| Brand: | Omega |
| Model: | Ranchero |
| Reference: | 2990-1 |
| Gender: | men/unisex |
| Year: | 1958 |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Dimensions: | 36mm |
| Watch Movement: | manual |
| Bracelet/Strap: | bracelet and strap |
| Box/Paper: | watch only, comes with a WRIST ICONS leather watch pouch of your choice |
| Condition: | very good |
What a crazy beauty is this Omega Ranchero from 1958/59. Once made for the farmers.. now a rare collector’s item, especially in this version with those fantastic broad arrow hands and with that beads of rice bracelet and well matching leather strap. This watch completely steals the vintage show!
The Omega Ranchero was introduced in 1958. The watch was in line with the other broad arrow hand Omega’s of the same era; also known as the Omega Trilogy that was introduced one year before, in 1957, the Speedmaster Railmaster and the Seamaster. Therefore the Ranchero is also nicknamed as the “Fourth Musketeer”. The watch was made from 1957 until 1958 and sold from 1958 until 1959.
In contrast to the members of the Trilogy, the Ranchero was never really popular. There are several reasons. One of the reasons is that the name did not appeal to the Spanish speaking countries because the name “Ranchero” means: “a person who farms or works on a ranch”, especially in the south-western US and Mexico. This was quite remarkable since the Ranchero was also a successful Ford car model, introduced in the United States in the late fifties. But for a luxury model made by Omega this name was not the best marketing choice due to the lack of appeal by the target group.
Another reason is that the Ranchero was not developed to be a toolwatch in contrary to the Railmaster (anti-magnetic for railway workers), Seamaster (divers watch) and the Speedmaster (for car racers). The watch had a waterproof 36 mm case with a very reliable hand wound movement (Calibre 267). The design was meant to be less professional with a slimmer case. But therefore the “Explorer” like dial really stands out with the big broad arrow hand. Especially when the dial has aged perfectly. The other members of the trilogy were sold with a flat link 7077 bracelet, but the Ranchero was sold without a steel bracelet. Customers could choose the bracelet of their choice. In the 1959 Omega catalog, the Ranchero was pictured alongside the Seamaster and the Railmaster, and was offered for the reasonable price of 147 francs. In comparison the Railmaster with a leather band would cost you 245 francs.
Although the Ranchero combined the great looks of the Trilogy with a more affordable price, the Fourth Musketeer did not sell well. Nowadays it is difficult to find a honest and unmolested example. A lot of Seamaster dials have been repainted to look like a Ranchero (“Ranchmasters”. Also a lot of the dials have been re-painted quite badly.
This watch comes with a period correct stainless-steel beads of rice bracelet with extendable Omega signed deployant clasp. Th bracelet is 172 mm long and has the correct 128mm end pieces.
Nowadays the Ranchero has a growing fanbase. The watch has some stunning looks and is quite rare, due to the short time being produced. It has similar looks as the Speedmaster, Seamaster and the Railmaster, but also today is more affordable. But I predict this watch will go up in value, since collectors are really in love with broad arrow watches of the fifties which are increasingly difficult to obtain. Thereby the broad arrow hand Speedmasters are hitting auction record after record.