Cheap and rather unusual 7A48 'alternative' anybody ?

[Seiko7A38]

Yesterday afternoon, I was searching eBay worldwide, looking for more Orient J39's (as if I didn't have enough already) - before anybody states the bleedin' obvious. I didn't find anything I'd missed previously, but as I occasionally do in the course of such searches, I stumbled across this Orient J38 (7A48 equivalent), which had been listed by an Italian seller, yesterday morning, with a Buy-it-Now price of only 40 Euros (or 48 Euros with 20% VAT automatically added for UK).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OROLOGIO-ORI ... 3559514852

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There's only one poor quality out-of-focus photo and the seller's description is exactly the same as the listing title.

[Seiko7A38]

So there's no mention of any model number, but based on what I've learned previously, I'm guessing it's a J38009-80.
The dial will probably look something like this (faulty NOS) example, listed by an Italian eBay seller in September 2019:

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The base dial colour may possibly be cream rather than pure white. It's difficult to tell from the seller's abysmal photo. What I am certain about is the case finish. It's not the normal relatively common gold plating, per the above example. It's that very unusual matt finish 'burnt gold' / mock 'aged brass' effect as per my Orient J39009-80 (more photos here).

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Had it been a J39, rather than a J38, I'd have been all over it like a rash. So be my guest (if you can persuade the seller to ship outside Italy). I'll also add that other than sending the seller a message, asking them to confirm the case-back number (which they haven't bothered to reply to), I've made to other enquiries regarding its condition and functionality. I have absolutely NO AFFILIATION with the seller.

[jamesam]

Although I have no particular interest in moon-phase watches, if that was the gold-plated model, I would jump on it at a mere $40 Euros ($47). But based on that photo, the color on this one isn’t that attractive to me.

[Seiko7A38]

I'll also add that other than sending the seller a message, asking them to confirm the case-back number (which they haven't bothered to reply to), I've made to other enquiries regarding its condition and functionality.

Checking my emails this morning, I was surprised to find that the Italian eBay seller had finally replied to my message:

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Their reply translates as: 'I don't see any code on the back, however I have posted new photos.'

Indeed they have: checking it, they revised the listing late yesterday evening, adding 5 new photos of variable quality:

The base dial colour may possibly be cream rather than pure white. It's difficult to tell from the seller's abysmal photo.

Then again, it may be silver-grey !

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The two close-up shots of the watch are both poor quality, but the reason they couldn't see any model number on the back becomes obvious. From what I've previously encountered, Orient Watch Co. used two different types of case-back protection on J38's and J39's. One is the conventional clear vinyl round sticker, which can easily be peeled off intact and re-used; the other is akin to a semi-opaque blue waxy substance, that almost seems to have been sprayed on. The only way to remove it is by scraping it off with your fingernail. I posted such an example in this thread. Not only does this J38 have the blue case-back protection, but it appears to have been applied over the JWCII sticker, then the Orient hologram sticker over the top of that - smack in the middle, completely obscuring the model number stamping !

So there's no mention of any model number, but based on what I've learned previously, I'm guessing it's a J38009-80.

Anyway, nothing ventured; nothing gained and still none the wiser for it, I'm going to stick by my earlier statement.

[Seiko7A38]

Checking my eBay watching page, I noticed that the unloved Orient J38009-80 had eventually sold yesterday afternoon.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203559514852

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Although I have no particular interest in moon-phase watches, if that was the gold-plated model, I would jump on it at a mere $40 Euros ($47). But based on that photo, the color on this one isn’t that attractive to me.

I thought it might have gone well with your light gunmetal / beige 7A38-7250 SAA080J !