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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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Stock Type
  1. Stock Stock
Case Material
  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
Dial Colour
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  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 (552)
Results (552)
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Hermes H08 W049433WW00 273953

Hermes
H08
W049433WW00

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€5,710
Tudor Black Bay M70150-0001 266957

Tudor
Black Bay
M70150-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€2,710
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5200-0130-B52A 267375

Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms
5200-0130-B52A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€10,895
Bvlgari Solotempo 101869 244181

Bvlgari
Solotempo
101869

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,510
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220R 282695

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79220R

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,290
Perrelet Turbine A1067/2 244231

Perrelet
Turbine
A1067/2

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€2,230
Girard Perregaux 1966 49555-11-431-BB60 244681

Girard Perregaux
1966
49555-11-431-BB60

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€4,770
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1183-320LE/60 243822
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1183-320LE/60

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,150
Ulysse Nardin Diver collection 1183-170LE-3/90-GW 272105
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Diver collection
1183-170LE-3/90-GW

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€6,060
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1183-320LE/62 244131
Manufacturer's Warranty

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1183-320LE/62

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€2,970
Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer 1185-122-3/41 244351
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Marine Chronometer
1185-122-3/41

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€4,955
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79018V-0001 280255
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79018V-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€9,395
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1187-320/63 244399
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1187-320/63

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€2,795
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1187-320/63 243907
Manufacturer's Warranty

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1187-320/63

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€2,795
Girard Perregaux 1966 49534-53-711-BK6A 243874
Manufacturer's Warranty

Girard Perregaux
1966
49534-53-711-BK6A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,410
Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer 1182-160/490 244530

Ulysse Nardin
Marine Chronometer
1182-160/490

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€12,620
Girard Perregaux 1966 49527-53-432-BB4A 243836

Girard Perregaux
1966
49527-53-432-BB4A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,110
Panerai Submersible PAM00692 244119

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00692

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€7,110
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1187-320LE/63 244475
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1187-320LE/63

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,325
Panerai Submersible PAM00692 244670

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00692

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,410
Girard Perregaux 1966 49545-11-131-BB60 266140

Girard Perregaux
1966
49545-11-131-BB60

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,185
Girard Perregaux Worldwide Time Control 49557-11-132-BB6C 244471

Girard Perregaux
Worldwide Time Control
49557-11-132-BB6C

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,760
Hermes Arceau AR4.910 245341

Hermes
Arceau
AR4.910

Box
Papers
Year 2007
€1,875
Tudor 1926 M91350-0002 278609

Tudor
1926
M91350-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€1,320
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars 15180BC.OO.A002CR.01 245250

Audemars Piguet
Jules Audemars
15180BC.OO.A002CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€8,530
Panerai Submersible PAM00692 244267

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00692

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€5,760
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81000-11-131-11A 245257
Limited Edition

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81000-11-131-11A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€9,385
Panerai Submersible PAM01389 244128

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01389

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,310
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 243885

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€13,825
Chopard Grand Prix 168568-9001 282842

Chopard
Grand Prix
168568-9001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,380
Ulysse Nardin Diver collection 8163-175-7M/93 279796

Ulysse Nardin
Diver collection
8163-175-7M/93

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,190
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15100ST.0.0789ST.01 244359
Limited Edition

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak
15100ST.0.0789ST.01

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€47,710
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 243979

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€6,020
Piaget Altiplano G0A29120 244223

Piaget
Altiplano
G0A29120

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€8,920
Ebel 1911 BTR 1215624 244724

Ebel
1911 BTR
1215624

Box
Papers
Year 2007
€1,190
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 244354

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,505
Chopard Mille Miglia 168571-3009 280844
Limited Edition

Chopard
Mille Miglia
168571-3009

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,100
Panerai Submersible PAM01389 244708

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01389

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,255
Panerai Submersible PAM01305 277593

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01305

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,160
Panerai Radiomir Automatic PAM00388 265387

Panerai
Radiomir Automatic
PAM00388

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,415
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 15710ST.OO.A027CA.01 269088

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Offshore
15710ST.OO.A027CA.01

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€27,020
Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa PAM01036 283210

Panerai
Luminor Luna Rossa
PAM01036

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,525

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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