for a 7A38-7140 by Italian eBay seller valentinasex (a.k.a. goffre78, real name Alberto Ulmi) ended yesterday evening - unsold. At the time of writing, he hasn't re-listed it (yet).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181516481535

Meanwhile, over in 'cloud cuckoo land' (read the deluded mind of Alberto Ulmi) - he relisted his NOS 7A38-7140 the day after ....

Buy-it-Now reduced to 'only' $1800.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181550178480

Erstwhile fanatical Australian collector Stuart Lennard (ex-forum member 'ginny') appears to be carrying on with the dissolution of his 7Axx collection. Two weeks ago he listed eight various 7Axx's on eBay: a mixture of 7A28's, 7A38's and 7A48's. Overnight, he's listed another ten - mostly 7A38's this time. I'm not going to speculate as to his reasons - nor am I going to pass unnecessary comment on all of them. I'll simply document the sales of those where we already have a pre-existing 7A38-xxxx model specific thread, like this one.

Here's Stuart's listing for the second of his (was three) NOS black chrome 7A38-7140's: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121464192299

Again, I've only bothered to upload less than half of the 12 photos which Stuart has included in his listing. For the same reasons. 

SHIPPING WORLDWIDE EXPRESS 3-4DAYS TRACKABLE $42.00 WITHIN AUSTRALIA TRACKABLE $13.00 

RARE OFFER HERE IS YOUR CHANCE SEIKO 7A38-7140 NEW OLD STOCK BOX TAG MANUALS .

ALL FUNCTIONS WORK AS THEY SHOULD. 

I AM HAPPY TO COMBINE SHIPPING ....ONE , TWO , OR THREEE WATCHES, ALL THE SAME PRICE $42.00 WITHIN AUSTRALIA $13.00 

IF YOU WIN MORE THAN ONE AUCTION , WAIT TILL I SEND YOU INVOICE WITH ADJUSTED SHIPPING RATE. 

WITHIN AUSTRALIA WAIT TILL I SEND INVOICE WITH ADJUSTED SHIPPING RATE $13.00. 

Customer is responsible for any additional if any custom fees , brockerage fees, duties and or taxes. 

I will only ship to confirmed paypal address. No post office boxes. 

SORRY BUT DUE TO POSTAGE REGULATIONS I CANNOT SHIP WITH BATTERY.

Nothing particularly adverse to comment on this listing, other than to say that this will most likely be Stuart's second 7A38-7140 which he bought from local (to Melbourne) watchmaker, eBay seller timekeeperau in September last year - see quote of his post below:

ginny at September 21, 2013 at 2:49 AM

My first purchase I have been able to pick up and meet the seller personally, (timekeeperau - as above). Was really happy with my NOS 7A38-7140, but to my surprise he produced another one. With a generous price adjustment for the small scratch on the crystal and the short bracelet, I couldn't help but walk away with both.

Which of the two this listing is for, I'm not sure, but note Stuart's own comments about the short bracelet. Presumably he's robbed some bracelet adjustment links from the first one to make the other wearable. Looking at the clasp adjustment setting in the side-on view photos in his current listing, this watch is certainly short of the normal full complement of adjustment links you'd expect with NOS.

Meanwhile, pretty obviously (from the NOS condition, white presentation box and tags) what was Stuart's third 7A38-7140, which he sold on eBay for $650 on 12th October, turned up on Yahoo Japan auctions earlier today - listed by a would-be profiteering re-seller.

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f145776219 

セイコー 7A38-7140 デッドストック ジウジアーロ【未使用品】

Google translates the seller's Japanese description as follows:

※ I do not think the number much unused goods of dead stock high design among 7A38.

There is an unused item, we will in used treatment for dead stock. 

(May 1985 production) [Serial No.] 550462 

[Size] (Excluding crown) W × about 40mm

SS Black coating case

[Waterproof] life waterproof 

[Drive] quartz chronograph

October battery has been replaced 2014. 

[Operation] confirmed, there is no problem Chrono all. 

Warranty box with the [Accessories] tag instruction manual at that time. 

[Condition] There are no scratches on the case glass both, but there are scratches when changing the battery on the back cover. 

[Shipping] Is free of charge. I deliver Kuroneko Yamato. 

Basic, no claim no return, but if you have trouble caused by immobility, negligence of here, we will correspond to the consultation for returned goods when it was within 14 days of arrival.

(It will be considered as improper claims differ etc and pictures in kind.)

Question please if you have any questions. I have sent also to others. Come ★

My only question to the seller would be: How can you have the gall to list this with an opening bid of 128,000 Yen - equivalent to approx. $1200 US when you only paid $650 for it 10 days ago ? 

Off Topic: Incidentally same YJ seller is also listing Stuart's 7A28-710A: http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w113633756

Stuart Lennard's eBay auction listing for the second of his NOS 7A38-7140's ended about 10 minutes ago. This one didn't do quite as well as the previous one, making $495 (USD as opposed to AUD) equivalent to approx. £307.80 after 16 bids:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121464192299

Stuart Lennard's dissolution of his 7Axx collection appears to be turning into something of a 'fire sale'. On Tuesday evening he listed as Buy-it-Now and almost immediately sold off a total of seven 7A48's - in two batches, relatively cheaply. I would have missed seeing them altogether, had it not been for a belated heads up from Don. Interleaved between them was Stuart's third (or what I now suspect, from the shortage of adjustment links), was actually his second 7A38-7140 (bought privately from eBay seller timekeeperau):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121484708638

Here's the original listing:

NOTE -SHIPPING WORLDWIDE EXPRESS 3-4 DAYS TRACKABLE $42.00 WITHIN AUSTRALIA EXPRESS TRACKABLE $13.00

SEIKO 7A38-7140 IN FANTASTIC CONDITION. NOT A MARK ANYWHERE ON THE BRACELET OR CASE. ON THE DIAL TO THE LEFT OF THE BOTTOM SUB DIAL YOU WILL SEE A MARK. ONLY VERY SMALL , THE POTOGRAPHS MAKE IT WORSE THAN IT IS. ITS A MYSTERY HOW IT GOT THERE AS THE SEIKO LOOKS AS NEW.THE REST OF THE DIAL IS AS NEW. ON THE CRYSTAL THERE IS A COUPLE OF VERY VERY FINE SCRATCHES BUT YOU NEED A MAGNIFIER TO PICK THEM. THE BRACELET WILL FIT A SMALL SIZE WRIST. (someone has tacken a few links out). ALL FUNCTIONS WORK AS THEY SHOULD

I only ship to confirmed paypal address. No post office boxes. 

Customer is responsible for additional, if any , custom fees, brockerage fees, duties and or taxes. 

SORRY BUT DUE TO POSTAGE REGULATIONS I CANNOT SHIP WITH BATTERY. 

AUSTRALIAN BUYERS I WILL REFUND PART OF SHIPPING AT CHECK OUT . SHIPPING $13.00 TOTAL.

Interesting. If you zoom in on the third photo, the mark on the dial is quite deep and not unsubstantial. It looks like a tool mark. Again, if you zoom in on the sub-dial hands (and for that matter, the centres of the main hand set) they all show evidence of having been pulled - there's a slight loss of paint on the bosses of the sub-dial hands. Stuart's handiwork ?  Failure to use a dial protector and a slipped tool caused the mark ? Your guess is as good as mine. Funny thing, if you look at Stuart's photo of the two 7A38-7140's, side by side (which he originally posted on September 21, 2013 and I've re-posted above in a quote), they're showing 5:35, so if the mark on the dial was there already, it would have been almost obsured by the minute hand.

Partial quote posted by myself on October 21, 2014 at 7:05 PM:

My only question to the seller would be: How can you have the gall to list this with an opening bid of 128,000 Yen - equivalent to approx. $1200 US when you only paid $650 for it 10 days ago ? 

I'd subsequently commented further on the activities of this would-be profiteering Japanese re-seller (eBay ID lonto4271_6h4dgvu / Yahoo Japan ID l_h_m_m) in the Yahoo Japan Auctions - Watching Watches - continued thread.

On November 17th, I posted a summary of all six of the ex-Stuart Lennard 7Axx's he then currently had re-listed (at inflated prices).

At the top of that screen print was his 3rd re-listing for Stuart's 7A38-7140, which had only 30 minutes left before it was due to end:

Once again it went unsold: http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f145776219 ....

However, it hasn't been re-listed since (at the time of writing), so whether someone made him an offer (off YJ), or he's realized the error of his ways - or perhaps he's going to try re-listing it again later, after a suitable 'cooling off period' is anybody's guess. 

Meanwhile, at the other end of the cosmetic scale, here's a rather battered 7A38-7140 currently listed on eBay Italy. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201225974997

Dicono che sia un orologio raro e costoso; ha 15 rubini interni. mai visti dentro un orologio al quarzo. 

Quello che ho è con il vetro (credo minerale) molto segnato, con un bollo a ore 3 ma, NON è bucato.

la cassa è in buone condizioni ma la verniciatura è venuta via in diversi punti.

Il cinturino è mancante ma, restano i "mozzi" alle anse. 

Ora, la parte buona: l'nterno dell'orologio è semplicemente.

PERFETTO! come nuovo, sia il quadrante che meccanismo.

L'orologio è PERFETTAMENTE FUNZIONANTE. 

Batteria nuova appena messa. 

Se mandate domanda con vostra mail invio foto dettagliate. prima di pagare conattatemi.

Preferisco carta postale. Spedisco con raccomandata 1 ove possibile. Grazie della visita.

So much for a 'decent interval'.  I ran a quick search on Yahoo Japan this morning. What should be at the top of the results ? 

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f145776219

Re-listed once again. Previous 'pie-in-the-sky' profiteering price of 128,000 Yen now reduced to 'only' 120,000 !