We're currently testing our site! Please note this is a work in progress
Sell
Exchange
Search
+44 844 247 8884
EUR
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. Omega Omega
  3. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  4. Panerai Panerai
  5. Cartier Cartier
  6. IWC IWC
  7. Breitling Breitling
  8. Tudor Tudor
  9. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  10. Hublot Hublot
  11. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  12. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  13. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  4. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  5. Blancpain Blancpain
  6. Breguet Breguet
  7. Breitling Breitling
  8. Bremont Bremont
  9. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  10. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  11. Cartier Cartier
  12. Chanel Chanel
  13. Chopard Chopard
  14. Corum Corum
  15. Eterna Eterna
  16. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  17. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  18. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  19. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  20. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  21. Hamilton Hamilton
  22. Hermes Hermes
  23. Hublot Hublot
  24. IWC IWC
  25. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  26. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  27. Longines Longines
  28. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  29. Montblanc Montblanc
  30. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  31. Omega Omega
  32. Oris Oris
  33. Panerai Panerai
  34. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  35. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  36. Piaget Piaget
  37. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  38. Rado Rado
  39. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  40. Rolex Rolex
  41. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  42. Tudor Tudor
  43. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  44. Union Glashutte Union Glashutte
  45. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  46. 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. Watchfinder Watchfinder
Case Material
  1. Bronze Bronze
  2. Carbon Carbon
  3. Ceramic Ceramic
  4. Platinum Platinum
  5. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  6. Steel Steel
  7. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  8. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  9. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  10. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  11. Titanium Titanium
  12. White Gold White Gold
  13. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  14. Yellow Gold Plated Yellow Gold Plated
Dial Colour
Black
Blue
Bronze
Brown
Champagne
Diamond
Green
Grey
Ivory
Mother of Pearl
Orange
Pink
Red
Salmon
Silver
Specialised
White
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 (903)
Results (903)
Sort
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m - James Bond Edition 210.92.42.20.01.001 428933
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m - James Bond Edition
210.92.42.20.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€8,060
Omega Olympic Seamaster 516.53.37.20.09.012 428932
New Price

Omega
Olympic Seamaster
516.53.37.20.09.012

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€7,250
Rolex GMT Master 16758 428931
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
GMT Master
16758

Box
Papers
Year 1975
€24,500
Rolex Daytona 116519 428930
New Price

Rolex
Daytona
116519

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€28,130
Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44 AB0136 428708
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Breitling
Super Chronomat B01 44
AB0136

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€6,525
Vacheron Constantin Historiques 43043/000R-9592 428707

Vacheron Constantin
Historiques
43043/000R-9592

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€12,180
Audemars Piguet Millenary 14908OR.OO.D067CR.01 428705
New Price
Vintage

Audemars Piguet
Millenary
14908OR.OO.D067CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€10,380
Bvlgari Octo 101963 428704
New Price

Bvlgari
Octo
101963

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€17,105
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279160 428703
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279160

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,945
Cartier Rotonde De Cartier W1556239 428701
New Price

Cartier
Rotonde De Cartier
W1556239

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€14,605
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 134300 428700
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual 41
134300

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€9,570
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 178240 428699
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
178240

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€6,900
Rolex Yacht-Master 16622 428698
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Yacht-Master
16622

Box
Papers
Year 1999
€7,945
Rolex Day-Date 1803 428697
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Day-Date
1803

Box
Papers
Year 1969
€17,340
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars 26100OR.OO.D088CR.01 428696
New Price

Audemars Piguet
Jules Audemars
26100OR.OO.D088CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€23,140
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 428446
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2022
€22,620
Rolex Explorer II 226570 428445
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer II
226570

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€10,730
Rolex Yacht-Master 126622 428443
New Price

Rolex
Yacht-Master
126622

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€13,860
Rolex Datejust 41 126331 428442
New Price

Rolex
Datejust 41
126331

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€13,630
Bell and Ross BR 05 BR05A-BL-CE/SRB 428439
New Price

Bell and Ross
BR 05
BR05A-BL-CE/SRB

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€5,220
Tag Heuer Monaco CBL2111.FC6453 428438
New Price

Tag Heuer
Monaco
CBL2111.FC6453

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€4,465
Tag Heuer Carrera WV211B.BA0787 428436
New Price

Tag Heuer
Carrera
WV211B.BA0787

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€1,740
Breitling Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46 A24322 428435
New Price

Breitling
Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46
A24322

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€4,000
Breitling Chronomat B13352 428434
New Price
Vintage

Breitling
Chronomat
B13352

Box
Papers
Year 1995
€2,840
Cartier Pasha WSPA0009 428433
New Price

Cartier
Pasha
WSPA0009

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,305
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279173 428270
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279173

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€11,540
Cartier Roadster W62002V3 428269
New Price

Cartier
Roadster
W62002V3

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€3,250
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0014 428268
New Price

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0014

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€4,930
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220N 428267
New Price

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79220N

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€4,060
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 178274 428266
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
178274

Box
Papers
Year 2019
€9,395
Tudor Pelagos FXD M2542G267NU-0002 428261
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos FXD
M2542G267NU-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€4,580
Rolex Explorer II 16570 428260
New Price

Rolex
Explorer II
16570

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€7,250
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279384 RBR 428259
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279384 RBR

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€19,430
Rolex Datejust II 116333 428258
New Price

Rolex
Datejust II
116333

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€13,350
Rolex Datejust Lady 31 278240 428253
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady 31
278240

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€8,990
Grand Seiko Elegance Collection SBGA407 319083
Manufacturer's Warranty

Grand Seiko
Elegance Collection
SBGA407

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€4,815
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26170ST.OO.D091CR.01 405620

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Offshore
26170ST.OO.D091CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2009
€15,660
Rolex Datejust Lady 28 279171 425596

Rolex
Datejust Lady 28
279171

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€16,820
Rolex GMT Master II 16710 416913

Rolex
GMT Master II
16710

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€11,195
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 5200-0153-B52A 426694

Blancpain
Fifty Fathoms
5200-0153-B52A

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€11,600
Panerai Luminor Due PAM00904 424072

Panerai
Luminor Due
PAM00904

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€5,220
Rolex Datejust 116234 426455

Rolex
Datejust
116234

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€8,700

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