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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. Panerai Panerai
  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. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  13. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
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. Omega Omega
  33. Oris Oris
  34. Panerai Panerai
  35. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  36. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  37. Perrelet Perrelet
  38. Piaget Piaget
  39. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  40. Rado Rado
  41. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  42. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  43. Rolex Rolex
  44. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  45. Tissot Tissot
  46. Tudor Tudor
  47. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  48. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  49. 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
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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 (619)
Results (619)
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Chopard Grand Prix 168568-9001 282842

Chopard
Grand Prix
168568-9001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,380
Ulysse Nardin Diver collection 8163-175-7M/93 279796

Ulysse Nardin
Diver collection
8163-175-7M/93

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€3,190
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15100ST.0.0789ST.01 244359
Limited Edition

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak
15100ST.0.0789ST.01

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€47,710
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 243979

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€6,020
Piaget Altiplano G0A29120 244223

Piaget
Altiplano
G0A29120

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€8,920
Ebel 1911 BTR 1215624 244724

Ebel
1911 BTR
1215624

Box
Papers
Year 2007
€1,190
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 244354

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,505
Chopard Mille Miglia 168571-3009 280844
Limited Edition

Chopard
Mille Miglia
168571-3009

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,100
Panerai Submersible PAM01389 244708

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01389

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,255
Panerai Submersible PAM01305 277593

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01305

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,160
Panerai Radiomir Automatic PAM00388 265387

Panerai
Radiomir Automatic
PAM00388

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,415
Panerai Luminor Due PAM00729 247403

Panerai
Luminor Due
PAM00729

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€4,815
Girard Perregaux 1966 49538-52-131-BK6A 271832

Girard Perregaux
1966
49538-52-131-BK6A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,195
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 15710ST.OO.A027CA.01 269088

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Offshore
15710ST.OO.A027CA.01

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€27,020
Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa PAM01036 283210

Panerai
Luminor Luna Rossa
PAM01036

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,525
Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 25835-11-121-BA6A 244503

Girard Perregaux
Vintage 1945
25835-11-121-BA6A

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€2,540
Girard Perregaux 1966 49535-11-1A2-BB60 244425

Girard Perregaux
1966
49535-11-1A2-BB60

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€9,140
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81020-11-431-BB4A 244382
Manufacturer's Warranty

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81020-11-431-BB4A

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€9,010
Panerai Mare Nostrum PAM00300 270689
Limited Edition

Panerai
Mare Nostrum
PAM00300

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€20,940
Panerai Submersible PAM00692 243842

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00692

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,265
Panerai Ferrari FER00015 273703
Limited Edition

Panerai
Ferrari
FER00015

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€9,545
Ulysse Nardin Dual Time 3343-126-7/91 279205

Ulysse Nardin
Dual Time
3343-126-7/91

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,225
Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01391 257376
Limited Edition

Panerai
Submersible QuarantaQuattro
PAM01391

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€7,545
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 243978

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,440
Panerai Radiomir 10 Days GMT PAM00323 243884
Limited Edition

Panerai
Radiomir 10 Days GMT
PAM00323

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€4,470
Franck Muller Casablanca 6850 CASA 245255

Franck Muller
Casablanca
6850 CASA

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€3,605
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 244357

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,505
Panerai Luminor Regatta PAM00526 244772
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Regatta
PAM00526

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,590
Panerai Luminor Due PAM00927 257695
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Due
PAM00927

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€6,610
Panerai Luminor Regatta PAM00332 244783
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Regatta
PAM00332

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€8,720
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 244344

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,515
Panerai Submersible PAM01683 276731

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01683

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€8,795
Panerai Submersible PAM02692 276392

Panerai
Submersible
PAM02692

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€13,280
Panerai Submersible PAM00692 244239

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00692

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€6,865
Panerai Submersible PAM00974 244127

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00974

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€14,480
Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01232 263938

Panerai
Submersible QuarantaQuattro
PAM01232

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€8,220
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 244243
Limited Edition

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,505
Panerai Submersible PAM00799 276838

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00799

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€9,420
Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM00285 243850
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Submersible
PAM00285

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€1,355
Rado Captain Cook R32127152 269221

Rado
Captain Cook
R32127152

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€1,955
Panerai Submersible PAM00968 244058

Panerai
Submersible
PAM00968

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,505
Panerai Luminor Due PAM00674 282784

Panerai
Luminor Due
PAM00674

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€4,745

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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