Ranchero vs seachero?

Dsplash · Apr 18, 2022

Hi all!
I’m very drawn to the 2990 ranchero design, especially in black.
There are a very few seamaster « seachero » that share this design and seem even rarer in this configuration…And to be honest, the dauphine hands attract me probably more than the broad arrows!
Any idea how rare these seamaster really are? Am I the only one who would probably choose this over the regular ranchero? 😁

gbesq · Apr 18, 2022

They are relatively rare in good original condition, but are worth considerably less than the CK 2990 Ranchero with the broad arrow hour hand.

Fallout Boy · Apr 18, 2022

The seachero looks nice and with orig bracelet(?) and crown.... But I like the hour-hand of the ranchero. I would choose the ranchero.

Dsplash · Apr 18, 2022

gbesq
They are relatively rare in good original condition, but are worth considerably less than the CK 2990 Ranchero with the broad arrow hour hand.

well pricing is not easy to assess..I see rancheros for sale with a wide price range and this seachero is the only one of its kind I can find.
Those 2 examples above are similarly priced at about 4.6k€ head only…Is it cheap for a Ranchero or way too much for this seachero? 😁

gbesq · Apr 18, 2022

In my opinion, it would be on the low side for a Ranchero and very much on the high side for a Seachero. In my view, the Seachero isn’t really an original Omega design concept as much as it was an improvised solution to poor sales of the Ranchero. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice looking watch, but from a collector’s perspective it just doesn’t have the same allure as a Ranchero. Also, a correct small second hand on a black dialed Ranchero should be white. I’m not sure whether that’s also true for a Seachero, but if it is the example that you’re referring to is not correct.

watchyouwant · Apr 18, 2022

Dsplash
Hi all!
I’m very drawn to the 2990 ranchero design, especially in black.
There are a very few seamaster « seachero » that share this design and seem even rarer in this configuration…And to be honest, the dauphine hands attract me probably more than the broad arrows!
Any idea how rare these seamaster really are? Am I the only one who would probably choose this over the regular ranchero? 😁

What is a Seachero ?

gbesq · Apr 18, 2022

watchyouwant
What is a Seachero ?

Essentially, it’s a Seamaster dial, hands and 30mm caliber transplanted into a Ranchero case.

Dsplash · Apr 18, 2022

gbesq
In my opinion, it would be on the low side for a Ranchero and very much on the high side for a Seachero. In my view, the Seachero isn’t really an original Omega design concept as much as it was an improvised solution to poor sales of the Ranchero. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice looking watch, but from a collector’s perspective it just doesn’t have the same allure as a Ranchero. Also, a correct small second hand on a black dialed Ranchero should be white. I’m not sure whether that’s also true for a Seachero, but if it is the example that you’re referring to is not correct.

hard to say, black dialed seacheros are nowhere to be seen online, they seem to be extremely rare
If you have some kind of reference detailing the ranchero/seachero origin story, I’d be very happy to read it! 😀

gatorcpa · Apr 18, 2022

gbesq
Essentially, it’s a Seamaster dial, hands and 30mm caliber transplanted into a Ranchero case.

Not necessarily “transplanted”, but made like that at the factory.

The word “Ranchero” has negative connotations in some Spanish speaking countries. But Omega still sold Ref. 2990 and 2996 watches there.

So they had different dials.
gatorcpa

gbesq · Apr 19, 2022

gatorcpa
Not necessarily “transplanted”, but made like that at the factory.

The word “Ranchero” has negative connotations in some Spanish speaking countries. But Omega still sold Ref. 2990 and 2996 watches there.

So they had different dials.
gatorcpa

Yes, correct. The name "Ranchero" translates literally as "ranch hand" or "farmer" which was offensive to many Spanish speaking cultures and resulted in poor sales of the Ranchero in those markets, so rather than ending the production run of the Ranchero immediately Omega put Seamaster dials into Ranchero cases to boost sales. OP, attached is a video from the Omega Enthusiast that covers the two 2990 models. You'll note that subtitle text which states that fewer broad arrow hand versions were made and that as a result they command higher prices than the versions with dauphine hands. That would be true for both the Ranchero and the Seachero models, I believe.

There's also a good history of the Ranchero beginning at 9:10 from this video by The Urban Gentry:

Sa Calobra · Apr 19, 2022

the guys at Shucktheoyster seem to have an interest in those black dialled Rancheros - almost always there's one for sale

gbesq · Apr 19, 2022

Yves86
the guys at Shucktheoyster seem to have an interest in those black dialled Rancheros - almost always there's one for sale

The question is are they fully correct and original. More often than not, even when the dial is otherwise original, the indices have been relumed, or the hands are modern replacements or relumed, or the crown is wrong, etc. The most frequent thing that I see on the black dialed versions other than redials is that the small second hand has been replaced. It should be white in color, but more often than not I see them in black or a dark bronze and that's incorrect for the reference.

Sa Calobra · Apr 19, 2022

gbesq
The question is are they fully correct and original. More often than not, even when the dial is otherwise original, the indices have been relumed, or the hands are modern replacements or relumed, or the crown is wrong, etc. The most frequent thing that I see on the black dialed versions other than redials is that the small second hand has been replaced. It should be white in color, but more often than not I see them in black or a dark bronze and that's incorrect for the reference.

I agree and am in no way vouching for their originality. Regarding the crown on the Seachero - shouldn't it be the same as the Ranchero, the 'bowler' style crown?

gbesq · Apr 19, 2022

Yves86
I agree and am in no way vouching for their originality. Regarding the crown on the Seachero - shouldn't it be the same as the Ranchero, the 'bowler' style crown?

For a 2990 case, yes.

Dsplash · Apr 20, 2022

Thanks for the comments!
So if the small second should be white, it means both are replacement on the examples I showed?

gbesq · Apr 20, 2022

Yes, here’s my all original Ranchero 2990 with the correct subsecond hand. It’s possible that the subsecond hands on the two examples in your post may have been white at some point. The paint could have flaked off and the hands rusted. Hard to tell from those photos.

Sa Calobra · Apr 20, 2022

What kind of colour is this? Many of the Ranchero's have it, it looks rusty/brown to me, but not sure if that was the original color

gbesq · Apr 20, 2022

Yves86
What kind of colour is this? Many of the Ranchero's have it, it looks rusty/brown to me, but not sure if that was the original color

Hard to tell. Might have been the original white and the paint flaked off and the hand rusted. Most of the newer and incorrect replacements that I’ve seen are usually a dark bronze color.

Dsplash · Mar 29, 2023

Hi!
Resurrecting my old thread for a new question on a similar matter! 😀
I spotted this black dialed « tropical » 2990-1 seamaster I find quite appealing but I can’t find a similar example online…Is this correct? (Beside the crown that looks like a replacement)
Thanks!

hejsam · Mar 29, 2023

Dsplash
Hi!
Resurrecting my old thread for a new question on a similar matter! 😀
I spotted this black dialed « tropical » 2990-1 seamaster I find quite appealing but I can’t find a similar example online…Is this correct? (Beside the crown that looks like a replacement)
Thanks!

I would have guessed this dial came from a 2937 and never was intended for a 2990 case.

My 2937 for comparison:

Ranchero vs seachero?

Dsplash

gbesq

Fallout Boy

Dsplash

gbesq

watchyouwant

gbesq

Dsplash

gatorcpa

gbesq

Sa Calobra

gbesq

Sa Calobra

gbesq

Dsplash

gbesq

Sa Calobra

gbesq

Dsplash

hejsam

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