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Post by seikola on Apr 15, 2015 5:54:15 GMT -8
Hi I bought the little joblot in the picture below because it looked like one of the bracelets would fit my old quartz 3863. The lot has now arrived and I've got a right odd puppy (Green one) It's a 3883-7019 which is not one I've seen before, It did not run when I tried a battery it was twitching, but with a little clean of the mechanical side she was ticking along great. I'll take some pictures later when the battery finishes charging if only to show off the Blue day/date rings. If anyone has any info on these I'd love to hear it. I'm trying to figure out what the GFA stands for on the dial, I know the VFA ones but GFA is a new one on me. seikola
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327 
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 15, 2015 6:01:31 GMT -8
You're in luck. GFA was a top of the line quartz, up there with the VFA.
You've won the lottery.
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Post by seikola on Apr 15, 2015 6:58:37 GMT -8
You're in luck. GFA was a top of the line quartz, up there with the VFA. You've won the lottery. Cheers for the info, Its a pretty nice watch that only really needs spruce up and a new crystal, pretty cheap too  The movement looks a little higher grade than my 3863, I wonder if it has a better seconds per month rating? seikola
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Apr 15, 2015 8:43:31 GMT -8
Cool . . . congrats on getting a cool and unique watch.
On another note, is that SQ bracelet on the far right available? Looks like it might be from a 7A28 - 7020 gold chrono. If so, how long is it? I've got an aftermarket jobbie on mine now but would love to put it back on a stock, correct Seiko bracelet.
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sdoocms
Is a Permanent Fixture
Carl
Posts: 5,296
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Post by sdoocms on Apr 15, 2015 10:30:08 GMT -8
Nice find!!
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Post by seikola on Apr 15, 2015 14:04:26 GMT -8
Cool . . . congrats on getting a cool and unique watch. On another note, is that SQ bracelet on the far right available? Looks like it might be from a 7A28 - 7020 gold chrono. If so, how long is it? I've got an aftermarket jobbie on mine now but would love to put it back on a stock, correct Seiko bracelet. Hi Looking at photo's of the gold 7a28-7020 online I'd say this is not the right one, there is a thin line stamped on the edges of the center link which looks to be the same as the two tone version of your model but on the all gold one there does not appear to be any pattern on the center links. seikola
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Apr 15, 2015 15:27:02 GMT -8
Cool . . . congrats on getting a cool and unique watch. On another note, is that SQ bracelet on the far right available? Looks like it might be from a 7A28 - 7020 gold chrono. If so, how long is it? I've got an aftermarket jobbie on mine now but would love to put it back on a stock, correct Seiko bracelet. Hi Looking at photo's of the gold 7a28-7020 online I'd say this is not the right one, there is a thin line stamped on the edges of the center link which looks to be the same as the two tone version of your model but on the all gold one there does not appear to be any pattern on the center links. seikola
I see it now that you mention it. Thanks very much for checking! |
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cobrajet25
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"Underweared curmudgeon!"
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 15, 2015 21:45:58 GMT -8
That GFA would have been absolutely top-shelf back in the mid-1970s. It was the best, most accurate, and most expensive quartz watch Seiko offered until it was superseded by the Twin Quartz a few years later. It was rated higher than the 3823 VFA. I bought mine years ago. It has it's original box and a receipt from the first owner to the second, dated about 1977, for GBP250. If you collect early quartz, that is one to geek out over. Don't cannibalize the bracelet!  |
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Post by SpinDoctor on Apr 16, 2015 3:05:56 GMT -8
VFA = Very Fine Adjusted GFA =  |
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Post by seikola on Apr 16, 2015 4:17:42 GMT -8
That GFA would have been absolutely top-shelf back in the mid-1970s. It was the best, most accurate, and most expensive quartz watch Seiko offered until it was superseded by the Twin Quartz a few years later. It was rated higher than the 3823 VFA. I bought mine years ago. It has it's original box and a receipt from the first owner to the second, dated about 1977, for GBP250. If you collect early quartz, that is one to geek out over. Don't cannibalize the bracelet! Hi Cheers for the extra info, it sounds like its a minor gem then, I don't really collect early quartzes although I do have a 3863 and a few 75 series watches, I'll certainly be hanging on to this one as it sounds like it would be hard to replace if I get remorse over the sale. I most certainly will not be taking the bracelet for my 3863 so that hunt goes on. The only thing that really needs sorting is the crystal as it has a standard domed plexi which looks wrong, There are a few scratches where the bezel has been removed in the past but I think I can live with that. I still can't figure out what the GFA means, Any ideas? seikola
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cobrajet25
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"Underweared curmudgeon!"
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 16, 2015 5:18:37 GMT -8
GFA = "Greatly Fine Adjusted". At least, that is the consensus. I am not sure anyone knows for certain.
In the middle 1970s, a 3823 VFA would have been rated for +/- 5 seconds per month. A minute per year is pretty good...even by today's standards.
But the 3883 GFA was rated to +/- 1 second per month. This is quite incredible, given that the 38-series quartz crystal only oscillates at 1/4 of what modern crystals run!
I believe the GFA also has an anti-reflective crystal. It should be mineral, not acrylic.
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Post by seikola on Apr 16, 2015 6:13:43 GMT -8
GFA = "Greatly Fine Adjusted". At least, that is the consensus. I am not sure anyone knows for certain. In the middle 1970s, a 3823 VFA would have been rated for +/- 5 seconds per month. A minute per year is pretty good...even by today's standards. But the 3883 GFA was rated to +/- 1 second per month. This is quite incredible, given that the 38-series quartz crystal only oscillates at 1/4 of what modern crystals run! I believe the GFA also has an anti-reflective crystal. It should be mineral, not acrylic. Hi Wow! one second a month is truly amazing, I'll stick it on my quartz timer once it's back together and see if its still anywhere near that.
The greatly fine adjusted explanation sounds about right as it sounds a bit awkward like so many Japanese translations to English.
The info about the crystal is interesting, I believe it would take the same as the 3883-7000 which looks identical to mine apart from the dial script and day wheel which would tally with your info as the part number has an "A" at the end which according to the code explanations I've just read stands for anti-fogging, Sadly I cant find one at the moment so if you could let me know the rough shape and whether it has a bevelled edge on your watch that would be a great help finding something reasonably suited whilst I hunt for a 310W26SA
seiko
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Post by Groundhog66 on Apr 17, 2015 6:11:21 GMT -8
Nice find, please post some better pics of it when you can.
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Post by seikola on Apr 18, 2015 7:11:48 GMT -8
Nice find, please post some better pics of it when you can. Hi Here's a couple more snaps of the GFA, please excuse the quality, I'm no photographer. I've done nothing yet apart from get it running, Once I get a more suitable crystal it should be a little easier to photograph (I hope) Watch stand kindly supplied by Estickland, Thanks very much ES.
seikola
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Post by Groundhog66 on Apr 18, 2015 8:04:39 GMT -8
Nice find, please post some better pics of it when you can. Hi Here's a couple more snaps of the GFA, please excuse the quality, I'm no photographer. I've done nothing yet apart from get it running, Once I get a more suitable crystal it should be a little easier to photograph (I hope) Watch stand kindly supplied by Estickland, Thanks very much ES.
seikola
Fantastic! Damn, I love it...that's a beauty. |
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Post by seikola on Apr 18, 2015 8:15:44 GMT -8
Hi It really does ooze quality, when you see how many pins are visible on the rear it really brings it home how complex it must have been making the dial with even the minute markers being separately applied. I bought this lot hoping for a new bracelet and ended up with something far better, eBay really can be a great place for watch hunters at times. seikola |
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longbike
Is a Permanent Fixture
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Post by longbike on Apr 19, 2015 13:01:46 GMT -8
That one look nice and very unusual too. Bet it looks better in the flesh too. And to add Yes I just love ebay too for a lot of things. I'd keep that baby too.
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jringo8769
WIS
The life we have is a Gift from God....live it to the fullest every day...Thank God for it...
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Post by jringo8769 on Apr 19, 2015 19:28:47 GMT -8
well my little odd seiko quartz says hi too...yours are amazing... Attachments:
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cd_god
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Post by cd_god on Apr 21, 2015 17:03:40 GMT -8
That's a great looking dial. To bad they (any watch brand) doesn't make watches like they used to. Well I guess you can still get a porcelain dial if you buy a Patek  |
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