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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. Panerai Panerai
  2. IWC IWC
  3. Rolex Rolex
  4. Omega Omega
  5. Breitling Breitling
  6. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  7. Hublot Hublot
  8. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  9. Cartier Cartier
  10. Tudor Tudor
  11. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  12. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  13. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. B.R.M Watches B.R.M Watches
  4. Ball Ball
  5. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  6. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  7. Blancpain Blancpain
  8. Breguet Breguet
  9. Breitling Breitling
  10. Bremont Bremont
  11. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  12. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  13. Cartier Cartier
  14. Chanel Chanel
  15. Chopard Chopard
  16. Corum Corum
  17. Eterna Eterna
  18. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  19. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  20. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  21. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  22. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  23. Hamilton Hamilton
  24. Hermes Hermes
  25. Hublot Hublot
  26. IWC IWC
  27. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  28. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  29. Longines Longines
  30. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  31. Montblanc Montblanc
  32. Omega Omega
  33. Oris Oris
  34. Panerai Panerai
  35. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  36. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  37. Perrelet Perrelet
  38. Piaget Piaget
  39. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  40. Rado Rado
  41. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  42. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  43. Rolex Rolex
  44. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  45. Tudor Tudor
  46. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  47. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  48. 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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  1. Stock Stock
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  1. Aluminium Aluminium
  2. Bronze Bronze
  3. Carbon Carbon
  4. Ceramic Ceramic
  5. Platinum Platinum
  6. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  7. Silver Silver
  8. Steel Steel
  9. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  10. Steel & Rose Gold Plated Steel & Rose Gold Plated
  11. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  12. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  13. Titanium Titanium
  14. White Gold White Gold
  15. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
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  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
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  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (552)
Results (552)
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Rolex Submariner 116610 LNXXTEST 289244

Rolex
Submariner
116610 LNXXTEST

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€23,000
Girard Perregaux Chrono Hawk 49970-34-633-BB6B 244445

Girard Perregaux
Chrono Hawk
49970-34-633-BB6B

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€8,665
Omega De Ville Ladymatic 425.25.34.20.55.001 245342

Omega
De Ville Ladymatic
425.25.34.20.55.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
POA
Grand Seiko Sport Collection SBGE253 271390

Grand Seiko
Sport Collection
SBGE253

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,085
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SLGH005 270937

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SLGH005

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,435
Grand Seiko Sport Collection SBGA229 281613

Grand Seiko
Sport Collection
SBGA229

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€3,335
Hamilton Khaki Field H71616535 270112

Hamilton
Khaki Field
H71616535

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€1,375
Breitling SuperOcean Automatic V17369 267057
Limited Edition

Breitling
SuperOcean Automatic
V17369

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€3,305
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B483 283209

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B483

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€25,545
Grand Seiko Hi Beat SBGH013J 267740

Grand Seiko
Hi Beat
SBGH013J

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,305
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SLGH005 284344

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SLGH005

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,870
Carl F. Bucherer Patravi 00.10620.21.93.01 244177

Carl F. Bucherer
Patravi
00.10620.21.93.01

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€13,520
Hamilton Jazzmaster H32576641 282792

Hamilton
Jazzmaster
H32576641

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€1,300
Ball BMW PM3010C-P1CFJ-BK 243904

Ball
BMW
PM3010C-P1CFJ-BK

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€1,025
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony 86020-000R 254730

Vacheron Constantin
Patrimony
86020-000R

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€17,895
Bremont Boeing BB247-SS/BK 243993

Bremont
Boeing
BB247-SS/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,635
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 7900V/110A-B546 273290

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
7900V/110A-B546

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€30,245
Bremont Supermarine S2000/BK 243955

Bremont
Supermarine
S2000/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€1,995
Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute J017010201 245273
Limited Edition

Jaquet Droz
Grande Heure Minute
J017010201

Box
Papers
Year 2005
€3,515
Parmigiani Kalpagraph PFC128-0243200-X01401 276001
Limited Edition

Parmigiani
Kalpagraph
PFC128-0243200-X01401

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€11,500
Glashutte Original Senator Automatic 100-01-11-01-04 244809

Glashutte Original
Senator Automatic
100-01-11-01-04

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€5,495
Parmigiani Toric PFC909-0000300-HA3282 245287
Limited Edition

Parmigiani
Toric
PFC909-0000300-HA3282

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€5,680
Parmigiani Tonda PFC267-1202400-HA1241 283395

Parmigiani
Tonda
PFC267-1202400-HA1241

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€8,695
Glashutte Original Senator Automatic 39-52-01-02-04 273890

Glashutte Original
Senator Automatic
39-52-01-02-04

Box
Papers
Year 2007
€3,615
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B483 267068

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B483

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€24,180
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B126 279208

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B126

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€22,695
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 47040/000A-9008 275051

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
47040/000A-9008

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€17,230
Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA275 266541

Grand Seiko
Spring Drive
SBGA275

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€4,880
B.R.M Watches B.R.M V6-44-HB-GULF 245355
Limited Edition

B.R.M Watches
B.R.M
V6-44-HB-GULF

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,160
Bremont Jaguar D-Type 243917
Limited Edition

Bremont
Jaguar
D-Type

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€2,675
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-ZT/BK 244156

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-ZT/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€1,750
Porsche Design Compass P6520 268852
Limited Edition

Porsche Design
Compass
P6520

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€3,045 €3,050
Eterna Kontiki 7760.42.80.0280 243823

Eterna
Kontiki
7760.42.80.0280

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€3,085
Parmigiani Tonda PFC288-0000100-XA1442 266974

Parmigiani
Tonda
PFC288-0000100-XA1442

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,670
Porsche Design Chronotimer 6010.1.03.004.05.2 243977

Porsche Design
Chronotimer
6010.1.03.004.05.2

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€1,880
Bvlgari Octo 102485 243959

Bvlgari
Octo
102485

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,690
Breguet Classique 3137PT/11/286 PT 266999
Vintage

Breguet
Classique
3137PT/11/286 PT

Box
Papers
Year 1991
€19,670
Porsche Design Chronotimer 6010.1.09.001.05.2 279405

Porsche Design
Chronotimer
6010.1.09.001.05.2

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€1,780
Bvlgari Sotirio 101707 257693

Bvlgari
Sotirio
101707

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€3,365
Bremont Supermarine S301/BK 266476

Bremont
Supermarine
S301/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€2,215
Glashutte Original PanoMaticDate 90-01-02-02-04 274792

Glashutte Original
PanoMaticDate
90-01-02-02-04

Box
Papers
Year 2010
€5,580
Bremont Wright Flyer WF-SS 244335
Limited Edition

Bremont
Wright Flyer
WF-SS

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,285

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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