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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. Breitling Breitling
  6. Panerai Panerai
  7. Tudor Tudor
  8. IWC IWC
  9. Hublot Hublot
  10. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  11. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  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. Ball Ball
  4. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  5. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  6. Blancpain Blancpain
  7. Breguet Breguet
  8. Breitling Breitling
  9. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  10. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  11. Cartier Cartier
  12. Chanel Chanel
  13. Chopard Chopard
  14. Eterna Eterna
  15. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  16. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  17. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  18. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  19. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  20. Hamilton Hamilton
  21. Hermes Hermes
  22. Hublot Hublot
  23. IWC IWC
  24. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  25. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  26. Longines Longines
  27. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  28. Montblanc Montblanc
  29. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  30. Omega Omega
  31. Oris Oris
  32. Panerai Panerai
  33. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  34. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  35. Perrelet Perrelet
  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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  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. Steel Steel
  8. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  9. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  10. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  11. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  12. Titanium Titanium
  13. White Gold White Gold
  14. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  15. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
Black
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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 (1018)
Results (1,018)
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Rolex Milgauss 116400 446917
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Milgauss
116400

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€9,280
Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 435005

Rolex
Sea-Dweller
16600

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€9,615
Omega Planet Ocean 2201.51.00 395442

Omega
Planet Ocean
2201.51.00

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€4,250
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B128 452234

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B128

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€29,440
Zenith Defy 97.9300.3620/79.I001 452233
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Zenith
Defy
97.9300.3620/79.I001

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€12,390
Breitling SuperOcean II A17364 452232
New Price

Breitling
SuperOcean II
A17364

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€2,595
Breitling Transocean A10360 452231
New Price

Breitling
Transocean
A10360

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€2,590
Omega Seamaster 300m 212.32.41.20.04.001 452225
New Price

Omega
Seamaster 300m
212.32.41.20.04.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,075
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 114200 452223
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
114200

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€6,845
Rolex Datejust 16234 452222
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€7,255
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116000 452221
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
116000

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,315
Rolex Submariner 126610 LV 452220
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Submariner
126610 LV

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€13,450
Rolex Explorer 214270 452219
New Price

Rolex
Explorer
214270

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€7,080
Rolex Datejust 16233 452218
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16233

Box
Papers
Year 1991
€6,840
Rolex Datejust Lady 69173 452216
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust Lady
69173

Box
Papers
Year 1981
€5,665
Rolex Submariner 5513 452217
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Submariner
5513

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€10,385
Rolex Air-King 114200 452215
New Price

Rolex
Air-King
114200

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€6,490
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGA211 451555
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SBGA211

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€5,190
Breitling Navitimer AB0120 452037
New Price

Breitling
Navitimer
AB0120

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€4,895
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars 15180BC.OO.A002CR.01 452032
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

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

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€12,920
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124200 452028
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124200

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€7,495
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360b-0002 452026
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360b-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€5,310
Rolex Deepsea 126660 - D-Blue 452025
New Price

Rolex
Deepsea
126660 - D-Blue

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€12,120
Omega Planet Ocean 215.62.40.20.13.001 452024
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.62.40.20.13.001

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€12,390
Breitling Navitimer K41322 452023
New Price

Breitling
Navitimer
K41322

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€12,980
Rolex Datejust 16234 420240
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 1990
€7,020
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126003 449600
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
126003

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€11,900
Rolex Submariner 14060M 451789
New Price

Rolex
Submariner
14060M

Box
Papers
Year 2005
€10,030
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 451775
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€9,735
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116034 451774
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
116034

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€6,610
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116000 451773
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
116000

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€7,495
Rolex Daytona 116503 451772
New Price

Rolex
Daytona
116503

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€23,600
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris 906863J 451770
New Price

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Polaris
906863J

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€9,795
Tag Heuer Aquaracer WAY201F.BA0927 451768
New Price

Tag Heuer
Aquaracer
WAY201F.BA0927

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€2,535
Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 26393ST.OO.A056KB.01 451767
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Audemars Piguet
CODE 11.59
26393ST.OO.A056KB.01

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€26,120
Rolex Deepsea 126660 451766
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Deepsea
126660

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€10,850
IWC Vintage Ingenieur IW323301 451765
New Price

IWC
Vintage Ingenieur
IW323301

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€4,545
Longines Heritage Avigation L2.816.1.93.2 451760
New Price

Longines
Heritage Avigation
L2.816.1.93.2

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,125
Zenith El Primero 30.0243.410 451758
New Price
Vintage

Zenith
El Primero
30.0243.410

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€8,200
Longines Spirit L3.821.4.53.2 451757
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Longines
Spirit
L3.821.4.53.2

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€3,480
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81015-11-001-11A 451756
New Price

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81015-11-001-11A

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€20,060
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGH273 451755
New Price

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SBGH273

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,955

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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