Help buying a ranchero, all opinions welcome (and much needed)

Pleco3000 · Jan 30, 2023

Hi everyone,
First timer here! I’m getting married and wanted to get a watch to wear on the big day. I did some research and was very taken with the omega ranchero.

I’ve read a lot about them, but it’s REALLY hard for a newbie to work out the duds from the deals, and the fakes from the reals.

I wonder if someone who knows more than me could offer some opinions on these options. I’d like something as close to original as possible, but all thoughts are welcome, thanks so much.

Sa Calobra · Jan 30, 2023

Hi there! Congratulations on your planned marriage. When is the big day? My two cents- given the scarcity of this model and the large number of fakes floating around, this is probably not the best model to be wanting to search for in a rush - patience is key.
To get up to speed I would read through old topics about Ranchero's and compare photos next to each other. I don't want to be conclusive but at a first glance all of the pictures shared have something off, whether it's the crown, the lume, or the subdial hand.

SC1 · Jan 30, 2023

This is the equivalent of selecting Latin for your 2nd language...
Good luck and Godspeed.

Personally I wouldn't undertake the purchase of an authentic Ranchero unless I could hire a Ranchero Shopping Guru/Consultant or I put in a year or more of deep self-education.

Love the watch but the sheer amount of fakery and alteration of that watch scares the corn off my flakes.

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

I'd second Sa Calobra's advice. It's very difficult to find an authentic original Ranchero. Fakes and frankened Rancheros (watches cobbled together with parts taken from many others) abound. And if you do find an authentic original, you're going to pay handsomely for it. I'm not saying that it's not a worthy goal, but definitely not a watch that you want to try to find in a rush. There's a lot wrong with the examples that you posted: replacement hands, relumed dials, wrong subsecond hands, etc.

Syzygy · Jan 30, 2023

All previous comments are spot on. I can't tell if that is supposed to be the same watch listing, or multiple watches shown. Either way, I'm 99% sure those are redialed, and would not be on the list for a collector.

@gbesq has an amazing example of an all original Ranchero, and if I'm not mistaken, it took him years to find one in the condition he wanted.

Good luck with the hunt, and the marriage!

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

Syzygy
All previous comments are spot on. I can't tell if that is supposed to be the same watch listing, or multiple watches shown. Either way, I'm 99% sure those are redialed, and would not be on the list for a collector.

@gbesq has an amazing example of an all original Ranchero, and if I'm not mistaken, it took him years to find one in the condition he wanted.

Good luck with the hunt, and the marriage!

I do, and it took me four years of research and searching to find it. Here's a tip: NEVER buy a Ranchero if it's not accompanied by an extract from the Omega archives which shows a serial number that matches the serial number on the movement and the extract specifically identifies the watch as a Ranchero. One other caveat. The lume on an original Ranchero is radium based and there is a lot of it on the hands and the hour markers. If you have any concerns about owning a watch that has highly radioactive material with a 1,600 year half life in it, then a Ranchero is not for you.

Syzygy · Jan 30, 2023

^ Liked, and unliked it so I could like it again!

redpcar · Jan 30, 2023

I'm so glad I bought mine many years ago. So many fakes.

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

redpcar
I'm so glad I bought mine many years ago. So many fakes.

Yes, but when you own the real thing, it’s a collector’s dream. 😀

redpcar · Jan 30, 2023

10 years ago, no problem.
NOW I'm thinking of what watches I should buy today that will have the same desire in 10 yrs. Let me get some more batteries for the crystal ball.

Pleco3000 · Jan 30, 2023

Thank you everyone for your sage advice. I must admit I hadn’t thought about the radium, it’s something I should read more about and get an opinion on!

Those are three different examples, it’s sad it’s so hard to find a real one! I called into a dealer in London who said the last one he had went for £12k!

Out of the above, is there one which one you think is closest or has the most potential?

Thanks for your help, and kind words omega fans

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

P Pleco3000
Thank you everyone for your sage advice. I must admit I hadn’t thought about the radium, it’s something I should read more about and get an opinion on!

Those are three different examples, it’s sad it’s so hard to find a real one! I called into a dealer in London who said the last one he had went for £12k!

Out of the above, is there one which one you think is closest or has the most potential?

Thanks for your help, and kind words omega fans

All of them have relumed hour markers and/or replacement hands. That would be a deal breaker for me.

Syzygy · Jan 30, 2023

With my very limited knowledge on these, and I love Rancheros, the 'of 11' is an immediate 'chuck it in the f***it bucket'...redial, and a poor one. 'Of 10' would scare me away because anyone asking $4,500+ for a watch that can't take an in focus picture likely has something to hide, not to mention that it looks like the crown is out to move the hands around to give the impression it's a working example, I wouldn't trust it as far as I can throw a frozen 20lb turkey. So that leaves us with 'of 7', and something doesn't look right to me with the hour markers, so I'd bet my next three meals it's a redial/lume, so it's a hard pass for me.

Pleco3000 · Jan 30, 2023

Syzygy
With my very limited knowledge on these, and I love Rancheros, the 'of 11' is an immediate 'chuck it in the f***it bucket'...redial, and a poor one. 'Of 10' would scare me away because anyone asking $4,500+ for a watch that can't take an in focus picture likely has something to hide, not to mention that it looks like the crown is out to move the hands around to give the impression it's a working example, I wouldn't trust it as far as I can throw a frozen 20lb turkey. So that leaves us with 'of 7', and something doesn't look right to me with the hour markers, so I'd bet my next three meals it's a redial/lume, so it's a hard pass for me.

Haha amazing feedback, with great explainers. thank you kindly.

“Of 7” looks the best all round in my opinion. But like you said, something about the lume on the hour markers does seem strange. It’s too light and ghostly?

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

P Pleco3000
Haha amazing feedback, with great explainers. thank you kindly.

“Of 7” looks the best all round in my opinion. But like you said, something about the lume on the hour markers does seem strange. It’s too light and ghostly?

Yes, it's relumed. The original radium lume on a Ranchero will usually age to a pumpkin - rust colored shade. Many of the relumed watches will have a greenish tint, very often bright green, and that is a dead giveaway that the watch is not original. On the watch is question, the hands are also replacements and the crown is incorrect.

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

OP, you might want to look at a modern Omega Railmaster. Although larger and thicker, it is similar to the Ranchero in some of its design cues, thoroughly modern in its technology, and good examples are not hard to find.

Syzygy · Jan 30, 2023

@gbesq explained it much more eloquently than I could have. The 'light and ghostly' you notice, you're on the right track...compare it to the fine example he posted and you'll spot honest aging/patina right away in comparison. I'd also bet that case has seen some polish wheel time as well.

+1 to the modern Railmaster suggestion. I love mine! It's not a Ranchero, but it scratches that itch quite well.

watchyouwant · Jan 30, 2023

Ask for clear pictures from pics. 2 + 4 with hands set to 9.15. and what is written under the numeral 6. The wide inner tension ring ( which is fine here ) obscures that . Ask for his price again . If you want, send me that via PM. The Radium will not affect you unless you want to wear it with the crystal on your skin or have the habit to lick your dial 24/7/365 .

gbesq · Jan 30, 2023

watchyouwant
Ask for clear pictures from pics. 2 + 4 with hands set to 9.15. and what is written under the numeral 6. The wide inner tension ring ( which is fine here ) obscures that . Ask for his price again . If you want, send me that via PM. The Radium will not affect you unless you won't to wear it with the crystal on your skin or have the habit to lick your dial 24/7/365 .

Agreed with your opinion about radium based lume, but I raised the issue because many first time vintage buyers are unaware of it and, for some, it makes them uncomfortable enough to be a deal breaker.

sathomasga · Jan 30, 2023

Just brainstorming crazy ideas for now, but if you have your heart set on a Ranchero, but want something immediate to tide you over until you can find the real thing, Timex (of all brands?!) has a Railmaster homage that actually doesn't look bad. Not everyone is okay with a homage, but maybe Timex is a legit enough brand to be cut a little slack. I dunno how your fiancee would feel about it, but you did say "all thoughts are welcome" in the original post.

Help buying a ranchero, all opinions welcome (and much needed)

Pleco3000

Sa Calobra

SC1

gbesq

Syzygy

gbesq

Syzygy

redpcar

gbesq

redpcar

Pleco3000

gbesq

Syzygy

Pleco3000

gbesq

gbesq

Syzygy

watchyouwant

gbesq

sathomasga

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