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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
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
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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 (1078)
Results (1,078)
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Panerai Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio PAM00685 245567
Limited Edition

Panerai
Radiomir 3 Days Acciaio
PAM00685

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,005
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254285

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa PAM01037 255419

Panerai
Luminor Luna Rossa
PAM01037

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£9,015
Franck Muller Conquistador 8005 SC 276354

Franck Muller
Conquistador
8005 SC

Box
Papers
Year 2013
£2,780
Panerai Submersible PAM01074 276169

Panerai
Submersible
PAM01074

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£11,465
Panerai Luminor Yachts Challenge PAM00653 278802

Panerai
Luminor Yachts Challenge
PAM00653

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£7,255
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 254263

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,785
Franck Muller Long Island 1000 SC 268678

Franck Muller
Long Island
1000 SC

Box
Papers
Year 2008
£4,350
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 245541

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,785
Panerai Radiomir Automatic PAM00391 240445

Panerai
Radiomir Automatic
PAM00391

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£7,950
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254268

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Radiomir GMT PAM00238 258138

Panerai
Radiomir GMT
PAM00238

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£10,550
Panerai Luminor GMT PAM00244 259834

Panerai
Luminor GMT
PAM00244

Box
Papers
Year 2008
£3,830
Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM00321 277569
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor 1950
PAM00321

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£4,960
Panerai Luminor Quaranta PAM01372 260890

Panerai
Luminor Quaranta
PAM01372

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£5,950
Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM00352 270773

Panerai
Luminor 1950
PAM00352

Box
Papers
Year 2013
£4,000
Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM00361 255798

Panerai
Luminor 1950
PAM00361

Box
Papers
Year 2011
£5,400
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254246

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Luminor 1950 PAM01359 269109

Panerai
Luminor 1950
PAM01359

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£4,370
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 254277

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£4,675
Panerai Luminor Power Reserve PAM00028 261283
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Power Reserve
PAM00028

Box
Papers
Year 2009
£7,250
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 245546

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Manifattura Luminor PAM00320 271025

Panerai
Manifattura Luminor
PAM00320

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£4,465
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254294

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Baume et Mercier Riviera 10660 279179

Baume et Mercier
Riviera
10660

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£1,960
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 245551

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,785
Panerai Luminor Regatta PAM00107 267819
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor Regatta
PAM00107

Box
Papers
Year 2009
£4,415
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 245552

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,785
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254288

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Ferrari FER00009 268981
Limited Edition

Panerai
Ferrari
FER00009

Box
Papers
Year 2006
£3,380
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days PAM00658 254283

Panerai
Radiomir 1940 3 Days
PAM00658

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,400
Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM00627 254275

Panerai
Radiomir 1940
PAM00627

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£5,785
Panerai Luminor GMT PAM01176 276746
Limited Edition

Panerai
Luminor GMT
PAM01176

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£11,130
Bell and Ross BR V2-92 BRV292-BU-G-ST/SST 271511

Bell and Ross
BR V2-92
BRV292-BU-G-ST/SST

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,150
Bell and Ross BR-X5 BRX5R-BO-TC/SRB 282015
Limited Edition

Bell and Ross
BR-X5
BRX5R-BO-TC/SRB

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£8,800
Panerai Luminor Chrono PAM00250 265025

Panerai
Luminor Chrono
PAM00250

Box
Papers
Year 2009
£4,910
Panerai Luminor Marina PAM00104 270406

Panerai
Luminor Marina
PAM00104

Box
Papers
Year 2007
£3,835
Panerai Luminor Chrono PAM00188 277795

Panerai
Luminor Chrono
PAM00188

Box
Papers
Year 2004
£6,550
Bell and Ross BR03-92 BR03-92-S 263243

Bell and Ross
BR03-92
BR03-92-S

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£2,260
Bell and Ross BR01-92 BR01-92 Carbon 275690
Limited Edition

Bell and Ross
BR01-92
BR01-92 Carbon

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£3,750
Rado Captain Cook R32129158 272244

Rado
Captain Cook
R32129158

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,000
Panerai Luminor GMT PAM00335 279399

Panerai
Luminor GMT
PAM00335

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£9,060

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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