Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Orient Sun & Moon 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 Orient Sun & Moon ($250–$500). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Sun & Moon justifies its premium with Made in Japan heritage and Automatic Caliber F6B24. Both represent excellent choices in the dress watch category.

View the dossier Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Orient

Sun & Moon

$250–$500

View the dossier Full Review

Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Orient Sun & Moon	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$250–$500	$100–$150
Case Size	41.5mm	43mm
Movement	Automatic Caliber F6B24	Quartz
Caliber Type	Orient In-House Automatic (Hacking, Hand-Winding)	Quartz
Power Reserve	40 Hours	Battery
Water Resistance	50m (5 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Mineral Glass	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	Stauer (USA brand, imported)

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Orient's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Orient Sun & Moon features a Stainless Steel case at 41.5mm with Mineral Glass 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: Orient

Automatic Caliber F6B24 vs Quartz

The Sun & Moon runs the Automatic Caliber F6B24 (Orient In-House Automatic (Hacking, Hand-Winding), 40 Hours power reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz) frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Sun & Moon edges ahead on power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Orient

41.5mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 41.5mm, the Sun & Moon 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.

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Orient Sun & Moon sits at $250–$500 and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Sun & Moon uses Mineral Glass with 40 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

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

The Sun & Moon 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

Orient

Sun & Moon

Choose the Orient Sun & Moon if you prioritize Orient In-House Automatic (Hacking, Hand-Winding) engineering, Made in Japan craftsmanship, and 50m (5 ATM) water resistance. At $250–$500, it delivers Automatic Caliber F6B24 with 40 Hours power reserve.

View the dossier

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 Orient Sun & Moon and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to the dress watch category — the Orient bringing Made in Japan tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Orient Sun & Moon 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 $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 Orient Sun & Moon may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Sun & Moon at 41.5mm 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 Sun & Moon uses Mineral Glass while the 1920s Retrograde uses Mineral crystal.

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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.