Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Blancpain's diver meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) ($10,000–$25,000). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 1315. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

BlancpainFifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial)$10,000–$25,000 Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Blancpain

Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial)

$10,000–$25,000

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial)	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$10,000–$25,000	$100–$150
Case Size	45mm	43mm
Movement	Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 1315	Quartz
Caliber Type	Blancpain 1315, three barrels, silicon balance spring	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 120 hours (five days)	Battery
Water Resistance	300m (30 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal, sapphire bezel insert	Mineral crystal
Case Material	Titanium	Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel)
Origin	Swiss Made	Stauer (USA brand, imported)

Category-by-Category Analysis

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Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Blancpain's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) features a Titanium case at 45mm with Sapphire Crystal, sapphire bezel insert protection. The Stauer 1920s Retrograde offers Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel) construction at 43mm with Mineral crystal. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

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Movement & Performance

Edge: Blancpain

Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 1315 vs Quartz

The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) runs the Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 1315 (Blancpain 1315, three barrels, silicon balance spring, About 120 hours (five days) power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Stauer

45mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 45mm, the Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) has a bolder wrist presence compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 300m (30 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer.

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) sits at $10,000–$25,000 and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire bezel insert with About 120 hours (five days), against Mineral crystal and Battery on the 1920s Retrograde. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

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Water Resistance

Edge: Blancpain

300m (30 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer

The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) is rated to 300m (30 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) is better suited for water activities.

Our Verdict

Blancpain

Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial)

Choose the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) if you prioritize Blancpain 1315, three barrels, silicon balance spring engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 300m (30 ATM) water resistance. At $10,000–$25,000, it delivers Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 1315 with About 120 hours (five days) power reserve.

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

Choose the Stauer 1920s Retrograde if you value Quartz technology, Stauer (USA brand, imported) heritage, and 43mm proportions. At $100–$150, the Quartz with Battery power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Blancpain bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) is the better buy if you want a mechanical movement; the Stauer 1920s Retrograde is the better buy if you want quartz accuracy with no servicing. For water, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) is rated 300 m against 100 m, which is the difference between swimming and diving on one side and splashes on the other. On price, the Stauer 1920s Retrograde sits a band lower ($100–$150 against $10,000–$25,000), so it is the cheaper way into the category. Neither is better at everything; the spec table above shows movement, case size, water resistance and crystal side by side so you can weigh what matters to you. We do not test units, so this is the makers' data, not a bench result.

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde offers better upfront value, sitting a tier lower at $100–$150. However, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) at 45mm with 300m (30 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm (titanium, blue dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire bezel insert while the 1920s Retrograde uses Mineral crystal. Sapphire resists scratches noticeably better than mineral glass.

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How This Page Was Made

Our comparisons are generated from a hand-maintained specification database and reviewed under our editorial standards. We use AI tools to assemble pages from that data. We don’t invent specs: every number traces back to the database, and when we correct an entry, the fix is applied site-wide. As an Amazon Associate, The Horologist earns from qualifying purchases.