Offers
Sell
Exchange
Search
+44 844 247 8884
GBP
My Basket
Buy
Sell
Exchange
+44 844 247 8884
Help

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.

Read more
Filters
Filters
Brands
No matching results found
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.
Price
Min
£
-
Max
£
Year
More Filters
Stock Type
  1. Stock Stock
Case Material
  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
Dial Colour
Black
Blue
Bronze
Brown
Champagne
Diamond
Green
Grey
Ivory
Orange
Pink
Red
Salmon
Silver
Specialised
White
Yellow
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
Promotion
Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (1078)
Results (1,078)
Sort
IWC Pilot's Le Petit Prince IW395503 272082
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Le Petit Prince
IW395503

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£8,555
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW371705 270256

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW371705

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£2,960
IWC Big Pilot's IW329303 269330

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW329303

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£6,475
IWC Ingenieur IW328901 270049

IWC
Ingenieur
IW328901

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£11,950
IWC Big Pilot's IW500201 280656

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500201

Box
Papers
Year 2005
£7,180
IWC Portugieser Yacht Club IW390212 279006

IWC
Portugieser Yacht Club
IW390212

Box
Papers
Year 2013
£6,305
IWC Big Pilot's IW500908 268513

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW500908

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£8,910
IWC Portugieser Automatic IW358303 251730

IWC
Portugieser Automatic
IW358303

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,330
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW377724 277241

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW377724

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£4,565
IWC Big Pilot's IW501001 242527

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW501001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£8,880
IWC Aquatimer IW376801 274826

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376801

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£4,355
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW371620 246701

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW371620

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£6,865
IWC Aquatimer IW376804 266394

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376804

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£4,095
IWC GST Chronograph IW370708 260920

IWC
GST Chronograph
IW370708

Box
Papers
Year 2009
£2,305
IWC Pilot's Mark XVI IW325504 266696

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVI
IW325504

Box
Papers
Year 2012
£2,880
IWC Aquatimer IW376903 274244

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376903

Box
Papers
Year 2011
£9,035
IWC Aquatimer IW379507 262200

IWC
Aquatimer
IW379507

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£5,760
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW388103 267046

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW388103

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,330
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW389101 271953

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW389101

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£5,890
IWC Ingenieur IW386501 265839

IWC
Ingenieur
IW386501

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£4,425
IWC Portofino Automatic IW356506 273747

IWC
Portofino Automatic
IW356506

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,465
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW389101 281348

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW389101

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£6,015
IWC Big Pilot's IW503801 233544
Limited Edition

IWC
Big Pilot's
IW503801

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£15,155
IWC Ingenieur IW380802 268850

IWC
Ingenieur
IW380802

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£4,560
IWC Ingenieur IW322701 277076

IWC
Ingenieur
IW322701

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£4,675
Cartier Santos De Cartier WSSA0030 281108

Cartier
Santos De Cartier
WSSA0030

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£5,770
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW377725 270157
Limited Edition

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW377725

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£6,150
Cartier Calibre De Cartier W2CA0004 280541

Cartier
Calibre De Cartier
W2CA0004

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£6,190
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox 141848J 267085

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Master Memovox
141848J

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£10,985
IWC Aquatimer IW379507 259832

IWC
Aquatimer
IW379507

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,430
IWC Aquatimer IW329002 248509
Manufacturer's Warranty

IWC
Aquatimer
IW329002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£3,525
IWC Aquatimer IW376805 257094

IWC
Aquatimer
IW376805

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£4,470
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Hometime 7008420 263461

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Reverso Squadra Hometime
7008420

Box
Papers
Year 2009
£4,250
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris 9068670 281398

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Polaris
9068670

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£5,775
IWC Aquatimer IW354702 261660

IWC
Aquatimer
IW354702

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£5,660
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Geographic 1718170 272684

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Master Compressor Geographic
1718170

Box
Papers
Year 2006
£4,270
Cartier Santos De Cartier WSSA0030 271079

Cartier
Santos De Cartier
WSSA0030

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£5,235
Cartier Tank Must WSTA0040 281842

Cartier
Tank Must
WSTA0040

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,220
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW389105 256942

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW389105

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£9,135
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris 9028480 275630

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Polaris
9028480

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£7,710
Cartier Cle De Cartier WSCL0006 259362

Cartier
Cle De Cartier
WSCL0006

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£2,940
IWC Pilot's Chrono IW387910 264114

IWC
Pilot's Chrono
IW387910

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£11,470

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.

Read more