Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Omega's chronograph meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Hand-wound chronograph, Omega Calibre 1861. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

OmegaSpeedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary$25,000+ Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

Transparency — We earn a small commission on purchases made through our Amazon links. This doesn't affect our editorial independence.

Omega

Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary

$25,000+

Check Price Full Review

Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

Check Price Full Review

Specifications Compared

Feature	Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$25,000+	$100–$150
Case Size	42mm	43mm
Movement	Hand-wound chronograph, Omega Calibre 1861	Quartz
Caliber Type	Omega 1861, manual-wind Moonwatch calibre	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 48 hours	Battery
Water Resistance	50m (5 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral crystal
Case Material	18k gold (Sedna gold per Omega; Amazon lists yellow 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

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Omega's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary features a 18k gold (Sedna gold per Omega; Amazon lists yellow gold) case at 42mm 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: Omega

Hand-wound chronograph, Omega Calibre 1861 vs Quartz

The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary runs the Hand-wound chronograph, Omega Calibre 1861 (Omega 1861, manual-wind Moonwatch calibre, About 48 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary edges ahead on power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Omega

42mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 42mm, the Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 50m (5 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer.

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary sits at $25,000+ and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary uses Sapphire Crystal with About 48 hours, against Mineral crystal and Battery on the 1920s Retrograde. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Stauer

50m (5 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer

The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary is rated to 50m (5 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The 1920s Retrograde offers superior water resistance.

Our Verdict

Omega

Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary

Choose the Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary if you prioritize Omega 1861, manual-wind Moonwatch calibre engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 50m (5 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Hand-wound chronograph, Omega Calibre 1861 with About 48 hours power reserve.

Check Price on Amazon

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.

Check Price on Amazon

Try Prime Free — Free Shipping on Both Watches Students & 18–24: start Prime for Young Adults free

The Bottom Line

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Omega bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary 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 50 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 Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary at 42mm with 50m (5 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary uses Sapphire Crystal while the 1920s Retrograde uses Mineral crystal. Sapphire resists scratches noticeably better than mineral glass.

More Comparisons

Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph vs Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary

Two chronographs compared — $2,500–$5,000 vs $25,000+

Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Tag Heuer's chronograph meets Stauer's dress watch

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 vs Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary

Tissot's timepiece meets Omega's chronograph

Explore These Watches

Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary — Full Review Stauer 1920s Retrograde — Full Review Browse All Guides

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.