1958 Omega Seamaster CK 2990-1
As trends in watch collecting move towards towards thinner profiles and precious metals, vintage dress watches continue to increase in desirability. With that said, it’s becoming seemingly more difficult to find information on the design and development of these dressier pieces, as compared to their sportier brethren. With so much attention spent on tool watches over the last few decades, much of the lineage of the humble dress watch has been ignored and forgotten, resulting in a knowledge gap when it comes to the more elegant timepieces.
Fortunately, this is not always the case!
This particular timepiece, an Omega Reference CK 2990-1 has quite an history behind it. Watches of this reference were originally born as Rancheros, and offered for sale in export markets such as the United States. However this example features a Seamaster dial, which were exclusively available in the Swedish market.
Maybe should we just call it a Seachero?
When offered to the Swedish market, it was determined that the name “Ranchero” wouldn’t go over well with Swedish buyers, so the dials were exchanged before sale with Seamaster versions and different handsets. The resulting timepiece is a classic and elegant dress watch that somehow reads sporty at times as well.
The beautifully aged cream white dial combined with the subsidiary seconds register at 6:00 and the yellow gold tone indexes and warm luminescent patination makes for an incredibly appealing look and a case profile that is the perfect size for everyday wear.
Vintage dress watches are on their way up in terms of collectability, but you can be sure that most of them won’t have as compelling a story as the CK 2990-1 “Swedish” Ranchero.
Information:
Reference: 2990-1
Year: 1958
Serial: 16,931,XXX
Dial/hands: Radium
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Case Size: 36mm - Stainless Steel
Movement: 267- Manual
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Box and Papers: No box or papers - Watch Only
Crystal: Plexiglass
Bracelet size: 7.5”
Condition:
Case has light wear with a couple scratches. Strap has minimal creasing. Dial has heavy wear with spotting and missing lume. Hands have wear with lume patina being black. Crystal has minimal wear. Runs great.
History of Seiko Watches
Seiko's history began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a watch shop in Tokyo. In 1892, he established Seikosha, a factory for producing wall clocks. The company quickly progressed, creating Japan's first wristwatch, the Laurel, in 1913. Despite setbacks like the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Seiko persevered, launching its first watch under the Seiko brand name in 1924.
The post-World War II era saw Seiko's rapid growth and innovation. They introduced Japan's first automatic wristwatch in 1956 and launched the prestigious Grand Seiko line in 1960. Seiko achieved international recognition for accuracy in 1968, winning a Geneva Observatory competition.
The company made a name for its divers in 1965 with the introduction of their first professional dive watch, the 62MAS. This was followed by the iconic 6159-7001 in 1968, which was water-resistant to 300 meters. Seiko gained international recognition in 1975 with the release of the 6159-7010, nicknamed the "Tuna Can" due to its distinctive case shape. In 1969, they revolutionized the industry with the Astron, the world's first quartz wristwatch, ushering a new era of watchmaking that would send waves across the industry through the 70s and 80s. From its humble beginnings to becoming a global watchmaking giant, Seiko's history is characterized by resilience, technological advancement, and a commitment to precision.
