Rare NOS condition JDM 7A38-6030 SJS028 on Yahoo Japan

[Seiko7A38]

Even in Japan, the black chrome coated 7A38-6030 SJS028 seems relatively scarce - at least if you compare the number of sightings on Yahoo Japan with its more popular sibling, the stainless 7A38-6040 SJS038. Just checking through my 2022 photo folders, there were only 3 last year (and some other horrible aberration which had been stripped of its coating). There were also only 3 in 2021, but of those only one was fitted with its correct original p/n YA28A bracelet.

For more information on this model, I suggest you read the 5 pages of model specific thread on the old archived forum:
7A38-6030 SJS028 - Black Chrome small 'Diver' (JDM only)

The main problem this watch shares with all other black chrome plated 7Axx variants is rubbing wear to the vulnerable coating. On this model it's usually the lugs and underside of the bracelet that take the brunt of the wear. As new Seiko's BCRP finish is a dull matt black. It doesn't take much rubbing wear for that to become shiny. This is my own 7A38-6030 which I bought off Yahoo Japan in November 2015. It cost a whopping ¥60,000 yen back then. It's almost mint, with no loss of coating (if a little shiny in places) and I'm unlikely to find a better example at that price.

rsz_p1480040-crop.jpg (244.16 KiB) Viewed 944 times

[Seiko7A38]

That said, I think I may have found a better example. This came up overnight in my Buyee saved search notifications, listed by a Yahoo Japan 'Store' seller as a 2-day auction with an opening bid price of ¥39,800 Yen (subject to 10% Japanese Sales Tax). The seller has categorized it as 'Used', but with 'No obvious damages/dirt'. Studying the photos, there appears to be no coating loss, nor rubbing wear - the watch appears to be an even dull matt black all over. The case-back is still fitted with the JDM inspection sticker. Were it not for the lack of a presentation box and paperwork, and the shortage of a couple of bracelet adjustment links, this could easily be described as NOS.

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/p1080293195

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-Buyee-Listing.jpg (238.78 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-1.jpg (81.31 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-2.jpg (51.69 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-3.jpg (56.89 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-4.jpg (48.33 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-5.jpg (48.67 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-6.jpg (48.63 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-7.jpg (54.6 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-8.jpg (48.61 KiB) Viewed 939 times

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-9.jpg (67.62 KiB) Viewed 939 times

Google translates the Japanese seller's description as follows:

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-Description.png (22.13 KiB) Viewed 939 times

[Seiko7A38]

The Yahoo Japan auction for that mint condition 7A38-6030 ended a few moments ago, selling for 61,004 Yen after 9 bids, adding 10% Japanese Sales Tax, makes a total of 67,104 Yen, equivalent to approx. $523.69 USD / £425.23 GBP.

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/p1080293195

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-YahooJapan-Jan2023-Ended-Sold-67104Yen.jpg (223.19 KiB) Viewed 929 times

Hopefully it's gone to a collector, rather than another greedy profiteering re-seller.

[Techvet]

This mint 7A38-6030 has now landed in my possession. As a new forum member here and elsewhere, I have finally come clean with my Seiko chronograph obsession. I have had several 7Txx series watches in my collection for years now, this is my first 7Axx model.

The guy who purchased this 7A38 back in Feb, flipped it out to eBay last week at a higher price than he paid in Feb. Once I saw its significance I didn’t hesitate to throw him an offer. He accepted, and 5 days later it was on my wrist.

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-watchuseek-techvet-wristshot-tue22.jpg (239.73 KiB) Viewed 678 times

It literally is “mint.” Everything works and it looks like it just came out of the box. The 38mm size is one of my favorites. I plan to keep this one forever, wearing it sparingly. I don’t have a manual, so I’m on the hunt for one of those. If anyone here has a spare they’d like to sell, then please let me know.

[Seiko7A38]

Congratulations on your purchase.

The guy who purchased this 7A38 back in Feb, flipped it out to eBay last week at a higher price than he paid in Feb.

I did see that eBay listing while it was live, but didn't make the connection with the Yahoo Japan listing at the time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31477480123

7A38-6030-(Divers)-Black-eBay-August2023-Ended-Sold-BestOffer.png (198.65 KiB) Viewed 677 times

Perhaps it was because his primary image and a few more besides, showed the watch fitted with a leather strap.
There were half a dozen more showing it fitted with the bracelet:

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-ebay-august2023-1.jpg (242.92 KiB) Viewed 676 times

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-ebay-august2023-2.jpg (229.39 KiB) Viewed 676 times

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-ebay-august2023-3.jpg (241.12 KiB) Viewed 676 times

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-ebay-august2023-4.jpg (239.35 KiB) Viewed 676 times

No excuses, really, because the pristine JDM inspection sticker was visible in a couple of shots:

rsz_7a38-6030-divers-black-ebay-august2023-12.jpg (242.22 KiB) Viewed 674 times

It's possible to read the case-back serial number (492493) on a couple of them, so a definite failure to spot, on my part.

PS - I've edited your post by embedding your wrist shot that you'd posted on WatchUseek.

[Techvet]

Thanks for dragging that image over! I am really intrigued by these 7Axx movements. I’d love to find a 7A38-6040 to go with this one, but it looks like those are just as hard to come by. So, I’ll probably settle for a nice 7A28-7040/7049 instead.

[Seiko7A38]

No, the stainless 7A38-6040 SJS038 appears to be more common than its black coated sibling. I've seen 9 or 10 of them listed on Yahoo Japan so far this year, although a couple weren't fitted with their correct original 'SPEEDMASTER' logo'd bracelets (and one was on a NATO). That said, they're more popular and so can fetch higher prices - sometimes over ¥100K Yen. These are the 4 most recent examples listed and sold on Yahoo Japan:

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/n1090507168

7A38-6040-(Divers)-Stainless-BlackFace-YahooJapan-May2023-Ended-Sold-68000Yen.jpg (205.36 KiB) Viewed 656 times

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/s1096785818

7A38-6040-(Divers)-Stainless-BlackFace-YahooJapan-June2023-Ended-Sold-78100Yen.jpg (215.23 KiB) Viewed 656 times

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/f1102061174

7A38-6040-(Divers)-Stainless-BlackFace-YahooJapan-August2023-Ended-Sold-102000Yen.jpg (245.92 KiB) Viewed 656 times

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/b1102804989

7A38-6040-(Divers)-Stainless-BlackFace-YahooJapan-August2023-Ended-Sold-57000Yen.jpg (234.62 KiB) Viewed 656 times

Being a JDM variant, it makes sense to buy direct from Japan (using a proxy service, like Buyee), rather than pay a fat premium to a profiteering US eBay re-seller. There is one such, who regularly buys cheaper 7A38-6040's off Yahoo Japan, that you should avoid at all costs - rtm127. See this thread in the eBay section (the most recent example of his greed).

If you like the smaller size (and black chrome finish), there is another watch you might consider, its export market sibling, the 7A38-6010 SAA040J. They're relatively common in the States. That's where my NOS example came from.

[Techvet]

Thanks for that enlightenment. I’m definitely interest in sourcing a 7A38-6040. I really like the 37-38mm size watch and having a stainless one will allow me to wear it more. The 7A28-7040 is touch bigger, but it has 80’s classic styling written all over it, so it will stay on the list too. I’ve set up a Buyee account and will start watching for the 7A38-6040.

[Seiko7A38]

Being a JDM variant, it makes sense to buy direct from Japan (using a proxy service, like Buyee), rather than pay a fat premium to a profiteering US eBay re-seller. There is one such, who regularly buys cheaper 7A38-6040's off Yahoo Japan, that you should avoid at all costs - rtm127. See this thread in the eBay section (the most recent example of his greed).

As I was saying. The latest example of his greed appeared overnight.