Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Breitling's chronograph meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) ($10,000–$25,000). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Hand-wound chronograph, Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 (COSC). Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

BreitlingNavitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces)$10,000–$25,000 Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Breitling

Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces)

$10,000–$25,000

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces)	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$10,000–$25,000	$100–$150
Case Size	41mm	43mm
Movement	Hand-wound chronograph, Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 (COSC)	Quartz
Caliber Type	Breitling B09, hand-wound column-wheel chronograph, COSC-certified	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 70 hours	Battery
Water Resistance	30m (3 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Domed sapphire	Mineral crystal
Case Material	18k red gold	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

Breitling's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) features a 18k red gold case at 41mm with Domed sapphire 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: Breitling

Hand-wound chronograph, Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 (COSC) vs Quartz

The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) runs the Hand-wound chronograph, Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 (COSC) (Breitling B09, hand-wound column-wheel chronograph, COSC-certified, About 70 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Breitling

41mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 41mm, the Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 30m (3 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 Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) sits at $10,000–$25,000 and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) uses Domed sapphire with About 70 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: Stauer

30m (3 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer

The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) is rated to 30m (3 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The 1920s Retrograde offers superior water resistance.

Our Verdict

Breitling

Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces)

Choose the Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) if you prioritize Breitling B09, hand-wound column-wheel chronograph, COSC-certified engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. At $10,000–$25,000, it delivers Hand-wound chronograph, Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 (COSC) with About 70 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 Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Breitling bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) 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 Stauer 1920s Retrograde is rated 100 m against 30 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 Breitling Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) at 41mm with 30m (3 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Navitimer 1959 Edition (18k red gold, 159 pieces) uses Domed sapphire 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.