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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. Panerai Panerai
  6. Breitling Breitling
  7. IWC IWC
  8. Tudor Tudor
  9. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  10. Hublot Hublot
  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. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  4. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  5. Blancpain Blancpain
  6. Breguet Breguet
  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. Corum Corum
  15. Eterna Eterna
  16. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  17. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  18. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  19. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  20. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  21. Hamilton Hamilton
  22. Hermes Hermes
  23. Hublot Hublot
  24. IWC IWC
  25. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  26. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  27. Longines Longines
  28. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  29. Montblanc Montblanc
  30. Omega Omega
  31. Oris Oris
  32. Panerai Panerai
  33. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  34. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  35. Piaget Piaget
  36. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  37. Rado Rado
  38. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  39. Rolex Rolex
  40. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  41. Tudor Tudor
  42. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  43. Union Glashutte Union Glashutte
  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. 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
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Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (1017)
Results (1,017)
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Tag Heuer Carrera CAR2A1Z.FT6050 441223
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CAR2A1Z.FT6050

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,480
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0002 441217
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,195
Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 441213
New Price

Rolex
Yacht-Master
116655

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€24,720
Rolex Submariner 126610 LV 441212
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Submariner
126610 LV

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€14,575
Tudor Black Bay 41 M79540-0011 441211
New Price

Tudor
Black Bay 41
M79540-0011

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€3,125
Rolex Daytona 116500 LN 441210
New Price

Rolex
Daytona
116500 LN

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€24,720
IWC Ingenieur IW328903 441209
New Price

IWC
Ingenieur
IW328903

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€10,030
Rolex Datejust Lady 79163 441208
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady
79163

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€6,075
Rolex GMT Master II 126710 BLRO 441207
New Price

Rolex
GMT Master II
126710 BLRO

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€21,120
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 AB0134 441206
New Price

Breitling
Chronomat B01 42
AB0134

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€6,195
Zenith El Primero 03.2160.4047/01.C713 441205
New Price

Zenith
El Primero
03.2160.4047/01.C713

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€6,255
Rolex Datejust 126234 440569
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust
126234

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€11,505
Tudor Black Bay 39 M79660-0002 440689
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 39
M79660-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€3,660
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124200 440576
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124200

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€7,760
Rolex Datejust 126234 440574
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust
126234

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€12,155
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 114200 440570
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
114200

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€7,255
Rolex Datejust 41 126301 440568
New Price

Rolex
Datejust 41
126301

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€12,510
Rolex Datejust 16220 440567
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16220

Box
Papers
Year 1991
€5,900
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0024 440278
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0024

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€9,085
Tudor Black Bay 58 M7939G1A0NRU-0003 440272
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M7939G1A0NRU-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€4,955
Hublot Classic Fusion 521.CM.7170.LR 440284
New Price

Hublot
Classic Fusion
521.CM.7170.LR

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€6,785
Omega De Ville Prestige 424.10.37.20.01.001 440280
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
De Ville Prestige
424.10.37.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€2,655
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 440285
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€9,380
Rolex GMT Master II 126711 CHNR 440282
New Price

Rolex
GMT Master II
126711 CHNR

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€16,225
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124200 440286
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124200

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€7,080
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.01.018 440279
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.01.018

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€6,490
Rolex Submariner 114060 440276
New Price

Rolex
Submariner
114060

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€10,560
Tudor Black Bay 39 M79673-0006 440275
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 39
M79673-0006

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€7,000
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0024 439836
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0024

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€9,085
Tag Heuer Carrera WAR201B.BA0723 439838
New Price

Tag Heuer
Carrera
WAR201B.BA0723

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€2,535
Rolex Submariner 126613 LN 439840
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Submariner
126613 LN

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€15,105
Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 A17375 439842
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Breitling
SuperOcean Automatic 42
A17375

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€4,130
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030B-0001 439835
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030B-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,480
Rolex Explorer 124270 439833
New Price

Rolex
Explorer
124270

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€7,965
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 311.93.44.51.99.002 439158
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon
311.93.44.51.99.002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€10,325
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW388108 437378

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW388108

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,185
Rolex GMT Master II 126710 BLRO 432354
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
GMT Master II
126710 BLRO

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€21,710
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81005-11-131-11A 437587

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81005-11-131-11A

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€11,005
Rolex Explorer 124270 430657
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer
124270

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€7,435
Rolex Explorer II 226570 437030
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer II
226570

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€10,030
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 134300 438937
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual 41
134300

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€9,435
Baume et Mercier Clifton M0A10278 437593

Baume et Mercier
Clifton
M0A10278

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€2,830

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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