Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Gold-tone Seiko 7A38's generally aren't popular with most collectors. Well-worn used examples even less so, because they've often suffered from plating wear. So this gold-tone 7A38-7190, listed late yesterday evening by a UK eBay seller as a 7-day auction with a low start opening bid price of only £0.99, might appear an attractive option at first glance. But remember the old saying / quote from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice: All that glitters is not gold ....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEIKO-7A-38- ... 4863942655


In this case, all that glitters is not Seiko SGP. The watch has been completely re-plated - and I do mean completely .... even the SQ clasp's Z-fold has been erroneously plated ! Here's a few very old photos from my library, showing how an excellent unmolested gold-tone 7A38-7190 SAA056J should look. Note that not only is the underside of the B1405G bracelet not plated, but neither are the edges of the links or the clasp:

I've seen this same excessively re-plated 7A38-7190, case-back serial # 611017, listed and sold on eBay twice before, in August and November last year. In fact, when I first saw the listing this morning, I recognised it from the primary image, which shows the incorrect replacement sweep second hand fitted. How sad is that ?

August 2020:


November 2020:


As can be seen in those earlier photos, not only is has it been excessively over-plated, but it's way too shiny, compared to the original Seiko SGP semi-matte finish.

Maybe seller "Paul" thinks he'll be forgiven because he's a self-anointed "Rockstar". When I saw this listing yesterday, my first reaction also was that the finish was too mirror-like, and heaven knows I have no actual expertise.

Checking my eBay watching page, I see that the blinged-up re-plated gold-tone 7A38-7190 sold yesterday evening for £155 after 20 bids. The mind boggles.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274863942655