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  1. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and wanted to introduce myself. I have been collecting old wrist watches and RR grade pocket watches for awhile.
    For a long time, I have wanted and admired vintage Omega watches. I have a friend who owns an antique shop and he asked if I was interested in this timepiece. The price was in my budget so I agreed.
    I collect a lot of things and I always research everything to the last letter, if possible.
    I admit to not being an expert on Omegas or watches in general but so far I have managed to find worthy deals and I hope this is no exception.
    I am slowly finding out information through this website and many other sites. I am coming across information that conflicts and I am not sure what is correct with regards to this watch. The hands seem to be a big issue. Some say original, some say not. I have seen many examples in great condition with the same hands as mine (no arrow head hand).I bought the watch because I like it a lot, regardless of the outcome.
    Another head scratcher for me are the prices I am seeing online. Prices way north of what I paid. I am certainly not asking for an appraisal BUT any information to a price guide/website/person etc. would be appreciated. I guess I want to know how careful I need to be with this watch.
    As far as I can tell, the serial number say it is 1958, caliber is 284 and 2996 1 SC jives with the rest of the watch.
    I am quite sure the band is aftermarket. Nice quality leather strap with a clasp I usually see on a metal bracelet.
    Base on my initial research, the watch seems to be legit (not sure about the hands). The watch looks great but under a loupe I can see pitting on the hands, the luminous material is yellow and flaking off or missing in areas. Dial is not too bad. Movement looks clean but I will take it to my watch guy and have him go over it.
    Any info, advice or schooling is most welcome. I look forward to learning a lot here. omegaranchero (1).jpg omegaranchero (4).jpg omegaranchero (5).jpg omegaranchero (6).jpg omegaranchero2 (1).jpg omegaranchero2 (2).jpg omegaranchero2 (4).jpg omegaranchero2 (5).jpg omegaranchero2 (6).jpg omegaranchero2 (7).jpg Sorry for being a windbag.
     
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  2. Dan S Sep 16, 2018

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    Welcome to OF, it's a nice-looking watch. I'm no expert on these, but the dial with applied metal markers and the dauphine hands don't reflect the distinctive design cues that I'm used to seeing on a Ranchero. I expect the experts will be along shortly and sort things out.
     
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  3. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    Thanks. It's a bit confusing for me because I am coming across many that look just like this one. If the dial and hands are replacements, it was done a long time ago, or appears to be from the age shown on those parts.
     
  4. BenBagbag Sep 16, 2018

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    I haven't seen a white dialed version of the Ranchero in 2996, but I'm a young'n. The font looks too good to say redial but the applied logo and the hands would seem to indicate this is from service. Wondering what @gemini4 thinks.
     
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  5. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    Were upgrades available at the time? Just curious if one could add extra features to a watch.
     
  6. BenBagbag Sep 16, 2018

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    My (amateur) thoughts would be that perhaps the watch was serviced in early 60's by Omega. When the 2990 subsecond ones were serviced, they were often stripped of their Rachero dials. However, yours being a central second watch, perhaps protocol was different. The bigger question is where are the broad arrow hands?
     
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  7. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    I have seen quite a few online with the Dauphine hands but that's all I have to go on. Unfortunately, no info was included with those watches since they were at auction sites.
     
  8. BenBagbag Sep 16, 2018

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    Share pics and links. :)
     
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  9. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    I am on my phone now but grabbed a few screenshots. These focus on the hands, not the markers
    The Seamaster picture is so close to the Ranchero, or vice versa. It is something I noticed. You are probably right that it might be a redial but I don't know enough to say one way or the other.
    Under a loupe the dial, hands, Omega logo and markers appear to have aged similarly.
    I can find more examples tomorrow from my laptop.
    I appreciate the input, thank you.
     
    Screenshot_20180916-202845.png Screenshot_20180916-202749.png Screenshot_20180916-202646.png Screenshot_20180916-202604.png
  10. Bumper Sep 16, 2018

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    It's a service dial, the shape of the applied metal logo for the 2996/2990s is very distinctive. It was most likely replaced during a service. Hands look fine to me.
     
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  11. RandyF Sep 16, 2018

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    Thank you.
     
  12. Rman Sep 16, 2018

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    The Ranchero and Seamaster have very close ties.

    Dials were swapped when the Rancheros didn’t sell. The Seamasters (2990 and 2996) are seen with dauphine hands like yours , and share the same case. Some others you referenced don’t so it’s not applicable.

    Regarding your example the fact that there’s no precedent in this configuration is a big strike.

    There’s also no “Made” after “Swiss.”

    There are tons of threads here if you search— the Ranchero is a popular reference.
     
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  13. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Sep 16, 2018

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    OJTT shows a black dial Ranchero 2996-1. Dial characteristics and all three hands seems to match up well with the OP.

    FDC0754D-A37B-4097-95CF-3F1FA8061CF6.jpeg

    Edit: As my Broad Arrow Black Dial 2996-1 Ranchero is also Caliber 284, Movement 1684xxxx and has only Swiss under the 6, I would presume the OP is indeed genuine.
    4191B7DA-A8EA-4C4D-BCEE-9D9BC5FF654B.jpeg

    Nice find!
     
    Edited Sep 16, 2018
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  14. tdn-dk Sep 16, 2018

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    Nice and I dont se any problems.

    I have seen different dials on these Ranchero's. Often they have a little different raised Logo.
    Here is a Seamaster version 2996-1, cal. 284 with a serial near yours 16.85x.xxx

    IMG_3212.JPG
     
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  15. guaranteed.rohu Sep 16, 2018

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    is that original? have not seen that before, bu looks cool if it is
     
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  16. RandyF Sep 17, 2018

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    Thank you to everyone for their help. I feel a bit more at ease now. Now, since valuations are not given here, which is understandable, may I ask if $160 Canadian was a good/fair/not so good price to pay for the watch?
     
  17. RandyF Sep 17, 2018

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    I have searched and read but all I find are other Rancheros from members, which is still a good start. History on the watch model is short, however. No worries, I have a voracious appetite for information so I will keep digging. I appreciate all of the help, thank you.
     
  18. BlackTalon This Space for Rent Sep 17, 2018

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    $160 Canadian?!?

    Horrible, horrible price -- for the Seller.

    Deal of the century for you. Congratulations.
     
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  19. Rman Sep 17, 2018

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    A1757C31-EB88-4439-AA05-A0EC99DB072B.jpeg The black dial is probably a redial the Omega script is a later font.

    Neither of these Ranchero scripts match the norm.
    372B4470-1CAF-450C-81FB-A7FB2E25641A.jpeg

    Below is a typical Ranchero script: Note the R

    C6BA0FA0-D56B-4E47-87CF-4C2700FD6BD2.jpeg

    5935089F-1CA4-4B05-9315-2A16A8F4DA95.jpeg
     
  20. Dgercp Sep 17, 2018

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    I see several differences in the dial between this and the OP dial. On the OP dial. the Ranchero script seems higher up and the font is thinner.
    The R in Ranchero has a different shape as do the the E and G in Omega. Maybe I am over-reading this?