Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) vs Stauer 1920s Retrograde

Rolex's timepiece meets Stauer's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) delivers Quartz technology in the tier below the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

RolexDay-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)$25,000+ Check price Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price

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Rolex

Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)

$25,000+

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)	Stauer 1920s Retrograde
Price	$25,000+	$100–$150
Case Size	36mm	43mm
Movement	Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155	Quartz
Caliber Type	Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer	Quartz
Power Reserve	About 48 hours	Battery
Water Resistance	100m (10 ATM)	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops	Mineral crystal
Case Material	18k 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

Rolex's design language vs Stauer's approach

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) features a 18k yellow gold case at 36mm with Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops 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: Rolex

Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 vs Quartz

The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) runs the Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 (Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer, About 48 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The 1920s Retrograde uses the Quartz (Quartz, Battery reserve) at standard. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) edges ahead on power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Rolex

36mm vs 43mm — different wrist presence

At 36mm, the Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the 1920s Retrograde at 43mm. Water resistance differs: 100m (10 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer.

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) sits at $25,000+ and the Stauer 1920s Retrograde at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops 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: Draw

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

The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) is rated to 100m (10 ATM) while the 1920s Retrograde handles 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. Both offer identical water resistance ratings.

Our Verdict

Rolex

Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)

Choose the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) if you prioritize Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 100m (10 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 with About 48 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 Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) and Stauer 1920s Retrograde represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Rolex bringing Swiss Made tradition while Stauer delivers Stauer (USA brand, imported) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) 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. 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 Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) at 36mm with 100m (10 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer is similarly capable. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops 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.