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. Cartier Cartier
  5. Panerai Panerai
  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. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  2. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  3. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  4. Blancpain Blancpain
  5. Breguet Breguet
  6. Breitling Breitling
  7. Bremont Bremont
  8. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  9. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  10. Cartier Cartier
  11. Chanel Chanel
  12. Chopard Chopard
  13. Corum Corum
  14. Eterna Eterna
  15. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  16. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  17. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  18. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  19. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  20. Hublot Hublot
  21. IWC IWC
  22. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  23. Jaquet Droz Jaquet Droz
  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. Piaget Piaget
  33. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  34. Rado Rado
  35. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  36. Rolex Rolex
  37. TAG Heuer TAG Heuer
  38. Tudor Tudor
  39. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  40. Union Glashutte Union Glashutte
  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. Watchfinder Watchfinder
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 & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  10. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  11. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  12. Titanium Titanium
  13. White Gold White Gold
  14. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
  15. 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
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 (915)
Results (915)
Sort
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116000 415660

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
116000

Box
Papers
Year 2016
Presale
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 422671

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2018
Presale
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 77080 406482

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
77080

Box
Papers
Year 2004
€4,540
Omega Planet Ocean 2201.50.00 424367
New Price

Omega
Planet Ocean
2201.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 2008
€3,680
Breitling Chronomat GMT AB0410 424361
New Price

Breitling
Chronomat GMT
AB0410

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€3,850
Omega Aqua Terra 150m Gents 220.10.41.21.03.005 424358
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Omega
Aqua Terra 150m Gents
220.10.41.21.03.005

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€5,175
Rolex Datejust Lady 179163 424351
New Price

Rolex
Datejust Lady
179163

Box
Papers
Year 2012
€8,220
Rolex Datejust 41 126334 424341
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126334

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€14,660
Rolex Lady Oyster Perpetual 76080 424339
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Lady Oyster Perpetual
76080

Box
Papers
Year 2000
€3,850
Omega Seamaster Diver 300m 212.30.44.50.01.001 424338
New Price

Omega
Seamaster Diver 300m
212.30.44.50.01.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
€4,310
Breitling Chrono Cockpit A13358 424336
New Price

Breitling
Chrono Cockpit
A13358

Box
Papers
Year 2007
€2,585
Rolex Explorer II 226570 424335
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Explorer II
226570

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€10,520
Tudor Pelagos M25707B/24-0001 424334
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25707B/24-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€3,965
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 1218420 424331
New Price

Jaeger-LeCoultre
Master Ultra Thin
1218420

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,185
Breitling Avenger Blackbird V17311 424330
New Price

Breitling
Avenger Blackbird
V17311

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€3,220
Omega Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50.00 421294
Vintage

Omega
Speedmaster Reduced
3510.50.00

Box
Papers
Year 1994
€3,335
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 417632

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual
124300

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€7,415
Cartier Roadster W62002V3 424050
New Price

Cartier
Roadster
W62002V3

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€3,220
Cartier Roadster W62002V3 424048
New Price

Cartier
Roadster
W62002V3

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€3,220
Tudor Prince Date 76213 424046
New Price
Vintage

Tudor
Prince Date
76213

Box
Papers
Year 2001
€2,585
Rolex Sky-Dweller 336934 424045
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Sky-Dweller
336934

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€18,975
Rolex Deepsea 136660 424044
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Deepsea
136660

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€13,740
Rolex Daytona 116520 424043
New Price

Rolex
Daytona
116520

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€19,780
Rolex Datejust II 116334 424040
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust II
116334

Box
Papers
Year 2013
€9,775
Tag Heuer Aquaracer WBP2151.FT6199 424037
New Price

Tag Heuer
Aquaracer
WBP2151.FT6199

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€3,735
Tudor Black Bay M79230B-0008 424036
New Price

Tudor
Black Bay
M79230B-0008

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€2,960
Blancpain Air Command AC02-36B40-63B 424032
New Price

Blancpain
Air Command
AC02-36B40-63B

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€17,190
Cartier Ballon Bleu De Cartier WSBB0048 424027
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Cartier
Ballon Bleu De Cartier
WSBB0048

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€4,885
Rolex GMT Master II 16710 417871
Vintage

Rolex
GMT Master II
16710

Box
Papers
Year 1996
€10,810
Rolex Submariner 14060M 416483

Rolex
Submariner
14060M

Box
Papers
Year 2006
€9,715
Rolex Datejust 41 126333 424025
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust 41
126333

Box
Papers
Year 2024
€13,740
Tag Heuer Monaco CAW218F.FC6356 424023
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tag Heuer
Monaco
CAW218F.FC6356

Box
Papers
Year 2025
€8,335
Rolex Datejust 16234 424014
New Price
Vintage

Rolex
Datejust
16234

Box
Papers
Year 1990
€7,760
Breguet Reine de Naples 8908BA/52/864 D00D 423800
New Price

Breguet
Reine de Naples
8908BA/52/864 D00D

Box
Papers
Year 2002
€17,190
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 115200 423799
New Price

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual Date
115200

Box
Papers
Year 2015
€5,690
Cartier Ballon Bleu W2BB0022 423798
New Price

Cartier
Ballon Bleu
W2BB0022

Box
Papers
Year 2020
€7,530
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030N-0001 423797
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
€4,080
Panerai Luminor Quaranta PAM01270 423796
New Price

Panerai
Luminor Quaranta
PAM01270

Box
Papers
Year 2021
€6,610
Cartier Ronde Solo W6701011 423795
New Price

Cartier
Ronde Solo
W6701011

Box
Papers
Year 2014
€3,335
IWC Pilot's Mark XVII IW326501 423793
New Price

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVII
IW326501

Box
Papers
Year 2016
€3,275
Rolex Datejust 126234 423792
New Price
Manufacturer's Warranty

Rolex
Datejust
126234

Box
Papers
Year 2026
€11,440
Tag Heuer Carrera CAR2110.BA0720 423783
New Price

Tag Heuer
Carrera
CAR2110.BA0720

Box
Papers
Year 2017
€2,815

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