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Automatic Watches

An automatic watch winds itself with no need for a battery. With a weighted, free-spinning rotor inside that moves as you do, you’ll keep your watch wound with every action. Browse our selection of automatic watches below.

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Popular Brands
  1. Rolex Rolex
  2. Omega Omega
  3. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  4. Cartier Cartier
  5. Panerai Panerai
  6. Breitling Breitling
  7. IWC IWC
  8. Tudor Tudor
  9. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  10. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  11. Hublot Hublot
  12. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  13. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  4. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  5. Blancpain Blancpain
  6. Breguet Breguet
  7. Breitling Breitling
  8. Bremont Bremont
  9. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  10. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  11. Cartier Cartier
  12. Chanel Chanel
  13. Chopard Chopard
  14. Corum Corum
  15. Eterna Eterna
  16. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  17. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  18. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  19. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  20. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  21. Hamilton Hamilton
  22. Hermes Hermes
  23. Hublot Hublot
  24. IWC IWC
  25. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  26. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  27. Longines Longines
  28. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  29. Montblanc Montblanc
  30. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  31. Omega Omega
  32. Oris Oris
  33. Panerai Panerai
  34. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  35. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  36. Piaget Piaget
  37. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  38. Rado Rado
  39. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  40. Rolex Rolex
  41. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  42. Tudor Tudor
  43. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  44. Union Glashutte Union Glashutte
  45. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  46. Zenith Zenith
Series
Case Size
The size of a watch is very important for style and comfort. If you prefer an oversized watch like a Panerai Luminor, you’ll probably want Large. If you’re looking for something more discreet like a Rolex Lady Datejust, you’ll want Small. For everything in between, Medium.
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Stock Type
  1. Watchfinder Watchfinder
Case Material
  1. Bronze Bronze
  2. Carbon Carbon
  3. Ceramic Ceramic
  4. Platinum Platinum
  5. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  6. Steel Steel
  7. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  8. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  9. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  10. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  11. Titanium Titanium
  12. White Gold White Gold
  13. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  14. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
Black
Blue
Bronze
Brown
Champagne
Diamond
Green
Grey
Ivory
Mother of Pearl
Orange
Pink
Red
Salmon
Silver
Specialised
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Strap
  1. Bracelet Bracelet
  2. Fabric Fabric
  3. Leather Leather
  4. Rubber Rubber
Box and Papers
  1. Original box Original box
  1. Original papers Original papers
Movement
A mechanical watch is powered by a spring. Manual mechanical watches must be hand wound. Automatic watches are also mechanical, and are wound by a weight that spins with the wearer's movements. A quartz watch is battery powered and extremely accurate.
  1. Automatic Automatic
  2. Manual Manual
  3. Quartz Quartz
Promotion
Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (873)
Results (873)
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Bell and Ross BR01-97 BR01-97 411930

Bell and Ross
BR01-97
BR01-97

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€2,010
Rolex Datejust Lady 179171 427801
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179171

Box
Papers
Year 2010
€9,660
Tudor Black Bay M79230DK-0008 427799
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M79230DK-0008

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€3,620
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.12.41.21.02.002 427796
New Price

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.12.41.21.02.002

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€4,885
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving 186T770 427795
New Price

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Master Compressor Diving
186T770

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€6,210
Rolex Datejust 116200 427794
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
116200

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,530
Panerai Submersible PAM01698 427793
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01698

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€15,525
Hublot Big Bang 411.MX.1138.RX 427792
New Price

Hublot
Big Bang
411.MX.1138.RX

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€18,975
Omega Planet Ocean 215.30.44.21.04.001 427791
New Price

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.30.44.21.04.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€4,730
Cartier Santos 100 W20091X7 427789
New Price
Vintage

Cartier
Santos 100
W20091X7

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€7,070
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 278344 RBR 427784
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
278344 RBR

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€17,075
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 177234 427777
New Price

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
177234

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€6,035
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.62.44.20.01.001 427775
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.62.44.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€10,635
Tudor Fastrider Chronograph 42000CR 427774
New Price

Tudor
Fastrider Chronograph
42000CR

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,385
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220N 427772
New Price

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79220N

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€4,195
Rolex Milgauss 116400 GV 427771
New Price

Rolex
Milgauss
116400 GV

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€9,945
Rolex Datejust 126233 427768
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
126233

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€12,590
Omega Seamaster Boutique Editions 511.13.40.20.06.001 427767
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Boutique Editions
511.13.40.20.06.001

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€9,485
Omega Speedmaster Date 3513.53.00 426213
New Price

Omega
Speedmaster Date
3513.53.00

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€3,850
Tag Heuer Carrera CV211D.BA0739 413253

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CV211D.BA0739

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,045
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 427544
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€10,635
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 277200 427543
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
277200

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€8,510
Rolex Deepsea 126660 - D-Blue 427542
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Deepsea
126660 - D-Blue

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€12,360
Rolex Datejust 126200 427541
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
126200

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,885
Rolex Submariner 116618 LB 427540
New Price

Rolex
Submariner
116618 LB

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€31,625
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124200 427539
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124200

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€7,260
Rolex Deepsea 126660 - D-Blue 427535
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Deepsea
126660 - D-Blue

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€11,810
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 276200 427532
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
276200

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,325
Rolex Day-Date 18038 427531
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Day-Date
18038

Box
Papers
Year 1981
€14,890
Rolex Cellini 50609 RBR 427529
New Price

Rolex
Cellini
50609 RBR

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€16,385
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 421294
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1994
€2,920
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 387282
New Price
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1996
€3,075
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 417902
New Price

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€3,565
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 387338
New Price
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1999
€3,075
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 424851
New Price
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1995
€3,025
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030N-0001 423797
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€3,810
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 387284
New Price
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1999
€3,075
Rolex Datejust Lady 179173 427419
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179173

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€9,860
Breitling Navitimer Automatic 41 A17329 427448
New Price

Breitling
Navitimer Automatic 41
A17329

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€4,310
Rolex Datejust Lady 179171 417885

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179171

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€10,060
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 76193 427420
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
76193

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€4,540
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.32.42.20.03.001 427323
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.32.42.20.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€4,825

Automatic Watches

The person largely credited with inventing the first self-winding movement powered by an oscillating weight—or rotor—is the pioneering Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet in the 1770s.

Hubert Sarton and the great Abraham-Louis Breguet were two of several watchmakers who further developed the technology over the following century before a Parisian watchmaker called Leon Leroy came up with the idea of a self-winding wristwatch in 1922, making a small batch for a private client.

A year later, an English watch repairer by the name of John Harwood developed his own version of an automatic wristwatch that could be mass-produced. His design used a centrally mounted oscillating weight—or rotor—much like the automatic watches of today.

Rolex, together with its movement maker Aegler, took Harwood’s invention and improved it, unveiling the self-winding ‘perpetual’ movement in 1931. The resulting Oyster Perpetual—the world’s first water-resistant automatic watch—is now considered the foundation for Rolex’s success. The Eterna company was also key to progressing this technology. In 1948 it introduced the Eterna-matic movement which featured a ball-bearing-mounted rotor that reduced wear and tear.

Within a decade or so, most brands were manufacturing some kind of self-winding watch alongside manual-wind ones. These days, automatic watches are far more commonly available.

How they work

In this section, we'll delve into the mechanics of automatic watches and discuss how they differ from manual watches.

An automatic watch, or self-winding watch, is a sophisticated timepiece that doesn't require manual winding or a battery. The watch harnesses the natural movement of the wearer's arm to power its functions. As the arm moves, it spins a rotor within the watch which winds the mainspring, storing energy to power the timepiece.

The movement, or calibre, is the heart of an automatic watch. It comprises several key components like the mainspring, rotor, escapement mechanism, balance wheel, and gears. The rotor winds the mainspring, the mainspring stores energy, and the escapement mechanism regulates the release of energy from the mainspring for precise timekeeping.

The power reserve is another important feature of automatic watches. It indicates how long the watch can run without additional winding, sometimes displayed on the dial or the case back. A longer power reserve allows the watch to run for several days without wearing it, ensuring it remains accurate and ready to wear. The power reserve on most watches tends to be between 38 and 70 hours, although one Vacheron Constantin watch has an incredible 65-day power reserve.

Most modern automatic watches are equipped with a mechanism to prevent overwinding. Once the mainspring is fully wound, the mechanism disengages to prevent excessive tension on the spring.

The main difference between automatic and manual watches lies in convenience. Automatic watches, with their self-winding mechanism, only need to be wound if the watch hasn’t been worn for some time and has stopped. If you keep wearing the watch, it will keep ticking.

A manual-wind watch, however, must be hand-wound every day or so to keep ticking, regardless of whether it is on your wrist or not. Should you forget to wind it, the watch will eventually stop.

Maintenance and lifespan

Automatic watches require proper maintenance and care to ensure their longevity. Here are some tips for winding, preventing overwinding, and caring for your automatic watch.

Wearing your automatic watch daily generates enough kinetic energy to wind the mainspring and power the watch. However, if the watch has stopped running, you can manually wind it by turning the crown clockwise a few times—around twenty revolutions should suffice.

The lifespan of an automatic watch can vary based on the quality of the watch movement, regular maintenance, the wearer's activity level, and environmental factors. High-quality movements can keep accurate time for decades, while lower-quality ones may require more frequent servicing and have a shorter lifespan.

Brands that make automatic watches

All major luxury watch brands now have automatic models in their collection. Some brands, such as Rolex, use self-winding movements exclusively, having discontinued their manual-wind models. Manual-wind watches tend to be far less common in modern watchmaking, although there are still plenty of options available.

Automatic movements power all kinds of watches, from chronographs to dress watches, and the movements are often visible through an exhibition case back. It’s common for the components of the movement to be finely engraved, with the oscillating rotor often fashioned from gold and decorated or skeletonised for aesthetic appeal.

Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe make some of the most beautifully decorated automatic movements.

At Watchfinder, we provide a range of pre-owned automatic watches from a wealth of prestigious brands. Our collection includes both vintage and modern timepieces, from chronographs to dive models, ensuring every taste is covered.

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