Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Two dress watchs compared — $25,000+ vs $100–$150

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Calatrava 6119R justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Manual-Wind Caliber 30-255 PS. Both represent excellent choices in the dress watch category.

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

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Patek Philippe

Calatrava 6119R

$25,000+

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$25,000+	$100–$150
Case Size	39mm	43mm
Movement	Manual-Wind Caliber 30-255 PS	Quartz
Caliber Type	Patek Philippe In-House Manual-Wind	Quartz
Power Reserve	65 Hours	Battery
Water Resistance	30m (3 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral crystal
Case Material	18k Rose 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

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Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Patek Philippe's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R features a 18k Rose Gold 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.

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Movement & Performance

Edge: Patek Philippe

Manual-Wind Caliber 30-255 PS vs Quartz

The Calatrava 6119R runs the Manual-Wind Caliber 30-255 PS (Patek Philippe In-House Manual-Wind, 65 Hours power reserve) at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Calatrava 6119R edges ahead on power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Patek Philippe

39mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 39mm, the Calatrava 6119R 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.

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R sits at $25,000+ and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Calatrava 6119R uses Sapphire Crystal with 65 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 Calatrava 6119R 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

Patek Philippe

Calatrava 6119R

Choose the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R if you prioritize Patek Philippe In-House Manual-Wind engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Manual-Wind Caliber 30-255 PS with 65 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 Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to the dress watch category — the Patek Philippe bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R 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 $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 Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Calatrava 6119R 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 Calatrava 6119R 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.