Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Grand Seiko's diver meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 justifies its premium with Made in Japan heritage and Spring Drive 9R15. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

Grand SeikoGodzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405$25,000+ Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Grand Seiko

Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405

$25,000+

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$25,000+	$100–$150
Case Size	44.5mm	43mm
Movement	Spring Drive 9R15	Quartz
Caliber Type	Grand Seiko Spring Drive 9R15, rated +/-10 seconds per month	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 72 hours	Battery
Water Resistance	200m (20 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral crystal
Case Material	High-intensity titanium	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

Grand Seiko's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 features a High-intensity titanium case at 44.5mm 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.

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Movement & Performance

Edge: Grand Seiko

Spring Drive 9R15 vs Quartz

The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 runs the Spring Drive 9R15 (Grand Seiko Spring Drive 9R15, rated +/-10 seconds per month, About 72 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Stauer

44.5mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 44.5mm, the Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 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.

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 sits at $25,000+ and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 uses Sapphire Crystal 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: Grand Seiko

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

The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 is rated to 200m (20 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 is better suited for water activities.

Our Verdict

Grand Seiko

Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405

Choose the Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 if you prioritize Grand Seiko Spring Drive 9R15, rated +/-10 seconds per month engineering, Made in Japan craftsmanship, and 200m (20 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Spring Drive 9R15 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 Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Grand Seiko bringing Made in Japan tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

For water, the Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 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 $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 Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 at 44.5mm 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 Godzilla 65th Anniversary SBGA405 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.