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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. Panerai Panerai
  6. IWC IWC
  7. Tudor Tudor
  8. Cartier Cartier
  9. Hublot Hublot
  10. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  11. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  12. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  13. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
All Brands
  1. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  2. Ball Ball
  3. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  4. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  5. Breitling Breitling
  6. Bremont Bremont
  7. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  8. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  9. Cartier Cartier
  10. Chanel Chanel
  11. Chopard Chopard
  12. Eterna Eterna
  13. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  14. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  15. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  16. Graham Graham
  17. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  18. H. Moser and Cie H. Moser and Cie
  19. Hamilton Hamilton
  20. Hublot Hublot
  21. IWC IWC
  22. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  23. JeanRichard JeanRichard
  24. Longines Longines
  25. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  26. Montblanc Montblanc
  27. Omega Omega
  28. Oris Oris
  29. Panerai Panerai
  30. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  31. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  32. Perrelet Perrelet
  33. Rado Rado
  34. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  35. Richard Mille Richard Mille
  36. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  37. Rolex Rolex
  38. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  39. Tissot Tissot
  40. Tudor Tudor
  41. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  42. 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
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  1. Bronze Bronze
  2. Carbon Carbon
  3. Ceramic Ceramic
  4. Platinum Platinum
  5. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  6. Silver Silver
  7. Steel Steel
  8. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  9. Steel & Rose Gold Plated Steel & Rose Gold Plated
  10. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  11. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  12. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  13. Titanium Titanium
  14. White Gold White Gold
  15. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  16. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
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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 Seamaster 300m 2226.80.00 275703
Limited Edition

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2226.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£5,475
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW377714 264597

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW377714

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£4,520
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.12.41.21.01.002 267624

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.12.41.21.01.002

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£3,145
Omega Seamaster Chrono Diver 2225.80.00 269381

Omega
Seamaster Chrono Diver
2225.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£2,730
Omega Seamaster Chrono Diver 2296.80.00 272228
Vintage

Omega
Seamaster Chrono Diver
2296.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 1999
£3,695
Omega Seamaster 300m 2531.80.00.12345 274672

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2531.80.00.12345

Box
Papers
Year 2000
£2,775
Omega Seamaster 300m 2531.80.00.12345 285090
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2531.80.00.12345

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£4,000
Omega Seamaster 300m 2537.80.00 274103
Limited Edition

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2537.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2002
£3,420
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390503 275960

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390503

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£5,755
IWC Aquatimer IW354807 269133

IWC
Aquatimer
IW354807

Box
Papers
Year 2006
£2,305
IWC Aquatimer IW376903 265677

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376903

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£7,580
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 231.10.42.21.02.002 271638

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
231.10.42.21.02.002

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£2,990
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.12.41.21.02.002 270197

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.12.41.21.02.002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£4,200
Omega Seamaster 300m 2293.50.00 272053

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2293.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£2,670
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 231.10.42.21.02.001 274104

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
231.10.42.21.02.001

Box
Papers
Year 2011
£2,625
Omega Seamaster 300m 212.30.41.20.01.003 270192

Omega
Seamaster 300m
212.30.41.20.01.003

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£3,250
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW377714 274796

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW377714

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£4,415
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 231.10.43.22.01.001 275550

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
231.10.43.22.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£3,410
Omega Seamaster 300m 2535.80.00 259707

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2535.80.00

Box
Papers
Year 2012
£2,680
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.12.41.21.02.002 282202
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.12.41.21.02.002

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,405
IWC Pilot's Mark XVII IW326501 274442

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVII
IW326501

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£2,715
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391008 277019

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391008

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£3,120
Omega Seamaster 300m 212.32.41.20.04.001 261439
Limited Edition

Omega
Seamaster 300m
212.32.41.20.04.001

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£4,605
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW501002 281128

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW501002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£7,420
Omega Seamaster 300m 212.30.41.20.01.003 274210

Omega
Seamaster 300m
212.30.41.20.01.003

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£2,850
IWC Pilot's Mark XVI IW325501 274196

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVI
IW325501

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£2,725
IWC Big Pilot's IW329301 258411

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW329301

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£5,585
Omega Seamaster 300m 2954.50.91 266276

Omega
Seamaster 300m
2954.50.91

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£2,465
IWC Big Pilot's IW501004 227353

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501004

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£7,450
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391009 276116

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391009

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£2,905
IWC Big Pilot's IW502003 261309
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW502003

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£7,485
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW371605 260423

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW371605

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£6,300
IWC Pilot's Mark XX IW328204 282923

IWC
Pilot's Mark XX
IW328204

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,795
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390502 269904

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390502

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£6,350
IWC Big Pilot's IW501004 270260

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501004

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£7,615
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390502 282628

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390502

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£7,185
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW377714 270314

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW377714

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£4,895
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391029 259873

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391029

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£4,900
IWC Pilot's Spitfire IW387902 253069
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Spitfire
IW387902

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£4,220
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390213 260430
Limited Edition

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390213

Box
Papers
Year 2014
£5,685
IWC Portofino Chronograph IW391404 259841

IWC
Portofino Chronograph
IW391404

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£5,750
IWC Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW501002 271527

IWC
Big Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW501002

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£7,250

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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