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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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  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
Reset Results (1078)
Results (1,078)
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Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030B-0002 232918

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030B-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,640
Bvlgari Ergon EG40SCH 274888

Bvlgari
Ergon
EG40SCH

Box
Papers
Year 2006
£1,580
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0010 281850
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0010

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,500
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 282742
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,040
Tudor Royal M28500-0005 271706
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Royal
M28500-0005

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£1,420
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0001 260311

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,585
Tudor Pelagos M25707KN-0001 271240
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25707KN-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,635
Tudor Pelagos M25707B/21-0001 282778
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25707B/21-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,190
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220N 280369

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79220N

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£2,090
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-P2/BK 268115

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-P2/BK

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,150
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 281338

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,770
Tudor Black Bay M79500-0013 278131
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M79500-0013

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,035
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 250822
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,540
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0001 279960
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£3,570
Tudor Pelagos FXD M25717N-0001 281406
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos FXD
M25717N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,800
Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220N 280852

Tudor
Heritage Black Bay
79220N

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£3,830
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79833MN-0003 276206
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79833MN-0003

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,670
Tudor Black Bay M79230N-0008 283197
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M79230N-0008

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,665
Tudor Black Bay M79230DK-0007 261656

Tudor
Black Bay
M79230DK-0007

Box
Papers
Year 2018
£2,360
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0007 276360
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0007

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£4,090
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 282226

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,770
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300OR.OO.D002CR.01 269435

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak
15300OR.OO.D002CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2010
£31,950
Tudor Black Bay M79230DK-0007 279715

Tudor
Black Bay
M79230DK-0007

Box
Papers
Year 2016
£2,585
Tudor Black Bay GMT M79830RB-0001 261978

Tudor
Black Bay GMT
M79830RB-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£2,605
Tudor Style M12700-0002 279113

Tudor
Style
M12700-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,300
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030B-0002 253353
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030B-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,080
Tudor Heritage Ranger M79910-0011 257623

Tudor
Heritage Ranger
M79910-0011

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£1,785
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81010-11-3153-1CM 275264

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81010-11-3153-1CM

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£10,510
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0001 268804
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,585
Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 15210CR.OO.A002CR.01 236532

Audemars Piguet
CODE 11.59
15210CR.OO.A002CR.01

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£22,500
Girard Perregaux Laureato 81010-32-631-32A 246529

Girard Perregaux
Laureato
81010-32-631-32A

Box
Papers
Year 2019
£9,120
Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N-0006 276211
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay Chrono
M79360N-0006

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,630
Tudor Pelagos M25610TNL-0001 275419
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25610TNL-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,450
Tudor Black Bay M79500-0007 281336
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay
M79500-0007

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£2,040
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79010SG-0002 276029
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79010SG-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,635
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79010SG-0001 279495
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79010SG-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,535
Tudor Pelagos M25610TNL-0001 259883

Tudor
Pelagos
M25610TNL-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2020
£3,305
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79030B-0002 199086

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79030B-0002

Box
Papers
Year 2021
£2,025
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26202AU.OO.D002CA.01 241012
Limited Edition

Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Offshore
26202AU.OO.D002CA.01

Box
Papers
Year 2011
£25,450
Tudor Pelagos M25707B/23-0001 259510
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Pelagos
M25707B/23-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2023
£3,300
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79012M-0001 250485
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79012M-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,260
Tudor Black Bay 58 M79012M-0001 254402
Manufacturer's Warranty

Tudor
Black Bay 58
M79012M-0001

Box
Papers
Year 2022
£3,260

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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