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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. Panerai Panerai
  4. Breitling Breitling
  5. IWC IWC
  6. Cartier Cartier
  7. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  8. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  9. Tudor Tudor
  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. B.R.M Watches B.R.M Watches
  4. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  5. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  6. Blancpain Blancpain
  7. Breguet Breguet
  8. Breitling Breitling
  9. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  10. Cartier Cartier
  11. Chopard Chopard
  12. Corum Corum
  13. Eterna Eterna
  14. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  15. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  16. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  17. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  18. Hamilton Hamilton
  19. Hermes Hermes
  20. Hublot Hublot
  21. IWC IWC
  22. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  23. Longines Longines
  24. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  25. Montblanc Montblanc
  26. Omega Omega
  27. Oris Oris
  28. Panerai Panerai
  29. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  30. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  31. Piaget Piaget
  32. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  33. Rado Rado
  34. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  35. Rolex Rolex
  36. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  37. Tudor Tudor
  38. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  39. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  40. Zenith Zenith
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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. Bronze Bronze
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  5. Rose Gold Rose Gold
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  8. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  9. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
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  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
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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 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 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 215.33.44.21.01.001 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 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
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 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 Portugieser Annual Calendar IW503501 244305

IWC
Portugieser Annual Calendar
IW503501

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€10,130
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW502710 253117
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW502710

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€19,260
IWC Da Vinci Automatic IW459306 269427

IWC
Da Vinci Automatic
IW459306

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€5,040
Omega Seamaster 300m 2226.80.00 283658
Limited Edition

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2226.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€6,620
IWC Big Pilot's IW503604 245338
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW503604

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€55,200
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII IW324712 268473
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII
IW324712

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,190
IWC Portofino Automatic IW357408 283204

IWC
Portofino Automatic
IW357408

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€4,070
IWC Big Pilot's IW329303 282801

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW329303

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€7,445
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII IW324711 281265
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII
IW324711

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€9,485
IWC Portugieser Annual Calendar IW503504 266472

IWC
Portugieser Annual Calendar
IW503504

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€15,190
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391008 268465

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391008

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€3,065
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW389101 282128

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW389101

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,845
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW371447 283669

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW371447

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€3,780
Jaeger-LeCoultre Extreme World Chronograph 1768470 272103

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Extreme World Chronograph
1768470

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€5,920
IWC Portugieser Automatic IW500109 283667

IWC
Portugieser Automatic
IW500109

Box
Papers
Year 2011
€6,245
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW389101 283207

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW389101

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€6,640
Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night and Day 3442420 266977

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Rendez-Vous Night and Day
3442420

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€12,220
IWC Pilot's Double Chrono IW379901 272289

IWC
Pilot's Double Chrono
IW379901

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,900

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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