The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

7A28, 7A38 and 7A48 (plus 7A34, 7A36, 7A07 and 7A54)
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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

Post by Seiko7A38 »

Seiko7A38 wrote: Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:36 am Wearing my erstwhile NOS condition 7A38-6050 SJS058J on this distinctly dismal unsunny red SUNday morning. For want of any more suitable alternative, it's fitted with a notched silicone rubber strap, in lieu of the original Seiko p/n GK54A perforated leather strap (which it came with) that had unfortunately started to disintegrate. :|
It's Red 5 SUNday, so I thought I'd start the new page with a couple of wrist shots of my first JDM 7A38-6050 SJS058. :) 'First' in that I later bought another NOS example (per the quote) and also because this almost mint example happens to be serial #0001 from the first month of a two-month production run, which started in April 1985.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

Post by Seiko7A38 »

Seiko7A38 wrote: Sat Sep 04, 2021 10:42 amI'm going to take a break from that sequence of Seiko 7A38-704x's, before all the dull dark grey PVD gets too boring. :lol:
After the weekend break, here's the last variation of that 7A38-704x sequence - my 7A38-704C SAA029J.

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If it looks a bit 'samey', this watch is almost identical to the 7A38-704A SAA024J, which I posted on the previous page. The only difference is the orange plastic pushers are replaced by grey ones (to match the PVD case). The same grey plastic pushers are used on the JDM 7A38-7110 SJS048. Here's a side-by-side comparison shot I took a few years ago.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

Post by Seiko7A38 »

Prompted by the appearance of that ludicrously over-priced head only parts watch on eBay UK yesterday, I thought it was about time I dug out and dusted off my original Yema N8 Flygraf, which I've owned since December 2009. Sadly it doesn't get worn very often nowadays, having been supplanted by better condition examples.

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Note that the inner logarithmic scale index marks on the rotating 'slide rule' bezel appear shorter than normal and some of the numbers have suffered from what might be construed as rubbing wear. Hence my comment in that other thread:
Seiko7A38 wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:41 amAs far as the missing bezel is concerned, if anybody knows the part number, or where it's possible to order one from, please share that information with me, because I've been looking for one for over 10 years, without success ! :cry:
However, I suspect the reason for the slight loss of bezel printing is that someone polished the scratched crystal in situ, without troubling to remove the bezel and inadvertently buffed its inner rim. It doesn't actually bother me that much and is really only noticeable when comparing the watch to another example. In fact, that worn bezel gives this watch its identity. It has an illustrious history, previously owned by the erstwhile president of Yema, Louis-Eric Beckensteiner and as such once also belonged to the official Yema factory museum collection. The full story of my acquisition can be found in this appropriately titled thread on the old archived forum: I really didn't need another Yema N8 Flygraf ....

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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I never did get around to finishing off that old forum thread, but I'm sure I've already admitted since, I finally ended up with a total of 9 Yema N8 Flygrafs in my collection. :oops: N°8 would probably have been a good place to stop. :roll:
Seiko7A38 wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 1:53 pm
Seiko7A38 wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:08 am I thought I'd do a Flygraf Friday. 8-) Although I should have stopped buying (and hoarding) these attractive Yema pilot's watches a long time ago, I eventually ended up with 9 of them. Hence the date. :lol: N°8 would have been better. :roll:
Friday afternoon swap for another Yema N8 Flygraf from my little collection. This example has the alternative creamy coloured lume (per the third one I ever bought, but not that particular NOS example). In hindsight, I don't think I ever actually owned up to buying this one in the I really didn't need another .... thread, but it's now my third N8 Flygraf with cream lume. :oops: It's also the very last one I bought in August 2019, so maybe I'm finally cured ! :P
I had indeed earlier confessed to my excesses. ;) Anyway, here's another afternoon swap for another Yema N8 Flygraf with the alternate creamy coloured lume. This is a slightly later production example with a 3-xxx serial number and is fitted with the later style Yema double-ribbed shark strap. Crystal is typically scuffed, but the bezel is almost pristine.

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Note how the bezel's inner logarithmic scale index marks correctly run right up to the edge (compared to this morning's wrist shot). I'd actually replaced the battery in this one on 17th July this year, but for some reason didn't take or post a wrist shot at the time. :| (Edit: Looks like I was in Yema N8 'Bling' mode at the time). Not that I need to justify myself or further emphasize the folly of that current UK eBay listing for a parts watch, but I did document my purchase of this secondhand example in the old forum's thread - as a rather more sensible price for a complete working example. ;)

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

Post by Seiko7A38 »

It's Franken Friday - or should I more appropriately say Franken FRED Force 10 FREitag. :mrgreen: This one seldom gets out of the collection box and less rarely worn - only on 'special' days, like Friday 10th, which don't come around very often. :( There are only two in 2021. Thankfully I just remembered. 8-)

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Since I came up with the concept, 7 years ago back in 2014, (long before I acquired either of my pukka Fred Force 10's in late 2019), it's gone through a couple of minor modifications, the most recent being a different set of hands. I'm still debating whether to replace the blingy Seiko p/n Z1005C bracelet with a p/n Z1020S (as per my other 7A38-702x based frankens), which would also match the case lug end width better. Then there's that original Fred brass Tachymeter ring, which I went through so much trouble to utilise. The 6 unsightly gaps around its perimeter could so easily be solved by fitting a white plastic Seiko one (as I'd considered from the outset). Decisions, decisions. :|

Speaking of which, I couldn't quite make up my mind which was the better of these two wrist shots. So here's the other:

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Crikey ! :o I've just noticed this new One and Only WRUW thread has just surpassed the 10,000 page views mark. :D

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:23 am Wearing this NOS Yema Spationaute III Aragatz, model # N80P76, on this grey overcast blue SATurday morning. Image
I have a few other NOS examples in my collection ....
At the risk of repeating myself - but a different variation on the theme. This is a first year production example, with the silver painted hands and 'full printing' version of the dial. It's fitted with the original Yema dark navy blue leather strap.

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Checking my records (and its case-back serial number), this was actually the first NOS example of Yema Spationaute III, I ever acquired, back in June 2010 - purchased from an Italian eBay seller for 162 Euros. Ah, those were the days. :D

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Sun May 16, 2021 10:08 am What follows blue SATurdays ? Red SUNdays, naturally. 8-) Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal. 531 model # F6094801.
This red SUNday morning I've dug out my original lesser condition example of the Ferrari Formula Cal. 531 # F6094801. Purchased in far too much haste, definitely under the influence of the 'Red Mist', way back in December 2009. I hadn't worn it for so long, I first had to add two links back into the bracelet (which I'd removed), to get it to fit my wrist. :oops:

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In the harsh light of day, it doesn't bear too close examination. The dial has a couple of flaws, which the minute hand happens to be pointing to, viz. a vertical section of the 'grille' motif directly below '500' and the yellow dot 8 minute marker are missing. The more observant of you may also notice that it's been fitted with incorrect black sub-dial hands (possibly Seiko). I have a spare NOS set of the correct Cartier dark grey sub-dial hands, but have never bothered to fit them. Indeed, since I purchased my second almost mint example in November 2017 (which incidentally I paid less for), I've become increasingly disenchanted with this one. Not before time, I think its days are numbered. I mean who needs two examples of the iconic 'TestaRossa' variant ? Not even the most ardent Tifoso. For a while I've been contemplating giving it a dial and hand swap, thereby converting it into another model variant. Let's see how the mood takes me.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Just trying on my latest incoming Seiko 7A38, which DHL delivered about an hour ago, all the way from sunny Ecuador. It's a ZFM Brazilian manufactured 7A38-7085 (hence the lack of 'JAPAN', next to '7A38', at right of the 7 o'clock baton). I've been looking for one of these for a while and more or less gave up trying to find one in decent condition (without excessive wear to the black chrome coating and with the original bracelet). This example was posted FS on Instagram a couple of weeks ago and was reasonably priced for the condition. It was fitted with an aftermarket rubber 'dive' strap, which the seller himself described as 'rubbish'. :lol: I didn't actually tell him to chuck it in the bin, but he shipped it as a 'head only', so to get on on my wrist, for the purposes of these shots, I've 'borrowed' the Seiko p/n B1242S bracelet off my beater 7A38-7080.

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Not decided how this one will progress. The case and bezel rim have a moderate amount of rubbing wear (less than my 7A38-7080 beater), but barring some loss of black lacquer from its outer edge, the bezel insert is quite good. The most important aspects (as far as I'm concerned) are that the dial, its lume and hands and the ZF Manaus IND BRAS. stamped case-back are all in good condition. Here's a couple more photos, the seller (Nico) emailed me, prior to my purchase:

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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You'll often see the word 'RARE' mis-used by unscrupulous eBay sellers to promote their listings for common-or-garden 7A38 variants and bandied about on Instagram by those who know no better. :roll: At first glance, this watch may appear nothing out of the ordinary. Indeed it bears a passing resemblance to a relatively common two-tone 7A28-7020 SPR010J, but in terms of number of sightings, it has to be one of the rarest 7A38 variants. It took me nearly 7 years of searching to find this example (full story here: in the old forum's model specific thread) and it's still the only one I've ever seen. Gentlemen, may I present the lesser-spotted 7A38-706A SAA034J.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Not all the watches in my collection are in pristine condition and a few, like this extremely rare two-tone 7A38-706x variant, are unfortunately far from it. That said, I'm sometimes content to own any example, not just for their 'rarity factor', but because it helps to complete my collection. I bought this 7A38-706B SAA084J in something of desperation, off eBay France back in April 2016. I've only seen one example before, belonging to erstwhile forum member Dendirk who can't be persuaded to part with his 'wedding watch' (see old forum's model thread) and haven't seen another since.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:55 pmNot all the watches in my collection are in pristine condition and a few, like this extremely rare two-tone 7A38-706x variant, are unfortunately far from it.
At the risk of repeating myself .... here's one I don't think I've ever actually posted a wrist shot of before - not even in the old forum's WRUW thread: my Italian market two-tone 7A38-706B with the less attractive 727O Arabic number dial. I'm not sure which is the less appealing design, this or the 720L dial of the 7A38-706B SAA084J in my previous post. :| Readers may recall from the old forum's model thread that Italian collector Manuel had given his example the unkind but highly appropriate pet name 'Brutto Anatroccolo' (Ugly Duckling). Not difficult to see why.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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I've spent a couple of hours this morning, continuing the reorganisation of my collection boxes, cataloging and tagging watches as I go. This little exercise involved congregating all my 7A38-706x's into one box. While shuffling them around, I came across another Italian market two-tone 7A38-706B, with the rather more attractive 728O Roman numeral dial. Incidentally, the strap fitted is a Taikonaut Frog grain on quick release pins (not that I plan on changing it). :P

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This one always makes me smile, when I think of the eccentric Italian eBay seller, with a strange fixation on the number Six. He photoshopped both the case-back model and serial numbers - per his listing photo vs actual received below. :lol:

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It wasn't quite so funny when he shipped the package (by DHL) to the wrong house number (#6) and I nearly lost it ! :x
Full story in the old forum thread (you'll need to scroll about halfway down the first page).

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:47 pm Better late than never, here's a wrist shot of my newest incoming gold-tone NOS 7A38-7000 SAA008J. Bling, Bling. 8-)
Catching the last rays of Summer with my second string example of gold-tone 7A38-7000 SAA008J. I thought I'd posted a wrist shot of this one around the time I'd acquired my NOS example, but seems not. So here it is, again better late than never. It's almost mint, save for that tiny ding on the top LH corner of the watch case.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Sat Sep 11, 2021 10:22 am
Seiko7A38 wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:23 am Wearing this NOS Yema Spationaute III Aragatz, model # N80P76, on this grey overcast blue SATurday morning.
I have a few other NOS examples in my collection ....
At the risk of repeating myself - but a different variation on the theme. Image
This NOS example is a second year production example. These still came with the full complement of dial printing, but were fitted with the later, slightly narrower polished stainless hands and the optional dark navy blue shark strap.

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This is one of an almost identical pair which I purchased in August 2012 from US eBay seller izeldor (a.k.a. Dory Farash) who was once the official US importer and distributor for Yema. Price back in 2012: $250 - Yes, those were the days. :mrgreen:

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Here's a brighter lit photo of the other (that I purchased two months later for a slightly lower winning bid of $232). :mrgreen: I'd replaced the battery in this one last weekend, but then it started raining before I had a chance to take a wrist shot.

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Difficult to tell them apart. They're not quite identical (as they were when purchased), because I fitted the alternative style Yema wire loop buckle to this one. Vive la différence ! The photo below is actually from this old forum thread.

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Sun May 16, 2021 10:08 amWhat follows blue SATurdays ? Red SUNdays, naturally. 8-)
It needed something to brighten up this dull grey overcast Sunday morning and so I've dug out my almost NOS condition Cartier Ferrari Formula Cal. 531 model # F6444401. I couldn't remember if I'd previously posted a wrist shot in this new forum's WRUW thread, but it transpires I had - that's where the partial re-quote came from. :oops:

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Here's my latest incoming Seiko 7A38 acquisition, which finally arrived from sunny Suni, Sardinia on Saturday morning - another example of the relatively scarce Italian market 7A38-724A SAA086J. While far from mint, it's in better condition than my previous two. It also happens to be the earliest 734xxx case-back serial number I've seen on one of these. :)

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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While I've got them both out of the collection box, here's a gratuitous shot of my previous 7A38-724A SAA086J, bought in May 2014, which also just happens to be the highest 743xxx case-back serial number I've ever seen on one of these. :mrgreen:

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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Seiko7A38 wrote: Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:09 pmI've spent a couple of hours this morning, continuing the reorganisation of my collection boxes, cataloging and tagging watches as I go. This little exercise involved congregating all my 7A38-706x's into one box.
The other part of that time-consuming ongoing exercise, which continued at the weekend, involved digging out all my 7A38-724x's, -725x's and -726x's, some of which had previously shared the same 36-slot watch box with my 7A38-706x's, and setting them out in one dedicated 24-slot box. I've almost finished (and filled it), with one incoming still to arrive.

Some of these watches hadn't seen the light of day in a very long time, evidenced by the dates they were displaying. :oops: It's funny, whereas over the years, I've purchased more than one example of most models in this family, I've only ever seen the need to buy one two-tone 7A38-7240 SAA108J. I've just dusted it off, to give it a quick outing.

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I remember this watch well. I bought it off eBay in the States, back in August 2009. As purchased, it had been fitted with an overly thick replacement crystal and whoever had done the job had re-fitted the bezel 30° out of alignment:

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I've never quite understood why Seiko produced this variant (and likely the reason I've never bought another) because apart from being fitted with that flimsy p/n G1285C bracelet, instead of a leather strap, it's so similar to the common-or-garden two-tone 7A38-7260 SAA098J . Both have almost identical light grey coloured dials, which are difficult, if not impossible to tell apart, yet according to part numbers shown on Seiko's database, they're supposed to be a different colour: 718LXN18 (7A38-7240) versus 718LXN34 (7A38-7260). I'm buggered if I can tell the difference. :?

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Re: The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

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I like to think I'm being logical when making a decision whether to purchase a watch, but occasionally I buy on impulse, usually giving in to the allure of 'NOS'. In January 2020, I bought another NOS 7A38-7250 SAA080J, which I really didn't need. It turned out to be a costly mistake, because it transpired the watch had some serious mechanical issues, traced back to a manufacturing defect. (See this post for details). The thing is, I already had a perfectly good NOS example in my collection, which I'd bought back in October 2009. Because of the strange combination of light gunmetal two-tone finish and sandy beige coloured dial it doesn't get worn much (if at all), so while I've still got that box out, here it is:

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It came from eBay in the States in a job lot of three watches. Here's the eBay seller's original 3 listing photos:

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