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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. Cartier Cartier
  6. Panerai Panerai
  7. Tudor Tudor
  8. IWC IWC
  9. Hublot Hublot
  10. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  11. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  12. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  13. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Arnold and Son Arnold and Son
  3. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  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. Fortis Fortis
  19. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  20. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  21. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  22. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  23. Graham Graham
  24. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  25. Hamilton Hamilton
  26. Hermes Hermes
  27. Hublot Hublot
  28. IWC IWC
  29. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  30. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  31. Longines Longines
  32. Louis Erard Louis Erard
  33. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  34. Montblanc Montblanc
  35. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  36. Omega Omega
  37. Oris Oris
  38. Panerai Panerai
  39. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  40. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  41. Piaget Piaget
  42. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  43. Rado Rado
  44. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  45. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  46. Rolex Rolex
  47. Romain Jerome Romain Jerome
  48. Sinn Sinn
  49. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  50. Tudor Tudor
  51. U-Boat U-Boat
  52. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  53. Union Glashutte Union Glashutte
  54. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  55. 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. Other Other
  6. Platinum Platinum
  7. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  8. Silver Silver
  9. Steel Steel
  10. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  11. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  12. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  13. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  14. Titanium Titanium
  15. White Gold White Gold
  16. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  17. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
Black
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Champagne
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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
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Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (3392)
Results (3,392)
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Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 130982 430439

Montblanc
1858 Geosphere
130982

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€5,740
Rolex Explorer 40 224270 432944
New Price

Rolex
Explorer 40
224270

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€8,715
Rolex Submariner 126610 LN 421759
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Submariner
126610 LN

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€12,575
Rolex Sky-Dweller 336934 432997
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Sky-Dweller
336934

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€23,400
Rolex Land-Dweller 40 127334 435209
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Land-Dweller 40
127334

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€23,985
Tudor Pelagos M25707B/21-0001 419202
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25707B/21-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,900
Vacheron Constantin Phidias Vintage 435006
Vintage

Vacheron Constantin
Phidias
Vintage

Box
Papers
Year 1977
€6,140
Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 435005
New Price

Rolex
Sea-Dweller
16600

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€9,945
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 47040/000A-9008 435004

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
47040/000A-9008

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€23,340
Cartier Santos WSSA0039 435002
New Price

Cartier
Santos
WSSA0039

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€7,605
Vacheron Constantin Phidias Vintage 435000
Vintage

Vacheron Constantin
Phidias
Vintage

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€6,960
Rolex Datejust 16234 434999
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 2005
€7,665
Rolex Datejust 16234 434998
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€7,605
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279160 434997
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279160

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€7,720
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5010-36B40-O52B 434996
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms
5010-36B40-O52B

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€25,680
Rolex Submariner 116613 LB 434995
New Price

Rolex
Submariner
116613 LB

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€14,275
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 434994
New Price

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€11,640
Rolex Datejust 116233 434993
New Price

Rolex
Datejust
116233

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€10,150
Ulysse Nardin Classico 672-05/92 432940
New Price

Ulysse Nardin
Classico
672-05/92

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€19,830
Rolex Yacht-Master 226659 434778
New Price

Rolex
Yacht-Master
226659

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€25,700
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.03.001 427755
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,815
Rolex Sea-Dweller 126603 419993
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Sea-Dweller
126603

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€15,095
Chanel J12 H3101 426015

Chanel
J12
H3101

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€4,385
Omega Speedmaster Moonphase 304.30.44.52.01.001 397417

Omega
Speedmaster Moonphase
304.30.44.52.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€8,305
Zenith Defy 03.9300.3620/51.I001 434726
New Price

Zenith
Defy
03.9300.3620/51.I001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,000
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 76080 434724
New Price

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
76080

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€4,135
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79230R-0003 432953
New Price

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79230R-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,365
Rolex Air-King 116900 432946
New Price

Rolex
Air-King
116900

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,960
Cartier Ballon Bleu WSBB0002 434712
New Price

Cartier
Ballon Bleu
WSBB0002

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€4,095
Rolex Datejust 16200 423603

Rolex
Datejust
16200

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€5,790
Rolex Explorer II 226570 433018
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer II
226570

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€10,235
Tudor Black Bay 54 M79000N-0001 434707
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 54
M79000N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€3,490
Tag Heuer Classic Monza CR2110.FC6161 434706
New Price
Vintage

Tag Heuer
Classic Monza
CR2110.FC6161

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€4,155
Tudor Ranger M79950-0001 434704
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Ranger
M79950-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€2,690
Breitling Avenger Hurricane XB0180 434702
New Price

Breitling
Avenger Hurricane
XB0180

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,735
Tag Heuer Carrera CBN201B.FC6541 434701
New Price

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CBN201B.FC6541

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€6,640
Rolex Datejust 126234 434700
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust
126234

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€12,575
Rolex Explorer II 226570 434699
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer II
226570

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€10,705
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 AB0134 434697
New Price

Breitling
Chronomat B01 42
AB0134

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,140
Breitling AVI AB0945 434695
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Breitling
AVI
AB0945

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€7,310
Cartier Santos De Cartier WSSA0061 434694
New Price

Cartier
Santos De Cartier
WSSA0061

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€6,960
Tudor Glamour Date M53000-0003 434693
New Price

Tudor
Glamour Date
M53000-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€2,630

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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