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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. Hublot Hublot
  9. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  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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  1. Stock Stock
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  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
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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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  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
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Omega Olympic Seamaster 522.30.42.20.04.001 280683
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Olympic Seamaster
522.30.42.20.04.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,650
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.03.002 276677
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.03.002

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€10,865
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.92.44.20.01.003 266960
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.92.44.20.01.003

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,955
Omega Seamaster 300 233.20.41.21.01.002 281870
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster 300
233.20.41.21.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€9,840
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.03.002 275084
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.03.002

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€10,865
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.10.001 280685
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.10.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,835
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.32.42.20.01.002 280686
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.32.42.20.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€4,295
Omega Speedmaster 38 324.28.38.50.02.001 244674

Omega
Speedmaster 38
324.28.38.50.02.001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€5,070
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.44.51.03.002 278562
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.44.51.03.002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,820
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope 329.30.43.51.02.001 282241
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Speedmaster Chronoscope
329.30.43.51.02.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€5,725
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope 329.30.43.51.02.001 278564
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Speedmaster Chronoscope
329.30.43.51.02.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€5,555
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 522.21.42.20.04.001 281873
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
522.21.42.20.04.001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€8,680
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope 329.30.43.51.03.001 266924
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Speedmaster Chronoscope
329.30.43.51.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€7,070
Omega Seamaster GMT 2534.50.00 281625

Omega
Seamaster GMT
2534.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€2,155
Omega Seamaster Vintage 165.014 244083
Vintage

Omega
Seamaster Vintage
165.014

Box
Papers
Year 1993
€4,290
Omega Speedmaster Moonphase 304.33.44.52.01.001 277291

Omega
Speedmaster Moonphase
304.33.44.52.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,970
Omega Planet Ocean 215.92.46.22.01.002 275998

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.92.46.22.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€7,715
Omega Planet Ocean 215.30.46.21.06.001 269706
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.30.46.21.06.001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€10,755
Omega Planet Ocean 215.92.46.22.01.002 244191

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.92.46.22.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€1,090
Omega Speedmaster Racing 326.30.40.50.01.002 281631

Omega
Speedmaster Racing
326.30.40.50.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€3,525
Omega Planet Ocean 215.33.44.21.01.001 277288
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.33.44.21.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€4,600
Omega Planet Ocean 232.30.44.22.01.001 279412

Omega
Planet Ocean
232.30.44.22.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€5,020
Omega Constellation Double Eagle 121.92.35.50.01.001 276673

Omega
Constellation Double Eagle
121.92.35.50.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€2,515
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Ladies 231.10.34.20.55.002 266985

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Ladies
231.10.34.20.55.002

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€3,910
Omega Planet Ocean 232.30.44.22.01.001 283396

Omega
Planet Ocean
232.30.44.22.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€4,805
Omega Aqua Terra 150m GMT 220.10.43.22.03.001 277845

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m GMT
220.10.43.22.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€6,035
Omega Planet Ocean 232.30.46.21.01.001 279701

Omega
Planet Ocean
232.30.46.21.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€3,540
Omega Speedmaster Racing 326.32.40.50.06.001 281934

Omega
Speedmaster Racing
326.32.40.50.06.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€3,215
Omega Planet Ocean 2209.50.00 268926

Omega
Planet Ocean
2209.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 2010
€3,950
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW395503 244372
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW395503

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,855
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW395503 244230
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW395503

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€8,150
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.12.38.20.01.001 275674
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.12.38.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€4,215
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391406 273166

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391406

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€6,105
IWC Portofino Automatic IW459001 244409

IWC
Portofino Automatic
IW459001

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€4,095
IWC Big Pilot's IW502639 268941
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502639

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€26,500
IWC Big Pilot's IW503604 267050

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW503604

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€55,200
IWC Big Pilot's IW500908 272288

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500908

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€8,870
Omega Seamaster 300m 2232.30.00 275668

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2232.30.00

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€2,555
IWC Big Pilot's IW501012 244651
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501012

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€7,535
IWC Big Pilot's IW502902 253111

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502902

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€16,180
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390502 244691
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390502

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€6,310
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW392202 243928

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW392202

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€27,050

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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