Seiko Quartz Chronograph, Ref. 7A38-7100, Cal. 7A38, Men’s Chronograph Vintage Watch, 1984

Vintage Seiko Quartz Chronograph Chronograph Vintage Watch from 1984, men’s, Quartz Cal. 7A38, iconic black dial with bronze subdials and tachymeter; fully serviced and for sale.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph 1984 — First impression - 7A38-7100

This Seiko Quartz Chronograph presents the purposeful, angular aesthetic of early-80s Japanese horology heritage. The faceted stainless-steel case frames a deep black dial punctuated by bronze subdials and a tachymeter chapter ring, delivering legibility and tool-watch seriousness. Crisp applied markers, luminous hands and a day-date aperture at 3 o’clock complete a balanced, collectible timepiece aimed at precision timekeeping.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph - Black dial with bronze subdials Dial

The dial is matte black with three contrasting bronze registers: 30-minute counter at 9, 1/10-second at 3, and running seconds at 6. Applied baton hour markers and discreet lume plots provide clean sightlines. The inner tachymeter scale reinforces the chronograph’s sporting intent while retaining an elegant, period-correct layout.

Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7100 - Hands

Central hour and minute hands are polished steel with luminous inlays; the slim chronograph seconds hand tracks the outer scale precisely. Subdial hands are light-colored for instant contrast. The combination yields clear at-a-glance reading, even when the chronograph is engaged.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7100 - Faceted geometry Stainless Steel Case

The stainless-steel case features sharply faceted shoulders and an integrated-lugs profile that flows into the bracelet, echoing Seiko’s industrial design language of the era. A fixed smooth bezel sits under the crystal, while well-spaced pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock and a corrector at 10 o’clock give positive, mechanical feedback—hallmarks prized by enthusiasts of historic wristwatches.

Quartz Chronograph 7A38-7100 - Crown

The unsigned crown at 3 o’clock matches the case finish and sits flush for comfort. Its proportions and machining are consistent with Seiko factory parts for the 7A38 family, supporting originality alongside the period-correct pusher set.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph Bracelet

Original integrated stainless-steel bracelet with distinctive black inlay segments lends a technical, architectural character. The signed Seiko clasp (inner stamped “ALL STAINLESS STEEL / JAPAN B”) provides secure closure and micro-adjust, keeping the watch poised and ready for daily wear.

Movement — Seiko Caliber 7A38 Quartz chronograph architecture

Inside is Seiko’s legendary Cal. 7A38, the day-date evolution of the pioneering 7A28—among the first fully analog quartz chronograph movements. It employs a metal gear train and discrete, serviceable components, driving three independent stepper motors for the subdials and central chronograph hand. Rated at 32,768 Hz with typical accuracy around ±15 s/month, it offers fly-back-like reset behavior, robust reliability and long-term maintainability—qualities that make this model a serious collectible in Japanese watchmaking heritage.

Heritage of the Seiko Quartz Chronograph in the 1980s integrated-design era

The 7A38 platform marked a milestone where quartz precision met mechanical-style chronograph displays. Its integrated case-to-bracelet silhouette captures the 1980s design context: angular, purposeful and thin on the wrist. Collectors value these references for their repairable construction, enduring aesthetics and historical relevance at the dawn of high-function quartz chronographs.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph — 12-month warranty, worldwide shipping: Condition, Originality, trust signals

Fully serviced and fully operational, this example retains original dial, hands, pushers, crown and integrated bracelet with signed clasp. We provide a 12-month mechanical warranty and secure worldwide shipping, with transparent documentation to ensure confidence for seasoned collectors and first-time buyers alike.

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