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  1. tritto Aug 26, 2018

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    EC1F54D7-6CEB-46CF-BB37-A0CBF7784456.jpeg 2D532042-5CD3-41CB-9FB4-EBB349E4A0BA.jpeg 72990DDA-10BA-4F8E-BACC-31CF52B919FE.jpeg I have some pretty rubbish photos of a 2990-1 Ranchero that's been offered to me. It has the 267 caliber inside and the serial number is 1662xxxx.
    I believe the hands are not correct, it is there anything else I should be aware of?
    I'll be meeting the seller tonight so if they are any warning signs...
     
  2. cvrle1 Aug 26, 2018

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    Looks like dial has been relumed as well.
     
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  3. Biezmez Aug 27, 2018

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    Agree on the relume and hands not being original.
     
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  4. Dgercp Aug 27, 2018

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    As said, hands wrong. Not so sure about the lume with crummy pics. May be original?
     
  5. Dero13 4 watches. All set to the wrong time. Aug 27, 2018

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    Why do we think the hands are wrong? Those arent the BA handset but those look correct to me but just the less desireable handset
     
  6. Vintagewtchzilla Aug 27, 2018

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    Simply cuz they don’t belong to the watch ...

    Ranchero has to have broad arrow
     
  7. Dero13 4 watches. All set to the wrong time. Aug 27, 2018

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    Hmm I disagree. The amount of Rancheros/Seamasters I have seen with this handset does not seem to be coincidence. Just did a bit of research on OF and seems to be some debate to whether BAs are the only handset. Intereating
     
  8. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Aug 27, 2018

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    I’m of the opinion that this version of the 2990-1 Ranchero should have BA hands but 2990-1 Seamasters with BA hands are suspect.
     
  9. Vintagewtchzilla Aug 27, 2018

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    I have to agree with @gemini4
     
  10. tritto Aug 27, 2018

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    Ok, so I went to meet the seller on the side of the road in a semi-industrial area where he works. Pulled up behind his car, noted the rego, and went to say hi. I was ushered into the passenger seat. I took a look in the dim lighting and it seemed ok. I handed over the cash - enough to make him happy and enough to make me rather happy too. We exchanges pleasantries and a hand shake and went our separate ways.
    When I got home I gave the crystal a polish and wiped the case clean, then I took some photos. It's not running, and missing a case clamp and screw but seems pretty good otherwise.
    I don't know enough about these to have an informed opinion on the hands, but the lume is consistent with the dial and they look good on it.
    139594A7-A3F1-4D82-9098-EA42511CEE80.jpeg 96A38BCE-F138-4F0B-A6AD-C65E92F85C90.jpeg 74D6A3ED-74AC-4AE8-A822-63F9F0316CBB.jpeg 1CE58CBC-C5A9-48DB-96CE-270FA9C9DBA5.jpeg 8287A2E1-31F2-42AE-AE0A-9B6A33337BC2.jpeg 7A8B327E-03C0-42CB-B58B-56DF3AD82866.jpeg ACF334F4-F42F-4B80-B85D-230CC9FB6B91.jpeg
     
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  11. Biezmez Aug 27, 2018

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    A nice looking watch but I am now definite about the relume. You can see the remains of the old lume under the 1 and 2 o’clock markers.
     
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  12. Kapka Aug 27, 2018

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    Even if relumed, that is a great looking dial imo and fine watch i general. Congrats on a nice catch!
     
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  13. tritto Aug 27, 2018

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    Something is odd about the "remains" of the original lume though. If you look, each of the triangles from 10 through to 2 has this shadow/smudge on the right of the lume plot. If that were the original lume it would not be centred with the seconds marks. To me, it looks like a little drag sideways when the lume was pad printed? While it shows up in zoomed photos taken under strong lighting it's not visible to the naked eye. Is it possibly an imperfection in the original printing? Is anyone able to re-apply lume with points that sharp on the triangles? Surely that can't have been done by hand?
    I don't mean to sound defensive, as I think it looks stunning in person and I didn't pay an enormous price for it.
    The seller said it was his father's and hadn't been worn for years. It certainly hadn't been prepped for sale, so anything that was done with it was done a very long time ago.
    I'll be seeking out someone to service it, so any recommendations for suitable watchmakers in Australia would be most welcome.
    Thanks guys.
     
  14. Biezmez Aug 28, 2018

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    My knowledge of a luming prosess is zero, so maybe some of the other guys on the forum can advise on how that would work.
    My other general experience of watches of this period is that Omega did not sell watches with imperfections in the original printing.
    As long as it is for your own collection, you're pleased with it and it was a good deal then I think its a nice watch to have.
    I guess the real issue would be when/if you decide to sell the watch and how it is presented to the market.

    Wear and enjoy.
     
  15. tritto Aug 28, 2018

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    Thanks mate. Nothing is certain in this hobby, but for the time being it's definitely just for my enjoyment. The deal was very good so I have no concerns about having bought a dud - even if it has been relumed in the past and/or the original hands swapped out.
    For now, I'm looking forward to getting it serviced and wearing it.
    Cheers
     
  16. tritto Sep 19, 2018

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    Hey guys. Thanks to those who offered opinions earlier. Just to update, I have the watch on my wrist now.
    Firstly, I took a good look at the dial under a loupe and it is clear that the original radium lume has been scraped off and just the underlying paint left behind.
    Secondly, I believe the hands to be replacement hands. I asked the seller if the hands were ever replaced and he said no, but the watch was his dad's and I wouldn't be surprised if he was mistaken.
    I took it to a local watchmaker to inspect and he called me back a week later to say he'd serviced the movement already. He replaced the escape wheel, which had a broken pivot and that was why it probably stopped running.
    I then set about ordering a new crystal (the one fitted wasn't an Omega signed crystal), crown (the gasket in the one on it was shot and it probably wasn't original anyway), caseback gasket and case clamp screw. I couldn't get the correct case clamp to replace the missing one, so fashioned one myself. I'll keep looking for the correct Omega one (265-1911 if anyone has one).
    The parts arrived a couple of days ago and I have now fitted them.
    While I had it open I tweaked the regulation and got the following result.
    While it's not "all original" I think you'll agree it's quite a nice little watch.
    If anyone has the correct broad arrow handset or has a lead on one I'd love to hear about it.
     
    34B99F0B-29BA-443D-8D8E-DC20B25B31EC.jpeg 8C702F53-4505-40AB-880E-492929C30AAA.jpeg
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  17. paulw Sep 20, 2018

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    I'd be really happy to have this on my wrist and in my collection.

    Paul.
     
  18. GordonL Sep 20, 2018

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    That is a cracking watch!