Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Bulova Surveyor Automatic vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Two dress watchs compared — $250–$500 vs $100–$150

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Bulova Surveyor Automatic ($250–$500). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Surveyor Automatic justifies its premium with Made in Japan (Movement) heritage and Automatic Miyota 8215. Both represent excellent choices in the dress watch category.

BulovaSurveyor Automatic$250–$500 Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Bulova

Surveyor Automatic

$250–$500

Check Price Full Review

Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Bulova Surveyor Automatic	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$250–$500	$100–$150
Case Size	39mm	43mm
Movement	Automatic Miyota 8215	Quartz
Caliber Type	Miyota Automatic	Quartz
Power Reserve	42 Hours	Battery
Water Resistance	30m (3 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral crystal
Case Material	Stainless Steel	Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel)
Origin	Made in Japan (Movement)	Stauer (USA brand, imported)

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Bulova's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic features a Stainless Steel case at 39mm with Sapphire Crystal 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.

⚙️

Movement & Performance

Edge: Bulova

Automatic Miyota 8215 vs Quartz

The Surveyor Automatic runs the Automatic Miyota 8215 (Miyota Automatic, 42 Hours power reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz) frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Surveyor Automatic edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Bulova

39mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 39mm, the Surveyor Automatic 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.

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic sits at $250–$500 and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Surveyor Automatic uses Sapphire Crystal with 42 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 Surveyor Automatic 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

Bulova

Surveyor Automatic

Choose the Bulova Surveyor Automatic if you prioritize Miyota Automatic engineering, Made in Japan (Movement) craftsmanship, and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. At $250–$500, it delivers Automatic Miyota 8215 with 42 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 Bulova Surveyor Automatic and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to the dress watch category — the Bulova bringing Made in Japan (Movement) tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic 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 $250–$500), 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 Bulova Surveyor Automatic may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Surveyor Automatic at 39mm 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 Surveyor Automatic uses Sapphire Crystal 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.