Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at January 22, 2016 at 5:07 AM

But don't worry, there will always be another one along to take its place - and another rare opportunity. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191787636061

A rare opportunity to obtain such a fine Seiko 7A28 military issued (RAF) quartz chronograph (1984). Full NATO markings on caseback, complete with new strap. Good clean condition, unmarked crystal. 15 Jewelled quartz movement runs and sets smoothly and resets as it should. The battery will be replaced on sale. Please have a look at the detailed photo's as they form major part of the description.

Withdrawn yesterday morning - possibly sold off eBay. Who knows ? 

In the current temporary absence of any 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1's on eBay, here's another coming up for sale on LiveAuctioneers.com in the next two weeks or so. The auction is being held by Auctionata at Havel Studios in Berlin on 17th February, but of course you can bid online. If you do, don't forget to factor in the 25% commission on top of the 700 Euros starting bid price. 

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/43644486_seiko-military-chronograph-gen-1-raf-japan-c-1984

Typical innit ?  No sooner than I write something like: In the current temporary absence of any 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1's on eBay,

What should re-appear but another 'rare opportunity'. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm191797221187

A rare opportunity to obtain such a fine Seiko 7A28 military issue quartz chronograph (1984). Full NATO markings on case back, complete with new strap. 

In excellent condition and unmarked crystal. 15 Jewelled quartz movement runs and sets smoothly and resets as it should. An additional new battery will be supplied with the sale. Please have a look at the detailed photo's as they form major part of the description. 

As Gen 1s go this is one of the finest pieces for sale.

The UK eBay seller Watchkandee may be using a different set of photos in this re-listing, but this is the same 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1, issue number 2603/84, serial number 481886 that they withdrew last week (see post at the top of this page).

The above re-listed 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 has already been bid to £520 with 2 days of the auction still to run, but meanwhile, here's another (with a missing pusher) that was listed on eBay on Friday evening, with a completely pointless opening bid price of 'only' 99p and a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now asking price of £600. Of more anon ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121886711097

Seiko P vintage military issue 7A28-7120 Japanese quartz movement (best movement)

The following numbers below are how it reads on the watch:

6645-99 7683056 /|\ 6187/88 815286

The above watch is a rare Seiko P military issue and is in very good condition the only issue is that the top left hand pusher is missing and the cost for full repair is £35 other than this the watch is in full working order,the case is in used but very good condition,the strap is the original grey nylon NATO issue one with usual used wear and tear.

The crystal/glass is original and in very good condition with no scratches the face is in original condition and all chronos are working.if any further images or information is required please message me.

I really have to say that I never understand the mentality of sellers like this, who list an item with a 99p opening bid price and also set a reserve, which clearly - from their wishful £600 Buy-it-Now price, is clearly going to be at least set at £500 or more. 

It also begs the question, if they have researched the cost of the repair of the missing pusher (the part is still available ex-stock from Cousins UK for £3.85 + VAT and I suspect any number of forum members could fit it for less than £35), why haven't they bothered ?

Three words: Greed, Laziness and Stupidity. 

Seiko7A38 at February 7, 2016 at 4:25 AM

The above re-listed 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 has already been bid to £520 with 2 days of the auction still to run ....

That re-listed auction for a 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 ended yesterday afternoon selling for £551.50 after 10 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191797221187

Seiko7A38 at February 7, 2016 at 4:25 AM

.... but meanwhile, here's another (with a missing pusher) that was listed on eBay on Friday evening, with a completely pointless opening bid price of 'only' 99p and a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now asking price of £600. Of more anon ....

I really have to say that I never understand the mentality of sellers like this, who list an item with a 99p opening bid price and also set a reserve, which clearly - from their wishful £600 Buy-it-Now price, is clearly going to be at least set at £500 or more. 

In the meantime, bidding on the second one (with a missing pusher) has so far struggled to reach £104. 

I note with amusement that the seller reduced the reserve price for a second time late yesterday evening. 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=121886711097

With 10 hours of the 7-day listing still to run, bidding on this 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 is still stalled at £104 - well short of the seller's albeit reduced reserve price. That said, with 46 watchers, I suspect it'll end in a last minute snipe-fest.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121886711097

I've probably made it abundantly clear, that other than 'the bemusement factor' and reporting their auction results in this thread, these watches hold little personal interest for me. So unless I happen to be checking case-back serial numbers, I'll admit that nowadays I rarely even bother looking at the seller's photos. I made an exception in this case. 

The seller's second photo is a 'classic'. 

Apart from the missing pusher (which means you can't test the 'Lap' function, nor zero the 30-minute counter), I'm not sure that the seller's claims: 'other than this the watch is in full working order' .... 'and all chronos are working' (properly) can be entirely true.

In case you're not familiar with this classic often self-inflicted 'mistake' ....

See this thread:  The all-too-common Displaced Finger Tension Spring chrono' sweep hand problem

That eBay auction ended about half an hour ago, with the watch selling for £410 after 20 bids. There wasn't much of a snipe-fest. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121886711097

This average condition 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 was listed on eBay yesterday afternoon by a US eBay seller, with the unfortunate choice of user ID name hack_watch.  I'm sure I've commented on it before, but it still makes me chuckle whenvever I see it. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322010307326

The Gen 1 Seiko 7a28 is one of my favorite mil watches. This one is dated 1984 which I think was the first year of issue. They were issued to RAF fast-jet pilots and navigators and highly prized by them for their quality and reliability. The 7a28 movement was the first analog quartz chronograph movement. This watch was overhauled by Seiko a few years ago and all gaskets were replaced. All functions work properly and all hands zero properly. Flat Seiko beveled crystal. Some honest wear to the case (see pics) but in excellent condition for an issued piece. Comes with a black nylon NATO-style strap. I'll even throw in the operating directions. US sale only.

Three days later and no bids had been placed, the US eBay seller hack_watch withdrew it. Maybe sold off eBay - who knows? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322010307326

Edit: Looks like it was sold via the MWR forum: http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?72622-FS-gt-Gen-1-RAF-Seiko

This average condition 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 was listed on eBay by an allegedly reluctant UK seller a couple of days ago with an opening bid price of 99p (and no reserve). Bidding is currently around the £200 mark.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252305608032

*Seiko Military Watch 1986 Issued RAF Gen 1 Chronograph, Gulf War 1, 7A28-7120* 

Very rare! Selling with No Reserve! 1p Start bid! 

In working order and very very good condition with NO marks on the glass and nothing worth mentioning on the case. Yes if you use a mag glass you can see marks but with the eye it looks like new. 

I very nearly listed it as new old stock its that good. 

Just had new battery and registers reset by The Watch Bloke ( the king of watch rebuilds ).  

Sad to see it go if I'm honest but needs must .... 

Stainless steel case Ref 7A28-7120 with British Military Issue Markings:

6645-99 7683056 10953/90 066095 

The RAF issued the military model Generation 1 from Oct 1984 until Nov 1990, which makes this a very rare watch.

The model features a stainless steel case and is powered by the highly-regarded, 15-jewel, quartz 7A28 Seiko movement.

All the usual chronograph functions including split timings and 1/10 sec timing as well as second and minute indicators up to 30 minutes. 

Once the chronograph is stopped the hand will move to the correct position indicating the tenths of a second that have elapsed.

As a result of the application of Promethium 147 (the P on the dial), the dial has luminous markers.

The case excluding the crown and pushers measures 37 mm across and has an inter-lug width of 20mm.

The RAF-issued Seiko military Gen 1 watch is considered one of the most sought after military watches.

This is a highly collectable item and would be a great present for an avid collector! 

I will be sending the watch Royal Mail special delivery only and in a padded watch shipping box inside padded envelope. 

Please message me for international postage.

Personally I can't see that having the battery replaced (and chronograph registers reset, which takes all of 10 seconds, FFS) by some over-rated amateur calling himself The Watch Bloke is ANY kind of recommendation. More an open admission of gullibility for paying this rip-off merchant 22 Quid for the privilege. 

The above eBay auction for a 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 ended yesterday evening, selling for £577 (a figure it had aready achieved a couple of days earlier) after 29 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252305608032

Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, another 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 - this time a 'head only', sans NATO had been listed by another UK eBay seller. Similarly this is another low start (£5 opening bid) no reserve action, where bidding has currently reached £200 or so.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331798584730

*Seiko Military Watch 1986 Issued RAF Gen 1 Chronograph, Gulf War 1, 7A28-7120*

Very rare. Some wear & tear scratches on glass, and a scratch on back. Strap not included.

Battery replaced about 2 years ago. Seems to be working fine.

Stainless steel case Ref 7A28-7120 with British Military Issue Markings:

6645-99 7683056 6013/88 814941

The RAF issued the military model Generation 1 from Oct 1984 until Nov 1990, which makes this a very rare watch.

The model features a stainless steel case and is powered by the highly-regarded, 15-jewel, quartz 7A28 Seiko movement.

All the usual chronograph functions including split timings and 1/10 sec timing as well as second and minute indicators up to 30 minutes.

Once the chronograph is stopped the hand will move to the correct position indicating the tenths of a second that have elapsed.

As a result of the application of Promethium 147 (the P on the dial), the dial has luminous markers.

The case excluding the crown and pushers measures 37 mm across and has an inter-lug width of 20mm.

The RAF-issued Seiko military Gen 1 watch is considered one of the most sought after military watches.

Another 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 (suffering with a recalcitrant sweep second hand) was listed on eBay earlier this afternoon.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131751272651

Seiko Gen 1 UK Military pilot's watch. Stainless steel case, 7A28-7120 movement with British Military Issue markings dating it to 1988. Good condition for age but will need a service as the main second hand is stuck at 12 o'clock. All other functions working fine, scratch free glass, case in good condition, keeping perfect time and comes on the strap shown.

Reserve reflects rarity and condition.

Well they're certainly not rare (at all) and as this example isn't fully functional, that'll be a reserve of about 50 Quid then ? 

The eBay auction for that 'head only' 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 ended yesterday afternoon, selling for a comparatively low £407 after 32 bids. Makes you wonder if the seller might have acheived a better price by chucking in a NATO strap. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331798584730

The eBay auction for that 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1, suffering from a recalcitrant sweep second, hand ended about 10 minutes ago, selling for £476 after 34 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131751272651

I nearly missed this one - there's no mention of the model number 7A28-7120 nor RAF Gen. 1 anywhere in the eBay listing. 

Regardless, plenty of others seem to have spotted it. Bidding is already over £300 with 2 days of the auction still to go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401093761846

Vintage seiko military chronograph watch (broad arrow)......full working order and keeping time......glass does have lots of scratches and will need replacing...... black dial is mint and fully signed seiko (P).......case stamped 6645-99....7683056>....3817/86.....672370.....see pictures and you decide....

I think I'll pass. 

Meanwhile, last weekend, someone - possibly a new forum member, grabbed themselves a bargain RAF Gen. 1 resto' project. 

I didn't see it at the time and as with the previous (current) listing, there was no mention of 7A28-7120, etc. Indeed from their description, the seller clearly seems to have had little idea of their potential worth, so the canny buyer sensibly took advantage.

It may need a replacement crystal and be missing a pusher but ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252325446046

The number markings on the back as well as the arrow marking, guarantee this is the quinine article. These serial numbers can be googled for the watches history, I believe it is part of a set of 3.

Works perfect and keeps perfect time, however does need a new glass screen, got a quote from a dealer at £25.00 to replace.

That most recent eBay auction for a 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1 (the one I nearly missed spotting, with the badly bent fixed lower bar) ended a few moments ago, with the bidding jumping from £320 to £472 in the final ten seconds, as one solitary snipe bid came in.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401093761846

It's not often that I take time to look closely at photos of 7A28-7120 RAF Gen. 1's on eBay, let alone bother uploading the photos to this thread. Many, if not most, are 'battle-scarred' (probably from playing 'mess conkers'), with multiple dings, bent fixed bars and badly worn silver anodized coating. So it makes a refreshing change to see an almost mint example, like this watch which was listed on eBay yesterday lunchtime by a UK seller, with a confident opening bid price of £450.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182072164159

You are bidding on a mint condition (unmarked crystal) rare Gen 1 Seiko chronograph. It is in full working order. This is one of the very first ones issued No. 964 of 11,307. I have owned this watch for just over 25 years. It has spent nearly all that time in my wifes jewllery box. I dont use it because I need a watch with day/date for work. It deserves to be worn rather sat in a box. I will fit a new battery prior to dispatch and include receipt. More than happy to answer any questions.

The first RAF-issued Seiko chronograph ( Gen. 1 ) was procured from Seiko UK and issued primarily to Royal Air Force pilots and navigators from October 1984 until November 1990. Only 11,307 pieces of this Gen. 1 model were supplied by Seiko to the British Armed Forces. This Gen. 1 chronograph was contained in a stainless steel case. It carries the highly-regarded, 15-jewel, quartz 7A28 Seiko movement.