Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Stauer 1920s Retrograde vs Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium)

Stauer's dress watch meets Ulysse Nardin's timepiece

Quick Verdict

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde ($100–$150) offers Quartz precision in the tier below the Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) ($25,000+). The 1920s Retrograde measures 43mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer. The Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) counters with Swiss Made craftsmanship and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. Both are exceptional watches for their respective tiers.

Stauer1920s Retrograde$100–$150 Check price Ulysse NardinExecutive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium)$25,000+ Check price

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Stauer

1920s Retrograde

$100–$150

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Ulysse Nardin

Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium)

$25,000+

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Stauer 1920s Retrograde	Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium)
Price	$100–$150	$25,000+
Case Size	43mm	45mm
Movement	Quartz	Hand-wound, Ulysse Nardin UN-171 flying tourbillon
Caliber Type	Quartz	UN-171, hand-wound, silicon escapement
Power Reserve	Battery	About 170 hours (seven days)
Water Resistance	100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer	30m (3 ATM)
Crystal	Mineral crystal	Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback
Case Material	Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel)	Titanium, black ceramic bezel
Origin	Stauer (USA brand, imported)	Swiss Made

Category-by-Category Analysis

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Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Stauer's design language vs Ulysse Nardin's approach

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde features a Gold-tone stainless steel (listing photo shows a gold-tone finish; Amazon spec table says stainless steel) case at 43mm with Mineral crystal protection. The Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) offers Titanium, black ceramic bezel construction at 45mm with Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

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Movement & Performance

Edge: Ulysse Nardin

Quartz vs Hand-wound, Ulysse Nardin UN-171 flying tourbillon

The 1920s Retrograde runs the Quartz (Quartz, Battery power reserve) at standard frequency. The Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) uses the Hand-wound, Ulysse Nardin UN-171 flying tourbillon (UN-171, hand-wound, silicon escapement, About 170 hours (seven days) reserve) at standard. The Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) offers a longer power reserve.

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Wearability & Fit

Edge: Stauer

43mm vs 45mm — different wrist presence

At 43mm, the 1920s Retrograde wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) at 45mm. Water resistance differs: 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer vs 30m (3 ATM).

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Stauer

Stauer sits in the lower tier

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde sits at $100–$150 and the Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) at $25,000+. On the specs that outlast any price: the 1920s Retrograde uses Mineral crystal with Battery, against Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback and About 170 hours (seven days) on the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium). Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

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Water Resistance

Edge: Stauer

100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer vs 30m (3 ATM)

The 1920s Retrograde is rated to 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer while the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) handles 30m (3 ATM). The 1920s Retrograde is better suited for water activities.

Our Verdict

Stauer

1920s Retrograde

Choose the Stauer 1920s Retrograde if you prioritize Quartz engineering, Stauer (USA brand, imported) craftsmanship, and 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer water resistance. At $100–$150, it delivers Quartz with Battery power reserve.

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Ulysse Nardin

Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium)

Choose the Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) if you value UN-171, hand-wound, silicon escapement technology, Swiss Made heritage, and 45mm proportions. At $25,000+, the Hand-wound, Ulysse Nardin UN-171 flying tourbillon with About 170 hours (seven days) power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Stauer 1920s Retrograde and Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Stauer bringing Stauer (USA brand, imported) tradition while Ulysse Nardin delivers Swiss Made engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) 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 Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The 1920s Retrograde at 43mm with 100m (10 ATM), as listed by Stauer water resistance handles everyday situations. The Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) at 45mm with 30m (3 ATM) is similarly capable. The 1920s Retrograde uses Mineral crystal while the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon 45mm (titanium) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback. 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.