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NOS Ranchero FS: Discussion

TheGreekPhysique
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This just came across my feed this morning:

https://www.db1983.com/vintage-watches/omega-ranchero-ck-2990-1-nos-1959?imageID=0

First let me preface that this is not to accuse or attack the sellers in any way shape or form. In fact I have purchased a watch from them before and had an amazing experience. Rather, I link this post because 1) Rare bird alert. I mean a ranchero is already rare to begin with. To find it as a full set.. come on. A ranchero, full set and NOS condition? impossible. 2) Discussion: other members on this forum have brought up a good point about the lack of radium burn. Most radium lume watches will have burn in on the dial if the hands are kept in the same position for too long. Presumably this watch is unworn for 63 years yet no noticeable burn on the dial. What is everyone's thoughts?
 
janice&fred
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TheGreekPhysique TheGreekPhysique
1) Rare bird alert. I mean a ranchero is already rare to begin with. To find it as a full set.. come on. A ranchero, full set and NOS condition? impossible.

Not about this watch in particular but in general, anything is possible and I've seen some strange finds in my time. If this turns out legit it wouldn't be the craziest find I've seen that's for sure!
 
gbesq
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As a Ranchero owner myself, and a pretty nice one at that (black dial), I will say that if this watch is completely legitimate it is without a doubt the nicest example that I have ever seen. That being said, I have never seen a watch this old with a white dial and radium based lume that did not have at least some radium burn. The asking price might sound crazy, but I bet it sells for that and it wouldn't surprise me if it's purchased by either a collector who will never wear it or by the Omega Museum.
 
JwRosenthal
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I would be interested in seeing other examples of original radium dials without any burn. Every white dial I have seen has some trace of it

09837628-0DB4-4D6A-9A8C-37956E23ADBF.jpeg

Even black dials get the burn, you just can’t really see it on most
74F03D90-42D8-49EA-A4AF-903F0E79E8CA.jpeg
 
Duracuir1
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It’s a well known fact that if stored in a refrigerator the radium burn will be prevented.
179A2FC3-E001-49AA-AC8C-4A0130924771.jpeg
 
gbesq
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Duracuir1 Duracuir1
It’s a well known fact that if stored in a refrigerator the radium burn will be prevented.
179A2FC3-E001-49AA-AC8C-4A0130924771.jpeg
Incorrect. It has to be a LEAD LINED refrigerator. 😁
 
seekingseaquest
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Presumably the amount of radium burn would depend on the amount of radium used. Would be interesting to see how Rancheros test compared with other watches with more radium burn…
 
JwRosenthal
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seekingseaquest seekingseaquest
Presumably the amount of radium burn would depend on the amount of radium used. Would be interesting to see how Rancheros test compared with other watches with more radium burn…
Were they decreasing the amount of radium used in the lume mixture towards the end of the radium days before the switch to Tritium or were they still throwing the radium girls body count to the wind like the two I showed above.
 
gbesq
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Were they decreasing the amount of radium used in the lume mixture towards the end of the radium days before the switch to Tritium or were they still throwing the radium girls body count to the wind like the two I showed above.
Good question to which I don't know the answer. I do know that a geiger counter lights up like my Christmas tree next to my 1958 Ranchero.
 
janice&fred
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gbesq gbesq
The asking price might sound crazy,

For a rare vintage NOS complete set of a watch model that's actually desirable? I'd say it's a bargain.
 
gbesq
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janice&fred janice&fred
For a rare vintage NOS complete set of a watch model that's actually desirable? I'd say it's a bargain.
I wouldn't call it a bargain given that the exceedingly rare double signed Rancheros with both the Ranchero and Seamaster text on the dial usually sell in the 12k-14k range, but the fact that this one is a NOS full set does add considerable value. Hey, mine's not NOS nor a complete set, but the more that this one sells for, the happier I'll be. 😁
 
Redwes25
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janice&fred janice&fred
For a rare vintage NOS complete set of a watch model that's actually desirable? I'd say it's a bargain.

It doesn't have the guarantee so strange for a complete set but guess if it is truly NOS then it wouldn't have that since it never got sold and the guarantee was never completed. Though it is possible to put together other items but to me the guarantee that matches the watch with its serial number feels to me what makes a complete set.
Edited:
 
Dan S
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Maybe it was stored in a high vacuum to reduce oxidative reactions and radium burn. 😁
 
JwRosenthal
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Dan S Dan S
Maybe it was stored in a high vacuum to reduce oxidative reactions and radium burn. 😁
OMG- you just turned me on to what’s going to be on my holiday list

A6EC797A-CC77-4C2C-9759-4D152808E175.png
 
gbesq
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Dan S Dan S
Maybe it was stored in a high vacuum to reduce oxidative reactions and radium burn. 😁
Yeah, sure, why not? 😉
 
gbesq
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For all we know, the former owner may have been a citizen of the planet Krypton where the atmosphere is different and watches aren't subject to deterioration due to environmental factors.
 
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