A classic example of backstreet Filipino watch-botcher's craft

[Seiko7A38]

I was going to add this onto the Bottom of the 7Axx Barrel thread, but decided it deserved its own separate thread.
To quote a recent post of mine:

Along with the Filipinos, Indian watch botchers usually manage to cobble together some of the most horrible frankened 'restored' watches from little more than scrap.

Going back 10 years of so, one of the worst of the bunch was Filipino eBay seller badingski. In recent years, the quality of his 'restored' offerings seemed to have improved. But it looks like he's suffered a major relapse. Overnight, he listed this two-tone 7A38-7289, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of $9.99. Or at least it once was one of those.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-SEIK ... 3493276817

7A38-7289-Stainless+Gold-(PlatingStripped)-WhiteRomanFace-eBay-May2021-Listing.png (148.45 KiB) Viewed 6252 times

rsz_7a38-7289-stainless-gold-platingstripped-whiteromanface-ebay-may2021-1.jpg (157.1 KiB) Viewed 6250 times

rsz_7a38-7289-stainless-gold-platingstripped-whiteromanface-ebay-may2021-6.jpg (199.73 KiB) Viewed 6250 times

rsz_7a38-7289-stainless-gold-platingstripped-whiteromanface-ebay-may2021-10.jpg (206.39 KiB) Viewed 6250 times

rsz_7a38-7289-stainless-gold-platingstripped-whiteromanface-ebay-may2021-11.jpg (194.24 KiB) Viewed 6250 times

7A38-7289-Stainless+Gold-(PlatingStripped)-WhiteRomanFace-eBay-May2021-Description.png (72.39 KiB) Viewed 6252 times

I've only bothered uploading 4 of his 11 listing photos, but that should suffice. Badingski has always liberally misused the word 'original', regardless of the watch's true condition. So where shall we start ? All traces of the worn gold plating have been removed from the bezel, crown, pushers and the bracelet's centre links. The supposedly 'good condition' dial has evidently suffered some catastrophic water damage. The bracelet's first joining links have been stretched open and he hasn't bothered to pinch them up. The pièce de résistance has to be that battery acid ravaged movement back-plate.

For anyone who's in doubt as to how a two-tone 7A38-7289 SAA110J should look, here's a photo from an old eBay listing:

7A38-7289-Stainless+Gold-WhiteRoman-eBay-Dec2013-2.JPG (93.76 KiB) Viewed 6248 times

Not that it'll deter desperate and impecunious bidders from wasting their money, I'll reiterate the words of the Bard ...

MontyPythonGrail-RunAway-PHK.jpg (29.6 KiB) Viewed 6245 times

[Seiko7A38]

When I posted the above salutary warning a week ago, I was almost certain that somebody would bid on it, regardless. Checking my eBay watching page, I see badingski's badly botched 7A38-7289 sold late last night for $52.77 after 6 bids. Fortunately for the bidders, it was a private listing - bidder identity protected auction.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353493276817

7A38-7289-Stainless+Gold-(PlatingStripped)-WhiteRomanFace-eBay-May2021-Ended-Sold-$52.77.png (37.13 KiB) Viewed 6182 times

[Seiko7A38]

Going back 10 years of so, one of the worst of the bunch was Filipino eBay seller badingski.

Nowadays, I may freely dish out the salutary warnings to avoid Filipino watch-botchers like badingski, but truth is that when I was an inexperienced 7A38 'newbie' myself, I did fall for this kind of junk at least once (or twice if I'm honest). I'd conveniently forgotten that I'd foolishly purchased one of his eBay offerings many years ago - back in May 2009.

It was once a 7A38-702H, best described as your typical steaming Filipino polished turd, too. It's very very shiny.

7A38-702H-Stainless+Gold-eBay-May2009-2.jpg (46.39 KiB) Viewed 6026 times

7A38-702H-Stainless+Gold-eBay-May2009-10.jpg (59.94 KiB) Viewed 6026 times

I can't remember my reaction on receiving it, but soon realized my mistake and avowed not to do so again. I removed its original but highly polished B1171C bracelet and fitted it to my SpeedTimerKollektion franken 7A38-7020, which I'd bought two months earlier (as my other 'newbie' mistake).

The watch surprisingly actually kept good time and all the chronograph functions worked. I had planned to break it up for parts, but it ended up just being left in a takeaway container, with some other gash stuff, for at least 10 years ! This morning I came across said container and the memories of my earlier indiscretion came flooding back. Needless to say, the replacement battery (a Maxell) I'd fitted had been dead for a good many years.

rsz_p1730007.jpg (200.23 KiB) Viewed 6011 times

I fitted a new Seizaiken #394 and amazingly it sprang back to life, albeit initially with a bit of hesitation from the 1/10s hand. I also found the very shiny non-original replacement bracelet that came on the SpeedTimerKollektion franken.

7A38-7020-Stainless+Gold-Silver+BlackFace(Franken)-eBay-March2009-4.jpg (54.28 KiB) Viewed 6008 times

7A38-7020-Stainless+Gold-Silver+BlackFace(Franken)-eBay-March2009-5.jpg (58.38 KiB) Viewed 6008 times

7A38-7020-Stainless+Gold-Silver+BlackFace(Franken)-eBay-March2009-6.jpg (59.91 KiB) Viewed 6008 times

The resultant watch is what I call a proper polished turd ! I'm not sure whether I dare post a photo of it.