The ONE and ONLY WRUW thread - Part Deux !

[power90801]

Be nice Paul...

7A38-6060-IMG_5929.jpg (244.82 KiB) Viewed 6541 times

[Seiko7A38]

Well I was wondering how long we'd have to wait, before somebody else posted, to start the new page. Thanks, Bob.

So here, deliberately late, but better late than never nonetheless, are a couple of wrist shots of my 7T32-F039 SDW258 blingy two-tone panda. (I couldn't decide between the two). So far, this has been my only watch purchase of 2022. Full details, for anybody interested, can be found in this dedicated thread.

rsz_p1800080-crop.jpg (241.37 KiB) Viewed 6537 times

rsz_p1800081-crop.jpg (242.44 KiB) Viewed 6530 times

The date is showing 26, but rather than enhance it, that cyclops tends to obscure it, unless viewed directly head-on.

[Seiko7A38]

Speaking about Seiko Diver 'Panda's as I was (something very topical elsewhere), I was faffing about outside in the chilly breeze this morning, trying to capture a half decent wrist shot of my almost mint 7A38-6000 SAA039J, without success. The available daylight wasn't great and I couldn't get the contrast / sharpness of focus I was looking for.

rsz_p1800093-crop.jpg (241.74 KiB) Viewed 6476 times

That was the best of a bad batch. Disgruntled, I came back indoors and started going through my photo folders, knowing I'd done better and found an image with the correct day / date that I hadn't actually posted before !

rsz_p1640039-crop.jpg (242.75 KiB) Viewed 6475 times

That photo was actually taken on Saturday 12th September 2020 - and discarded in favour of the one I used below.

7A38-6000-(Divers)-Stainless-PandaFace-OldForum-WRUW-Post-12-Sept-2020.jpg (166.45 KiB) Viewed 6472 times

[Seiko7A38]

A little splash of red for Valentine's Day. ❤ My first photo (and wrist shot) of my latest acquisition, which finally arrived last Friday, after some slightly disconcerting shipping delays - an almost mint stainless 7A38-6020 SAA041J.

rsz_p1800094-crop.jpg (244.4 KiB) Viewed 6458 times

I was going to take some photos yesterday (with red SUN). Unluckily it was the 13th typically and the weather was diabolical all day. Tried again this morning, but even that shot has a couple of tiny raindrops on the bezel inlay and crystal. Guess it'll have to wait for some better weather.

[Seiko7A38]

Better late than never, here's an almost as received shot of my newest incoming non- Seiko 7A38 which was finally delivered (a week late) by Royal Mail earlier this morning. It's a Puma Y19001-70, in decent used condition. It not only came with a full-length bracelet, but a previous owner (presumably with very large wrists) had replaced the original short Puma logo'd clasp with a Seiko SQ 7-hole adjustable one. Luckily, I had a Puma one 'spare' and swapped it back. Pity about the scratch on the crystal, right over the date window, but certainly I can't complain for the price paid.

rsz_p1810001-crop.jpg (241.83 KiB) Viewed 6295 times

[Seiko7A38]

This morning I've been going through one of my collection boxes, which contains all my 7A38-702x's, checking for low battery indicators, advancing the date and time (for BST) and exercising their chronograph functions using the inbuilt self test. A couple were doing the two-second two-step, so naturally I replaced their batteries, including this one which I hadn't worn for a good while - my much-loved customized two-tone 7A38-7020 'Dirty Panda' split dial Franken.

rsz_p1810003-crop.jpg (245.11 KiB) Viewed 6239 times

[Seiko7A38]

Watching that absolute madness over the MoonSwatch release, a fortnight ago today and having followed the story as it unfolded (in this 40-page thread on TZ-UK) I remain seriously unimpressed and have no desire to waste $260 on a plastic (sorry 'Bioceramic') clone of an Omega Speedmaster 'Moon watch', even if it is quartz powered. It's available in eleven different colours, including a blue version called (Mission to Neptune), whose case evidently leaks dye onto your wrist.

Nah I'm going to stick with what I know - the best analogue quartz chronograph that ever flew in space. This SATurday morning I'm wearing a NOS Yema Spationaute III Aragatz, one of three I bought back in 2012 from US eBay seller izeldor (the former importer and US distributor for Yema) for $250.

rsz_p1810006-crop.jpg (244.8 KiB) Viewed 6231 times

[Seiko7A38]

This subtly modded stainless 7A38-7280 SAA119J which used to be one of my daily wearers had been neglected of late.

rsz_p1810009-crop.jpg (241.99 KiB) Viewed 6197 times

PS - The non-standard white nylon crystal gasket isn't anywhere near as thick as it might appear in that photo.

[Seiko7A38]

Wearing my 7A38-7070 SAA031J refurbished 'beater', fitted with Yobokies' repro' bezel insert, this morning.

rsz_p1810015-crop.jpg (244.26 KiB) Viewed 6185 times

[Seiko7A38]

Wearing one of my 'second string' examples of stainless 7A38-7000 SAA007J this morning. I can always recognise this one from its non-standard replacement crown - a p/n 45M74NS1, that I fitted. It should correctly be p/n 45M54NS1, which has a lightly domed top. Sure I've got one somewhere amongst my spares. Must get around to swapping it one day.

rsz_p1810016-crop.jpg (241.96 KiB) Viewed 6173 times

Purchased it off eBay France back in September 2013, for the princely sum of €47.50. It was missing it's crown.

7A38-7000-Stainless+Black-eBay-Sept2013-(MissingCrown).JPG (43.55 KiB) Viewed 6172 times

[Seiko7A38]

One of my better examples of the stainless 7A38-7020 SAA009J. Lovely original brushed finish with barely a mark on it.

rsz_p1810030-crop.jpg (244.12 KiB) Viewed 6152 times

[Seiko7A38]

Always a tricky one to photograph, getting everything in focus - my almost mint condition 7A38-701A SAA003J.

rsz_p1810033-crop.jpg (240.93 KiB) Viewed 6135 times

rsz_p1810035-crop.jpg (244.01 KiB) Viewed 6133 times

[Seiko7A38]

Even though it's a SATurday I wasn't planning to wear this 7A38-6000 'Dinky Diver'. But when I opened the collection box to get something else out, I noticed this one had stopped completely. So I replaced the battery and decided to wear it instead. I'd forgotten how comfortable that vintage Seiko beads of rice bracelet was. Couldn't decide between these two contrastingly lit shots.

rsz_p1810036-crop.jpg (240.54 KiB) Viewed 6123 times

rsz_p1810037-crop.jpg (243.3 KiB) Viewed 6123 times

[Seiko7A38]

I was a bit stuck which watch to wear this morning. That's the trouble with being spoiled for choice. I got my two Orient J39 collection boxes out and picked my favourite - the J39701-70 with the Indianapolis 500 dial logo. Sorted.

rsz_p1810039-crop.jpg (243.97 KiB) Viewed 6110 times

rsz_p1810040-crop.jpg (244.65 KiB) Viewed 6110 times

[Seiko7A38]

Afternoon swap for the white dialed version.

rsz_p1810042-crop.jpg (242.85 KiB) Viewed 6109 times

[Seiko7A38]

Dug out this almost mint condition stainless 7A38-7060 SAA015J, which hadn't seen the light of day in a while.

rsz_p1810044-crop.jpg (242.28 KiB) Viewed 6096 times

[Seiko7A38]

Wearing this delightful dressy Orient J39930-70 on this lovely sunny Spring morning. Needed to find some shade.

rsz_p1810050-crop.jpg (239.78 KiB) Viewed 6086 times

[Seiko7A38]

I reckon it must have been nearly a year since I last wore one of these. How time flies. One of my better examples of the Junghans High Tech Chrono 24/4610. Anders alter Technik.

rsz_p1810051-crop.jpg (241.79 KiB) Viewed 6073 times

[Seiko7A38]

Another watch that doesn't often get to see the light of day - my almost mint 7A38-705A SAA027J. All that lets it down are a couple of tiny nicks in the bezel rim and some very minor loss of matt black paint from the bracelet joining links.

rsz_p1810058-crop.jpg (243.56 KiB) Viewed 6059 times

[Seiko7A38]

Today is Earth Day, so I'm wearing something green. Peppermint green to be more accurate. The 7A38-7050 SAA025J.

rsz_p1810061-crop.jpg (242.12 KiB) Viewed 6041 times