Omega Ranchero: REALISTIC value

72c · Jun 30, 2018

I really liked that watch, good value in today's market no doubt. To my eyes the movement let it down more than the dial, a bit of a mess really which was a shame. Call me OCD but I would have liked to buy it just to throw those incorrect case clamps in the bin 😲

Vintagewtchzilla
about the bracelet, it's 11 years too late, endlinks should be number 4

so all this points togheter it's a so so watch and the price reflects it ....

Bracelet wasn't included with the watch. But if it was, that would have a been a huge plus point in terms of value because the decent 1035s run at $1200+, regardless of whether it was era correct on this particular watch or not

ConElPueblo · Jun 30, 2018

Rman
Because it’s one of the most enjoyable watches on the wrist and a classic that can go head to head with the Explorer 1016 any day, and still priced well below them.

I am not arguing that the price of an Explorer is reasonable, even relatively to a Ranchero, but a comparison between a watch with an chronometer-certified automatic movement housed in a case with screw down crown and caseback and a watch with a manually winding movement and snapback is not particularly good, IMO.

Yes, they both have black dials with a some design similarities, but from there it is apples and oranges.

A no-date Certina DS amagnetic on the other hand..!! 🥰

Rman · Jul 1, 2018

ConElPueblo
I am not arguing that the price of an Explorer is reasonable, even relatively to a Ranchero, but a comparison between a watch with an chronometer-certified automatic movement housed in a case with screw down crown and caseback and a watch with a manually winding movement and snapback is not particularly good, IMO.

Yes, they both have black dials with a some design similarities, but from there it is apples and oranges.

A no-date Certina DS amagnetic on the other hand..!! 🥰

vinylcall · Jul 1, 2018

I think that the true value of the Rancheros is between 4500-7000 Euros.
Depending on originality and condition.
Personally I don't see the 10000 Euros region coming soon. So, yes perhaps the small bubble from a few months ago is starting to pop.

gemini4 · Jul 1, 2018

In 2 years of watching Rancheros, I’ve seen the
3k bubble pop to 5k pop to 7k pop to 9k (USD, Euros)

cristos71 · Jul 1, 2018

gemini4
In 2 years of watching Rancheros, I’ve seen the
3k bubble pop to 5k pop to 7k pop to 9k (USD, Euros)

So by that context a Ranchero is more expensive than a SM 300 165.024? ( non-BT )

I don't see the value proposition here personally, for me a Ranchero is a sporty dress watch, nothing more. I of course respect others choices so each to their own, but I wouldn't drop 3k never mind about 9k on one 😲

Rman · Jul 1, 2018

ConElPueblo
I am not arguing that the price of an Explorer is reasonable, even relatively to a Ranchero, but a comparison between a watch with an chronometer-certified automatic movement housed in a case with screw down crown and caseback and a watch with a manually winding movement and snapback is not particularly good, IMO.

Yes, they both have black dials with a some design similarities, but from there it is apples and oranges.

A no-date Certina DS amagnetic on the other hand..!! 🥰

A case can definitely be made that the Ranchero is the closest analog to an Explorer that Omega ever made, in looks and in size.

But there are probably 1000 Explorers for every Ranchero out there. That matters in a thread that is addressing price.

At the end of the fifties Omega was seen as a higher quality brand, and handling both watches, one could say the original bracelet on the Ranchero with its slide-adjustment clasp and general construction was clearly of a higher quality than what came with the Explorer.

Yes the crown doesn’t screw down on the Ranchero but it was a waterproof watch, the Rolex 6610 (the contemporary) was rated to 50M. I can’t find an original advertisement for the Ranchero that states a depth rating but the Railmaster 2914 sold next to it in the catalog was rated to 60M (without a screw down crown).

Rman · Jul 1, 2018

A final thought—-

The Explorer and Ranchero might not stack up when you look at the fine print, but both were a product of the brand DNA and philosophy they came from, and clearly had similar aesthetics and svelte 36mm cases and bracelets.

Rolex was making a handsome tool watch and Omega was making “a dress Seamaster,” a durable watch fit for wearing, using and servicing in its own right.

It’s at this very moment in history Omega released the trilogy. The 2913 was designed one could say to compete with the Submariner, and still had no screwdown crown, but heaps of radium like its Ranchero cousin.

ConElPueblo · Jul 1, 2018

I see your points, but remain unconvinced. You still haven't addressed the different movements - I acknowledge the inherent qualities of the 30MM movements, but there is some way from that to a chronometer-certified automatic, definitely more so in that era.

And the snapback vs. screw-down caseback matters too, as it is much more difficult for a snap-back to remain watertight due to warping - I am of course fully aware that the Ranchero was marketed as being watertight, but since snapback Seamasters were advertised as being waterproof to 30M, I'm guessing that it would be the same for this one.

So in my eyes the Explorer have a more modern, superior case design (I really don't care much for the screw-down crown, but I guess it should be counted as a plus) and a more advanced movement. The points on which you compare them favorably against each other are aesthetics, "looks and size" as you put it.

Again - put an early DS into the discussion...

It manages 200M of WR without a screw down crown, BTW 😉

redpcar · Jul 1, 2018

Crustingly lovely! Never seen this dial before.

padders · Jul 1, 2018

cristos71
So by that context a Ranchero is more expensive than a SM 300 165.024? ( non-BT )

I don't see the value proposition here personally, for me a Ranchero is a sporty dress watch, nothing more. I of course respect others choices so each to their own, but I wouldn't drop 3k never mind about 9k on one 😲

To me it is an in house Railmaster cash in on the cheap, wasn't it one of the cheapest models in the line up back in the day, and even then not a strong seller? Lovely dial but worth SM300 money? Not so sure to be honest.

Rman · Jul 1, 2018

ConElPueblo
I see your points, but remain unconvinced. You still haven't addressed the different movements - I acknowledge the inherent qualities of the 30MM movements, but there is some way from that to a chronometer-certified automatic, definitely more so in that era.

And the snapback vs. screw-down caseback matters too, as it is much more difficult for a snap-back to remain watertight due to warping - I am of course fully aware that the Ranchero was marketed as being watertight, but since snapback Seamasters were advertised as being waterproof to 30M, I'm guessing that it would be the same for this one.

So in my eyes the Explorer have a more modern, superior case design (I really don't care much for the screw-down crown, but I guess it should be counted as a plus) and a more advanced movement. The points on which you compare them favorably against each other are aesthetics, "looks and size" as you put it.

Again - put an early DS into the discussion...

It manages 200M of WR without a screw down crown, BTW 😉

So let me get this straight, you won’t put the Ranchero in league with the Explorer and now you’re crashing the party with a Certina? 😲

😁Nice watch BTW

Yes the Explorer and Ranchero share some similar traits and that’s what spawned the comparison. I’ve already said in the above posts why I think the quality is there and but did I say that the warm radium dial and broad arrow hands can do funny things to a collector? The Ranchero has a sense of balance to the design and aesthetic merits that to me are abundant in the metal when the watch is handled. From the flat foot grippy bowler crown to even (gasp) the snap on caseback which has a really nice fitment and character to the waterproof engraving. This is a couple years after Omega innovated a new rubber caseback gasket that allowed its watches to be taken to depths that set records for the brand. The printing is quite nice with different line weights and the dial surface has a matte grain finish. The beautifully shaped case wears large and thin for 36mm.

You seem to be stuck on the difference in features. I’m evaluating based on the merits of the watch and what mattered to Omega at the time.

Omega launches the 300 professional series with the 2913, without a chronometer-rated automatic movement. Why is that? Why wouldn’t we see an automatic chronometer professional for decades?

Brand philosophy differences. They didn’t see the crystal ball where overbuilt dive watches (that for the most part are never taken diving) become the dominant watch of the future.

I’m afraid this feature-centric line of thinking leads to a brand practice of having less and less differentiation from each other out of the perceived need to compete in neat and tidy categories.

And about original pricing, the Ranchero was priced at the bottom of the lineup but I believe still cost more than the Explorer at the time.

You guys seem to think that the Ranchero is selling for SM 300 money but they’ve moved up in tandem, just look at the prices now. You get a minty Ranchero and a minty SM300(super rare) the 300 will sell for substantially more.

ConElPueblo · Jul 1, 2018

redpcar
Crustingly lovely! Never seen this dial before.

Not mine, unfortunately. It's pretty much my grail Certina DS 🥰
@Tony C. has one and I believe I've seen (online!) only three or so more...

@Rman - it was a bit cheeky to put that DS there, since it by no means has a chronometer movement (it has other advantages though) which was otherwise one of my points against the "holding its own" comparisons. I hope it shows I am not completely immovable in my viewpoints. And naturally, I'd welcome either of the watches we've discussed into my modest collection at any time 😁

gemini4 · Jul 1, 2018

cristos71
So by that context a Ranchero is more expensive than a SM 300 165.024? ( non-BT )

I don't see the value proposition here personally, for me a Ranchero is a sporty dress watch, nothing more. I of course respect others choices so each to their own, but I wouldn't drop 3k never mind about 9k on one 😲

I don’t understand how you can compare a 1st generation, hand wound, 1958 trilogy era Broad Arrow hands, radium lumed Ranchero with an automatic, 4th Generation TT SM300 165.024 from the mid 1960s. That being said, I think the value of these two watches, in similar condition, is approximately equal.

Basset Hound · Jul 1, 2018

gemini4
I don’t understand how you can compare a 1st generation, hand wound, 1958 trilogy era Broad Arrow hands, radium lumed Ranchero with an automatic, 4th Generation TT SM300 165.024 from the mid 1960s. That being said, I think the value of these two watches, in similar condition, is approximately equal.

I agree, and the Ranchero was only made for a short period of time. Good ones are hard to find and for me the similarity in appearance to the 1957 Railmaster has an appeal.

cristos71 · Jul 1, 2018

gemini4
I don’t understand how you can compare a 1st generation, hand wound, 1958 trilogy era Broad Arrow hands, radium lumed Ranchero with an automatic, 4th Generation TT SM300 165.024 from the mid 1960s. That being said, I think the value of these two watches, in similar condition, is approximately equal.

Good point 😁 I just can't get my head around the price of these Ranchero's to the point where I make non-sensical statements 😜

DIV · Jul 1, 2018

Great discussion!...I do think however, it's the Railmaster and not the Ranchero that was the comparable model to the Rolex Explorer, and to the Milgauss as well...

eugeneandresson · Jul 1, 2018

Loving the discussion folks. Seeing as y’all got it covered, with hardly any pics, here’s one

gemini4 · Jul 1, 2018

eugeneandresson
Loving the discussion folks. Seeing as y’all got it covered, with hardly any pics, here’s one

It’s THE ONE.
A 2996-1, center seconds, Ranchero.🥰

Basset Hound · Jul 1, 2018

eugeneandresson
Loving the discussion folks. Seeing as y’all got it covered, with hardly any pics, here’s one

Very very nice.

Omega Ranchero: REALISTIC value

72c

ConElPueblo

Rman

vinylcall

gemini4

cristos71

Rman

Rman

ConElPueblo

redpcar

padders

Rman

ConElPueblo

gemini4

Basset Hound

cristos71

DIV

eugeneandresson

gemini4

Basset Hound

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