Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1959 Reference No: CK 2990 Movement No: 16'615'173 Model Name: Ranchero Material: Stainless Steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 267, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Omega bracelet, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless stee Omega clasp Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by an Omega Extract from the Archives confirming production of the watch in 1959 and its subsequent delivery to the US Air Forces.
Catalogue Essay
Also known as the “Fourth Musketeer,” due to its resemblance to the Speedmaster, Railmaster, and Seamaster, the Omega Ranchero was released as a standalone piece in 1958.
Meant as an entry-level alternative to the Professional models launched one year earlier, the Ranchero was styled after these watches and utilized the same configuration: black dial, triangle-shaped luminous markers, and broad arrow hands.
Despite presenting a compelling product – the Ranchero was a thinner, water-resistant and less expensive than its predecessors – Omega couldn’t properly market the watch and the model was phased out of production shortly after its launch, making the Ranchero the rarest of the four watches.
The challenge of finding one in appealing condition – such as the present example – is just as great, if not greater, as it is with other “Broad Arrows” and to some that makes it the most desirable out of all.
The present piece is a stunning and very well-preserved example. Add to that the military origins of the watch – made in 1959, it was part of a rare batch delivered to the US Air Forces, as confirmed by the accompanying Extract from the Archives – and you’ve got one of the most exciting Rancheros to be offered at auction in years.
Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.
Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.