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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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Bremont Pilot Arrow 273092

Bremont
Pilot
Arrow

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,450
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 42050/423A 271287

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
42050/423A

Box
Papers
Year 2000
£13,950
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/WH-BK 266763

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/WH-BK

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,680
Ball BMW CM3010C-SCJ-BK 269648

Ball
BMW
CM3010C-SCJ-BK

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£1,590
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/WH-BK 269955

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/WH-BK

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,680
Bremont Martin Baker MBIII/BZ 280360

Bremont
Martin Baker
MBIII/BZ

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,695
Hamilton Khaki Field H71616535 281126

Hamilton
Khaki Field
H71616535

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£950
Grand Seiko Elegance Collection SBGE269 237965

Grand Seiko
Elegance Collection
SBGE269

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£4,950
Bremont Jaguar BJ-II/BK 250743

Bremont
Jaguar
BJ-II/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2017
£3,040
Bremont H-4 Hercules H-4 HERCULES 233715
Limited Edition

Bremont
H-4 Hercules
H-4 HERCULES

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£5,370
Bvlgari Octo 103431 276332

Bvlgari
Octo
103431

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£6,205
Bremont Supermarine S500/BL/2018 274662

Bremont
Supermarine
S500/BL/2018

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,445
Bremont Supermarine S500-RFU-B 275006
Limited Edition

Bremont
Supermarine
S500-RFU-B

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,800
Bremont Solo SOLO/PW 279957

Bremont
Solo
SOLO/PW

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£1,495
Bremont Pilot ALT1-P/BL 267494

Bremont
Pilot
ALT1-P/BL

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,410
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/PB 272744

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/PB

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,245
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-ZT-BL-R-S 265289
Limited Edition

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-ZT-BL-R-S

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,250
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-P2/BK 276402

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-P2/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,365
Parmigiani Kalpagraph PF003741.01 253321

Parmigiani
Kalpagraph
PF003741.01

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£5,650
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/CR 272052

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/CR

Box
Papers
Year 2008
£2,215
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79010SG-0002 276983
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79010SG-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,670
Tudor Pelagos FXD M25717N-0001 273798
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos FXD
M25717N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,800
Bremont Airco Mach 1 AIRCO MACH 1/BK/S 275251

Bremont
Airco Mach 1
AIRCO MACH 1/BK/S

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,750
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79363N-0001 277846
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79363N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,320
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0006 260208
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0006

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,300
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DM3002A-S4CJ-GR 257801

Ball
Engineer Hydrocarbon
DM3002A-S4CJ-GR

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,750
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79010SG-0001 279259
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79010SG-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,535
Bremont Martin Baker MBII-WH/OR 273081

Bremont
Martin Baker
MBII-WH/OR

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,780
Bvlgari Octo 103637 279971

Bvlgari
Octo
103637

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£25,185
JeanRichard Aeroscope 60660-21BA51-FK6A 238753

JeanRichard
Aeroscope
60660-21BA51-FK6A

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,500
Tudor 1926 M91650-0001 281463
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
1926
M91650-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£1,350
Bremont Supermarine S300/BK/BR 274111

Bremont
Supermarine
S300/BK/BR

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,215
Bremont Martin Baker MBIII/OR 267585

Bremont
Martin Baker
MBIII/OR

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,750
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0001 278723
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,585
Graham Chronofighter 2CXAS.B02A 279134
Limited Edition

Graham
Chronofighter
2CXAS.B02A

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£1,485
Frederique Constant Slim Line FC-306S4S6B3 72819

Frederique Constant
Slim Line
FC-306S4S6B3

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£1,150
Bvlgari Lvcea 102219 229652

Bvlgari
Lvcea
102219

Box
Papers
Year 2015
£2,075
Bremont Argonaut ARGONAUT-BZ-SAR-R-S 261296

Bremont
Argonaut
ARGONAUT-BZ-SAR-R-S

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£2,950
Tudor Black Bay M79730-0006 281781

Tudor
Black Bay
M79730-0006

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£2,315
Tudor Black Bay M7941A1A0RU-0001 265471
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M7941A1A0RU-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,450
Tudor Pelagos FXD M25717N-0001 276153
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos FXD
M25717N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,800
Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph 79270 270624

Tudor
Oysterdate Chronograph
79270

Box
Papers
Year 2013
£4,055

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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