Advice on vintage Ranchero

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jantjewgm

·Oct 28, 2026

Hi there,
I am not that familiar with the Omega Ranchero other than that I have always liked the way they look. I've read some threads on the forum and see that purchasing a 2990 can be a minefield. I found what I beleve is a nice example. Movement is correct serial, case looks ok, and dial hands correct. However, it would help me a lot to receive some feedback from members with more experience in this model. Hereby some photos. Thanks in advance.

 

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hen

·Oct 28, 2026

As a total amateur I would say that the dial looks surprisingly good, maybe too good. And the lume still works!

 

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gbesq

·Oct 28, 2026

Did you use a UV-A black lamp and a Geiger counter to confirm that the dial lume and hands are radium?

 

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jantjewgm

·Oct 28, 2026

No, these are the seller pics. He put it under regular light and the glow shows for about 5 secs.

 

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gbesq

·Oct 28, 2026

Use a Geiger counter. If the lume is radium, the Geiger counter will click up and light up like a Christmas tree

 

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Deafboy

·Oct 28, 2026

The uv "black lamp" lamp won't tell you the presence of radium in the watch. Radium doesn't emit light under a such a light source (same with a "regular" light source). As @gbesq mentioned,the geiger counter is the device to use.

 

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gbesq

·Oct 28, 2026

Deafboy

The uv "black lamp" lamp won't tell you the presence of radium in the watch. Radium doesn't emit light under a such a light source (same with a "regular" light source). As @gbesq mentioned,the geiger counter is the device to use.

To be clear, radium lume will light up when the UV black lamp is pointed over the dial in a dark room, for example:

But you will also see the same thing with other lume that is not radium. The difference is that glowing radium lume will go dark immediately as soon as you remove the UV black lamp. The better test is to use the Geiger counter.

Edited: Oct 28, 2026

 

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td69

·Oct 28, 2026

Hi, more concerning is the repainted dial. The logo and the fonts are way off.

 

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Deafboy

·Oct 28, 2026

gbesq

To be clear, radium lume will light up when the UV black lamp is pointed over the dial in a dark room, for example:

Fixed it for you. 😉

 

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gbesq

·Oct 28, 2026

Deafboy

Fixed it for you. 😉

Thanks! Sometimes my aphasia can be frustrating.