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Seiko Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7000 (Sold)

€ 725.00

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About Details and then some
Manufacture Seiko Quartz Chronograph
Model reference Unknown 7A38-7000
Movement Quartz
Caliber 7A38
Dial Black
Case 40x45x10mm Steel
Lugs 20mm
Bracelet B1170 19cm
Crystal serial # Unknown Mineral
Timegrapher Accuracy: as rated
Jewels 15
Serial # 3Nxxxx Production: 1983-11
Condition Excellent
Service Not required
Box & Papers No box No papers


Seiko's 7A28 chronograph series alone consists of no less than 42 variations, including models issued to the military and those used in movies. Two models from that 7A28 family were featured, one in the 1986 sci-fi flick “Aliens” - the silver and black 7A28-7000 - and another one was used in the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” starring Roger Moore - the 7A28-7020 model SPR007. The 7A38, with day and date added, also has a bewildering range of models, European only and Japanese domestic market.

Rather than a modular, disposable plastic movement, the 7a series has a proper, quasi-decorated 15 jewel metal movement that could be regulated, disassembled and repaired. It even has a very traditional finger damper spring on the centre seconds pinion. Seiko really threw investment, thinking and effort into this one. This explains why, despite often impressive abuse, so many survive. Notice those little rectangular plates over parts of the movement? Each of those protects a tiny stepper motor – one for each of the chronograph functions. And that’s what this watch is all about. With this movement, Seiko boasted 10 seconds per month accuracy.

Finally, the 7A48 movements were released with a moon phase complication, but these are not explored in this article.

In the mid 1980s Seiko released its 7A28-7120 variant with reference number SPR047 and NATO Stock Number (NSN) 6645-99-768-3056 to be used by the ministry of defense’s Royal Air Force (RAF). Gen. 1 RAF-issued Seiko watches were on the wrists of British Air Force pilots and navigators from October 1984 until November 1990. The 7A28 movement was replaced by the Seiko 7T27 caliber in 1993.

Other than the RAF, Seiko also supplied the South African Air Force (SAAF) with its 7A28 movement – the 7A28-7040 & 7A38-7070 - from 1985 to 1986. The Seiko 7A28-7049 is a 7A28-7040 lookalike that belongs to the Sports 100 collection. This is indicated by the “Sports 100” mark on the dial below the cursive “Chronograph”. The -9 designation means it was for the American market.