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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. Breitling Breitling
  3. Omega Omega
  4. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  5. Tudor Tudor
  6. Cartier Cartier
  7. Panerai Panerai
  8. IWC IWC
  9. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  10. Hublot Hublot
  11. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  12. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  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. Breitling Breitling
  9. Bremont Bremont
  10. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  11. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  12. Cartier Cartier
  13. Chanel Chanel
  14. Chopard Chopard
  15. Corum Corum
  16. Fortis Fortis
  17. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  18. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  19. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  20. Graham Graham
  21. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  22. Hamilton Hamilton
  23. Hublot Hublot
  24. IWC IWC
  25. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  26. Longines Longines
  27. Louis Erard Louis Erard
  28. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  29. Montblanc Montblanc
  30. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  31. Omega Omega
  32. Oris Oris
  33. Panerai Panerai
  34. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  35. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  36. Rado Rado
  37. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  38. Rolex Rolex
  39. Sinn Sinn
  40. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  41. Tudor Tudor
  42. U-Boat U-Boat
  43. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  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. Bronze Bronze
  2. Carbon Carbon
  3. Ceramic Ceramic
  4. Other Other
  5. Platinum Platinum
  6. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  7. Silver Silver
  8. Steel Steel
  9. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  10. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  11. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  12. Titanium Titanium
  13. White Gold White Gold
  14. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  15. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
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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 (1879)
Results (1,879)
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Breitling Navitimer Heritage A13324 418419

Breitling
Navitimer Heritage
A13324

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,650
Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 432133

Rolex
Sea-Dweller
126600

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£10,360
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 432110
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
126000

Box
Papers
Year 2024
£7,300
Breitling Avenger Chronograph 45 A13317 429866

Breitling
Avenger Chronograph 45
A13317

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,300
Rolex GMT Master II 126720 VTNR 430167

Rolex
GMT Master II
126720 VTNR

Box
Papers
Year 2024
£13,500
Rolex Explorer 124270 430168

Rolex
Explorer
124270

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£6,460
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 431875

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£12,250
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79018V-0001 432176

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79018V-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2024
£9,315
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.32.43.22.10.001 431391
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.32.43.22.10.001

Box
Papers
Year 2024
£7,950
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 417811
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£9,950
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279173 432178
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279173

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£9,750
Tag Heuer Carrera WBN2012.BA0640 430266

Tag Heuer
Carrera
WBN2012.BA0640

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£2,600
Omega Planet Ocean 217.32.42.21.01.004 415729
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Planet Ocean
217.32.42.21.01.004

Box
Papers
Year 2026
£5,915
Rolex Air-King 116900 431384

Rolex
Air-King
116900

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£5,850
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 277200 432921

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
277200

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£8,350
Tudor Black Bay Pro M79470-0001 432715
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Pro
M79470-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,950
Rolex Datejust 41 126300 433069
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126300

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£8,450
Rolex Yacht-Master 126622 433039
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Yacht-Master
126622

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£10,950
Longines Spirit L3.820.4.53.0 424401

Longines
Spirit
L3.820.4.53.0

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,850
Omega Planet Ocean 215.30.44.22.01.001 430539
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Planet Ocean
215.30.44.22.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£4,950
Rolex Datejust Lady 179173 423568

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179173

Box
Papers
Year 2002
£6,750
Rolex Datejust Lady 179383 430444

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179383

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£11,950
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 134300 431632
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual 41
134300

Box
Papers
Year 2026
£8,150
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 419687

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£7,150
Rolex Datejust 126234 431823

Rolex
Datejust
126234

Box
Papers
Year 2024
£10,250
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 430161

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£10,750
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126000 431876
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
126000

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£8,450
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.20.44.51.03.001 412875

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.20.44.51.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£10,950
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.06.001 431117
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.06.001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£4,100
Breitling Bentley Motors A25362 414402

Breitling
Bentley Motors
A25362

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£3,950
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0024 431992
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0024

Box
Papers
Year 2026
£7,950
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0024 432833
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0024

Box
Papers
Year 2026
£7,950
Patek Philippe Calatrava 6007G-010 423357
Manufacturer's Warranty

Patek Philippe
Calatrava
6007G-010

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£24,950
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 210.30.42.20.03.001 431624
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
210.30.42.20.03.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,115
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 134300 430165
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual 41
134300

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£10,250
Rolex Submariner 126613 LB 424360

Rolex
Submariner
126613 LB

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£13,750
Rolex GMT Master II 126720 VTNR 432231
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
GMT Master II
126720 VTNR

Box
Papers
Year 2026
£13,500
Rolex Daytona 116500 LN 430345

Rolex
Daytona
116500 LN

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£20,900
Bell and Ross BR-X5 BRX5R-BL-ST/SRB 430459
Manufacturer's Warranty

Bell and Ross
BR-X5
BRX5R-BL-ST/SRB

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£4,515
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m - James Bond Edition 210.90.42.20.01.001 430538
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m - James Bond Edition
210.90.42.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2025
£7,250
Rolex Datejust 16234 430527

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 2005
£6,260
Rolex Air-King 116900 431622

Rolex
Air-King
116900

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£6,250

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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