Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Two dress watchs compared — $25,000+ vs $100–$150

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 6654. Both represent excellent choices in the dress watch category.

BlancpainVilleret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial)$25,000+ Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Blancpain

Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial)

$25,000+

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial)	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$25,000+	$100–$150
Case Size	40mm	43mm
Movement	Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 6654	Quartz
Caliber Type	Blancpain 6654, automatic, silicon balance spring, under-lug correctors	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 72 hours	Battery
Water Resistance	100m (10 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback	Mineral crystal
Case Material	18k red gold, double-stepped bezel	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 Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) features a 18k red gold, double-stepped bezel case at 40mm with Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback 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 6654 vs Quartz

The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) runs the Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 6654 (Blancpain 6654, automatic, silicon balance spring, under-lug correctors, About 72 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Blancpain

40mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 40mm, the Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 100m (10 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 Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) sits at $25,000+ and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback with About 72 hours, 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: Draw

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

The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) is rated to 100m (10 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. Both offer identical water resistance ratings.

Our Verdict

Blancpain

Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial)

Choose the Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) if you prioritize Blancpain 6654, automatic, silicon balance spring, under-lug correctors engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 100m (10 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Automatic, Blancpain Calibre 6654 with About 72 hours 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 Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to the dress watch category — the Blancpain bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, 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. On price, the Stauer 1920s Retrograde sits a band lower ($100–$150 against $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 Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) at 40mm with 100m (10 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Villeret Quantième Complet (18k red gold, blue dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback 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.