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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. Rolex Rolex
  3. IWC IWC
  4. Omega Omega
  5. Breitling Breitling
  6. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  7. Cartier Cartier
  8. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  9. Hublot Hublot
  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. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  33. Omega Omega
  34. Oris Oris
  35. Panerai Panerai
  36. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  37. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  38. Perrelet Perrelet
  39. Piaget Piaget
  40. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  41. Rado Rado
  42. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  43. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  44. Rolex Rolex
  45. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  46. Tissot Tissot
  47. Tudor Tudor
  48. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  49. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  50. 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
Black
Blue
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Brown
Champagne
Diamond
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Ivory
Mother of Pearl
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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 (659)
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Hamilton Khaki Field H71616535 281126

Hamilton
Khaki Field
H71616535

Box
Papers
Year 2019
Product Location
€1,090
incl. import taxes & duties
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
Frederique Constant Slim Line FC-705X4S4 281268

Frederique Constant
Slim Line
FC-705X4S4

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€925
Bremont Wright Flyer WF-SS 244335
Limited Edition

Bremont
Wright Flyer
WF-SS

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,285
Tudor Black Bay M7941A1A0RU-0002 268036
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M7941A1A0RU-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€4,250
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde J003033204 285163

Jaquet Droz
Grande Seconde
J003033204

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€7,475
Frederique Constant Manufacture Tourbillon FC-980V4SZ9 244611
Limited Edition

Frederique Constant
Manufacture Tourbillon
FC-980V4SZ9

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€5,865
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B128 267059

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B128

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€25,865
Breguet Marine 8818BB/59/864 244394

Breguet
Marine
8818BB/59/864

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€6,580
Bvlgari Octo 103085 244589

Bvlgari
Octo
103085

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€4,300
Bvlgari Octo 102859 273163

Bvlgari
Octo
102859

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,975
Bremont Supermarine S500/BK 244256

Bremont
Supermarine
S500/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€1,385
Tudor Royal M28600-0003 280256
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Royal
M28600-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€2,070
Breguet Marine 8400BA/12/942 282129

Breguet
Marine
8400BA/12/942

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€6,035
Bvlgari Bvlgari 103133 244051

Bvlgari
Bvlgari
103133

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€2,035
Breguet Classique 3500 244008
Limited Edition

Breguet
Classique
3500

Box
Papers
Year 1995
€4,630
Tudor Black Bay M79733N-0003 281867
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M79733N-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,520
Glashutte Original Senator Sixties 1-39-52-06-02-04 249589

Glashutte Original
Senator Sixties
1-39-52-06-02-04

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,250
Tudor 1926 M91551-0003 282574
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
1926
M91551-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€1,695
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars 26380BC.OO.D002CR.01 244293

Audemars Piguet
Jules Audemars
26380BC.OO.D002CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€11,105
Tudor Black Bay M79250BB-0001 282785

Tudor
Black Bay
M79250BB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€3,465
Frederique Constant Slim Line FC-306S4S6B3 72819

Frederique Constant
Slim Line
FC-306S4S6B3

Box
Papers
Year 2016
Product Location
€1,320
incl. import taxes & duties
Tudor Submariner 79090 243787
Vintage

Tudor
Submariner
79090

Box
Papers
Year 1998
€5,965
Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar 1-90-02-46-32-35 278631

Glashutte Original
PanoMaticLunar
1-90-02-46-32-35

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€6,635
Breguet Marine Chronograph 5527TI/G2/TW0 266865

Breguet
Marine Chronograph
5527TI/G2/TW0

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€14,375
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79012M-0001 244991

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79012M-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,755
Bvlgari Octo 101963 244720

Bvlgari
Octo
101963

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€11,300
Frederique Constant Slim Line FC-775G4S6 244236

Frederique Constant
Slim Line
FC-775G4S6

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€4,200
Blancpain Evolution 8850-11B34-64B 244578

Blancpain
Evolution
8850-11B34-64B

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,320
Frederique Constant Heart Beat FC-310MB5TB6 280143

Frederique Constant
Heart Beat
FC-310MB5TB6

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€885
Blancpain Villeret 4040-1542-55 247963

Blancpain
Villeret
4040-1542-55

Box
Papers
Year 2003
€9,325
Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar FC-775S4S6 282847

Frederique Constant
Perpetual Calendar
FC-775S4S6

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,385
Blancpain Villeret 6653Q-1529-55B 244490
Limited Edition

Blancpain
Villeret
6653Q-1529-55B

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€7,145
Ulysse Nardin Marine 1187-320/63 244725
Limited Edition

Ulysse Nardin
Marine
1187-320/63

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€2,675

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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