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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
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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
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Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
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Omega Seamaster 300m 2232.30.00 275668

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2232.30.00

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€2,555
IWC Big Pilot's IW501012 244651
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501012

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,535
IWC Big Pilot's IW502902 253111

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502902

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€16,180
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390502 244691
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390502

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,310
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW392202 243928

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW392202

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€27,050
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar IW503501 244305

IWC
Portugieser Annual Calendar
IW503501

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€10,130
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW502710 253117
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW502710

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€19,260
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar IW503502 244707

IWC
Portugieser Annual Calendar
IW503502

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€9,250
IWC Da Vinci Chronograph IW376420 276833

IWC
Da Vinci Chronograph
IW376420

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€9,250
IWC Da Vinci Automatic IW459306 269427

IWC
Da Vinci Automatic
IW459306

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,040
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar IW502219 243927
Limited Edition

IWC
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar
IW502219

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€23,220
Omega Seamaster 300m 2226.80.00 283658
Limited Edition

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2226.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€6,620
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW501002 244514

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW501002

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€8,150
IWC Portofino Automatic IW459006 266132
Limited Edition

IWC
Portofino Automatic
IW459006

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€4,070
IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar IW502119 244272

IWC
Portugieser Perpetual Calendar
IW502119

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€15,380
IWC Ingenieur IW322404 244048
Limited Edition

IWC
Ingenieur
IW322404

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€6,840
IWC Big Pilot's IW503604 245338
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW503604

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€55,200
IWC Big Pilot's IW329701 244504

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW329701

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,385
IWC Big Pilot's IW502708 244363
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502708

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€13,410
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII IW324712 268473
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII
IW324712

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,190
IWC Portofino Automatic IW357408 283204

IWC
Portofino Automatic
IW357408

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,070
IWC Big Pilot's IW329303 282801

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW329303

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€7,445
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW390402 244312

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW390402

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€7,565
IWC Vintage Ingenieur IW323303 267233

IWC
Vintage Ingenieur
IW323303

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€6,880
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390204 244595

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390204

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€4,970
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII IW324711 281265
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII
IW324711

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€9,485
Omega Seamaster 300m ST 165.024 266984
Vintage

Omega
Seamaster 300m
ST 165.024

Box
Papers
Year 1973
€3,880
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar IW503504 266472

IWC
Portugieser Annual Calendar
IW503504

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€15,190
IWC Vintage Aquatimer IW323103 244325

IWC
Vintage Aquatimer
IW323103

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,990
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW390406 272190
Limited Edition

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW390406

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€5,070
IWC Big Pilot's IW500908 244216

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500908

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€1,535
IWC Big Pilot's IW500401 266128

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500401

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€5,285
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW388002 244755

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW388002

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€4,230
IWC Big Pilot's IW503801 244780
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW503801

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€17,720
IWC Portugieser Automatic IW500106 267242

IWC
Portugieser Automatic
IW500106

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€9,290
IWC Big Pilot's IW501005 244123
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501005

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€7,775
IWC Aquatimer IW376705 245265

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376705

Box
Papers
Year 2010
€3,105
IWC Big Pilot's IW500401 266966

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500401

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€5,620
IWC Big Pilot's IW501903 244349
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501903

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€8,720
IWC Big Pilot's IW502001 256171

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,670
IWC Ingenieur IW376501 244170

IWC
Ingenieur
IW376501

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€4,990
IWC Ingenieur IW376501 244422

IWC
Ingenieur
IW376501

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€4,780

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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