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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. Breitling Breitling
  4. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  5. Tudor Tudor
  6. Cartier Cartier
  7. Panerai Panerai
  8. IWC IWC
  9. Hublot Hublot
  10. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  11. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  12. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  13. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. Ball Ball
  4. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  5. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  6. Blancpain Blancpain
  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. Christopher Ward Christopher Ward
  15. Corum Corum
  16. Fortis Fortis
  17. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  18. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  19. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  20. Graham Graham
  21. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  22. H. Moser and Cie H. Moser and Cie
  23. Hamilton Hamilton
  24. Hublot Hublot
  25. IWC IWC
  26. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  27. Longines Longines
  28. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  29. Montblanc Montblanc
  30. Norqain Norqain
  31. Omega Omega
  32. Oris Oris
  33. Panerai Panerai
  34. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  35. Piaget Piaget
  36. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  37. Rado Rado
  38. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  39. Rolex Rolex
  40. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  41. Tudor Tudor
  42. U-Boat U-Boat
  43. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  44. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  45. 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. 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
  16. Zirconium Zirconium
Dial Colour
Black
Blue
Bronze
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Champagne
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Ivory
Pink
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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 (2332)
Results (2,332)
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Rolex Datejust 41 126333 417323

Rolex
Datejust 41
126333

Box
Papers
Year 2017
$23,375
Tag Heuer Carrera WBN2110.BA0639 446681
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tag Heuer
Carrera
WBN2110.BA0639

Box
Papers
Year 2026
$3,700
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince IW327010 442739

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince
IW327010

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$5,650
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030N-0001 430891

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$5,700
Cartier Ballon Bleu De Cartier WSBB0049 440685

Cartier
Ballon Bleu De Cartier
WSBB0049

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$8,725
Cartier Santos WSSA0009 442049

Cartier
Santos
WSSA0009

Box
Papers
Year 2024
$13,150
Rolex GMT Master II 126710 BLRO 435484
New Price

Rolex
GMT Master II
126710 BLRO

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$33,515
Baume et Mercier Capeland M0A10001 443589

Baume et Mercier
Capeland
M0A10001

Box
Papers
Year 2002
$2,435
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 278240 426360

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
278240

Box
Papers
Year 2025
$13,050
IWC Pilot's Mark XX IW328207 441930
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Pilot's Mark XX
IW328207

Box
Papers
Year 2025
$7,015
IWC Aquatimer IW328801 442490

IWC
Aquatimer
IW328801

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$7,110
Rolex Datejust Lady 69128 439024
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust Lady
69128

Box
Papers
Year 1987
$16,560
Rolex Datejust 116200 442357

Rolex
Datejust
116200

Box
Papers
Year 2018
$12,270
Rolex Datejust Lady 79173 441137

Rolex
Datejust Lady
79173

Box
Papers
Year 2002
$11,495
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 447046

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2020
$17,435
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 428311

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2024
$17,825
Rolex Submariner 126610 LV 439012

Rolex
Submariner
126610 LV

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$21,820
Omega Speedmaster Date 3511.80.00 438789

Omega
Speedmaster Date
3511.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2002
$5,310
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279384 RBR 438381

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279384 RBR

Box
Papers
Year 2020
$31,070
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5054-1110-B52A 428138
Manufacturer's Warranty

Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms
5054-1110-B52A

Box
Papers
Year 2019
$17,335
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 446503

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2020
$14,705
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 442339

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2018
$15,000
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.01.001 446095

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$7,890
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.01.001 437568

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
$8,180
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 278274 441945
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
278274

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$19,090
Rolex Datejust 16233 441040
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16233

Box
Papers
Year 1994
$12,565
Rolex Yacht-Master 126622 446836
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Yacht-Master
126622

Box
Papers
Year 2024
$22,195
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 446499

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$5,745
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.92.44.20.01.003 439237
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.92.44.20.01.003

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$10,615
Rolex Deepsea 136660 444873

Rolex
Deepsea
136660

Box
Papers
Year 2023
$22,985
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 176200 437119

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
176200

Box
Papers
Year 2002
$6,625
Tag Heuer Carrera CBS2210.FC6534 446689

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CBS2210.FC6534

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$7,400
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.92.44.20.01.001 441245

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.92.44.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
$9,740
Rolex Datejust II 116334 444423

Rolex
Datejust II
116334

Box
Papers
Year 2011
$14,610
Tag Heuer Autavia CBE2110.BA0687 411782
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tag Heuer
Autavia
CBE2110.BA0687

Box
Papers
Year 2019
$6,235
Rolex Datejust 16013 438635
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16013

Box
Papers
Year 1981
$9,740
Rolex Submariner 16613 444190

Rolex
Submariner
16613

Box
Papers
Year 2002
$21,430
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 445258

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2022
$13,635
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 445869
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2024
$14,125
Rolex Datejust Lady 69174 434022
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust Lady
69174

Box
Papers
Year 1996
$10,225
Tudor Black Bay M79500-0007 442487

Tudor
Black Bay
M79500-0007

Box
Papers
Year 2021
$4,940
Rolex Air-King 14010 437943
Vintage

Rolex
Air-King
14010

Box
Papers
Year 1991
$7,400

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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