Pre-Owned Omega Ranchero 40960119/AS06836

WHY WE LOVE IT

Introduced in 1958, the Ranchero was meant to be Omega’s successor to the Railmaster and Seamaster. 

Unlike those two watches — tough, purpose-driven, designed for specific professions or pastimes — the Ranchero was meant to do it all, really. Though with the same waterproof case and robust hand-wound movement as its sportier brethren, the Ranchero’s slimmer profile meant that it could — like Ford’s Ranchero — do double duty for both work and play. The thinness of the crystal, coupled with the slim case, makes the dial truly stand out, an effect that Omega used in many of its dress watches. And the dial of the Ranchero owes much to the Railmaster, with its large luminescent triangles at the hour markers and ‘broad arrow’ hands.

With all that the Ranchero had going for it, it should have been a success. By rights it should have sold as well as its automotive counterpart, the Ford Ranchero, which sold well over 508,000 units. However, the Omega Ranchero did not prove to be the runaway hit that the Seamaster was, and Omega discontinued production in 1958, selling off the last remaining units in 1959.

And despite a limited run in Belgium in the 1970s, that was the last anyone saw of the Ranchero. That is, until intrepid collectors realized that the watch had all the style and lineage of the Railmaster and Seamaster, but without any of the hype. Now, the Ranchero enjoys popularity on the vintage watch market.

This particular Ranchero from the late 1950s remains in remarkably good condition despite some scratches throughout the dial. Housed in a 35mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown, a polished bezel, and a signed crown, it features a gloss white tritium dial with a matching ‘broad arrow’ handset, patinated dart indices, and sub-seconds at 6 o’clock. Powered by the hand-wound Omega Calibre 267 movement, it comes paired to a brown leather strap with a HODINKEE-signed pin buckle.

These watches were designed to be worn everyday, and worn hard. This one is ready for a new life of adventure a full 70 years after it was born — snag it today!

OVERALL CONDITION

The case is excellent, strong condition overall showing signs of light previous refinishing and light wear from age and use. White 'honeycomb' dial with applied 'dart' indices is in very good condition showing deep even patina with matching 'dauphine' handset. Signed crown.