JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

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

Rolex Daytona 116520 271337

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Daytona 116500 LN 278720

Rolex

Daytona

116500 LN

Rolex Daytona 116500 LN 279979

Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex

Daytona

116500 LN

Rolex Day-Date 118205 281399

Rolex

Day-Date

118205

Rolex Daytona 16528 275378

Rolex

Daytona

16528

Rolex Day-Date 1803 259156

Rolex

Day-Date

1803

Rolex Air-King 14000 275335

Rolex

Air-King

14000

Rolex Daytona 16523 274656

Rolex

Daytona

16523

Rolex Daytona 116520 - APH Dial 275659

Rolex

Daytona

116520 - APH Dial

Rolex Daytona 116523 276989

Rolex

Daytona

116523

Rolex Daytona 16523 282584

Rolex

Daytona

16523

Rolex Daytona 116523 276077

Rolex

Daytona

116523

Rolex Daytona 16523 269261

Rolex

Daytona

16523

Rolex Explorer 14270 256514

Rolex

Explorer

14270

Rolex Daytona 16523 275695

Rolex

Daytona

16523

Rolex Daytona 116503 271490

Rolex

Daytona

116503

Rolex Submariner 116610 LNXXTEST 273667

Rolex

Submariner

116610 LNXXTEST

Rolex Daytona 116500 LN 279387

Rolex

Daytona

116500 LN

Rolex Submariner 16610 265490

Rolex

Submariner

16610

Rolex Daytona 116520 277343

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Daytona 116520 274562

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Daytona 116523 252175

Rolex

Daytona

116523

Rolex Daytona 116520 271976

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Daytona 116520 246210

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Air-King 126900 282473

Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex

Air-King

126900

Rolex Daytona 116520 256653

Rolex

Daytona

116520

Rolex Daytona 116523 275138

Rolex

Daytona

116523

Rolex Air-King 114200 271248

Rolex

Air-King

114200

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