Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Citizen's chronograph meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T ($500–$1,000). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Promaster Skyhawk A-T justifies its premium with Made in Japan heritage and Eco-Drive (Radio-Controlled, Atomic Timekeeping). Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

CitizenPromaster Skyhawk A-T$500–$1,000 Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Citizen

Promaster Skyhawk A-T

$500–$1,000

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$500–$1,000	$100–$150
Case Size	45mm	43mm
Movement	Eco-Drive (Radio-Controlled, Atomic Timekeeping)	Quartz
Caliber Type	Citizen Eco-Drive U680 (Solar + Radio-Controlled)	Quartz
Power Reserve	—	Battery
Water Resistance	200m (20 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral crystal
Case Material	Stainless Steel (Black Ion-Plated)	Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel)
Origin	Made in Japan	Stauer (USA brand, imported)

Category-by-Category Analysis

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Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Citizen's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T features a Stainless Steel (Black Ion-Plated) case at 45mm 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: Draw

Eco-Drive (Radio-Controlled, Atomic Timekeeping) vs Quartz

The Promaster Skyhawk A-T runs the Eco-Drive (Radio-Controlled, Atomic Timekeeping) (Citizen Eco-Drive U680 (Solar + Radio-Controlled), standard power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. Power reserves are closely matched.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Stauer

45mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 45mm, the Promaster Skyhawk A-T has a bolder wrist presence compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 200m (20 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer.

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T sits at $500–$1,000 and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Promaster Skyhawk A-T uses Sapphire Crystal with a standard reserve, 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: Citizen

200m (20 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer

The Promaster Skyhawk A-T is rated to 200m (20 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Promaster Skyhawk A-T is better suited for water activities.

Our Verdict

Citizen

Promaster Skyhawk A-T

Choose the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T if you prioritize Citizen Eco-Drive U680 (Solar + Radio-Controlled) engineering, Made in Japan craftsmanship, and 200m (20 ATM) water resistance. At $500–$1,000, it delivers Eco-Drive (Radio-Controlled, Atomic Timekeeping) with solid 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 Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Citizen bringing Made in Japan tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

For water, the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T is rated 200 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 $500–$1,000), 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 Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Promaster Skyhawk A-T at 45mm with 200m (20 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Promaster Skyhawk A-T 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.