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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. Panerai Panerai
  2. IWC IWC
  3. Omega Omega
  4. Breitling Breitling
  5. Rolex Rolex
  6. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  7. Cartier Cartier
  8. Tudor Tudor
  9. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  10. Hublot Hublot
  11. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  12. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  13. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
All Brands
  1. A. Lange and Sohne A. Lange and Sohne
  2. Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet
  3. B.R.M Watches B.R.M Watches
  4. Ball Ball
  5. Baume et Mercier Baume et Mercier
  6. Bell and Ross Bell and Ross
  7. Blancpain Blancpain
  8. Breguet Breguet
  9. Breitling Breitling
  10. Bremont Bremont
  11. Bvlgari Bvlgari
  12. Carl F. Bucherer Carl F. Bucherer
  13. Cartier Cartier
  14. Chanel Chanel
  15. Chopard Chopard
  16. Christian Dior Christian Dior
  17. Chronoswiss Chronoswiss
  18. Corum Corum
  19. Eterna Eterna
  20. F.P. Journe F.P. Journe
  21. Franck Muller Franck Muller
  22. Frederique Constant Frederique Constant
  23. Girard Perregaux Girard Perregaux
  24. Glashutte Original Glashutte Original
  25. Graham Graham
  26. Grand Seiko Grand Seiko
  27. H. Moser and Cie H. Moser and Cie
  28. Hamilton Hamilton
  29. Hermes Hermes
  30. Hublot Hublot
  31. IWC IWC
  32. Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre
  33. JeanRichard JeanRichard
  34. Longines Longines
  35. Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix
  36. Meistersinger Meistersinger
  37. Montblanc Montblanc
  38. Nomos Glashutte Nomos Glashutte
  39. Omega Omega
  40. Oris Oris
  41. Panerai Panerai
  42. Parmigiani Parmigiani
  43. Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
  44. Perrelet Perrelet
  45. Piaget Piaget
  46. Porsche Design Porsche Design
  47. Rado Rado
  48. Raymond Weil Raymond Weil
  49. Roger Dubuis Roger Dubuis
  50. Rolex Rolex
  51. Romain Jerome Romain Jerome
  52. Tag Heuer Tag Heuer
  53. Tissot Tissot
  54. Tudor Tudor
  55. Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin
  56. Vacheron Constantin Vacheron Constantin
  57. 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. Aluminium Aluminium
  2. Bronze Bronze
  3. Carbon Carbon
  4. Ceramic Ceramic
  5. Platinum Platinum
  6. Rose Gold Rose Gold
  7. Silver Silver
  8. Steel Steel
  9. Steel & Rose Gold Steel & Rose Gold
  10. Steel & Rose Gold Plated Steel & Rose Gold Plated
  11. Steel & White Gold Steel & White Gold
  12. Steel & Yellow Gold Steel & Yellow Gold
  13. Steel & Yellow Gold Plated Steel & Yellow Gold Plated
  14. Titanium Titanium
  15. White Gold White Gold
  16. Yellow Gold Yellow Gold
Dial Colour
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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
Promotion
Limited Edition
  1. Limited Edition Limited Edition
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F.P. Journe Octa Sport 1300.3 269056

F.P. Journe
Octa Sport
1300.3

Box
Papers
Year 2018
Product Location
CHF 57’865
incl. import taxes & duties
Franck Muller Vanguard V 45 CC GD SQT TT BR NR 217384

Franck Muller
Vanguard
V 45 CC GD SQT TT BR NR

Box
Papers
Year 2022
CHF 5’445
Franck Muller Vanguard V 45 SC DT TT BR NR 190237

Franck Muller
Vanguard
V 45 SC DT TT BR NR

Box
Papers
Year 2021
CHF 270
Franck Muller Vanguard V 45 CC DT AC RG 190216

Franck Muller
Vanguard
V 45 CC DT AC RG

Box
Papers
Year 2021
CHF 2’380
Franck Muller Vanguard V 45 SC DT TT NR BR TTx 190165

Franck Muller
Vanguard
V 45 SC DT TT NR BR TTx

Box
Papers
Year 2021
CHF 3’210
IWC Pilot's Mark XVIII IW327011 270055

IWC
Pilot's Mark XVIII
IW327011

Box
Papers
Year 2019
Product Location
CHF 4’125
incl. import taxes & duties
Breitling Avenger Hurricane XB0180 279081

Breitling
Avenger Hurricane
XB0180

Box
Papers
Year 2016
Product Location
CHF 3’800
incl. import taxes & duties
Omega De Ville Ladymatic 425.25.34.20.55.001 245342

Omega
De Ville Ladymatic
425.25.34.20.55.001

Box
Papers
Year 2018
Product Location
POA
incl. import taxes & duties
IWC Portugieser Chrono IW390406 226058
Limited Edition

IWC
Portugieser Chrono
IW390406

Box
Papers
Year 2016
CHF 7’000
Grand Seiko Sport Collection SBGH289 260630

Grand Seiko
Sport Collection
SBGH289

Box
Papers
Year 2023
Product Location
CHF 5’485
incl. import taxes & duties
Grand Seiko Sport Collection SBGH289 274651

Grand Seiko
Sport Collection
SBGH289

Box
Papers
Year 2022
Product Location
CHF 5’485
incl. import taxes & duties
Hamilton Khaki Field H71616535 270112

Hamilton
Khaki Field
H71616535

Box
Papers
Year 2016
Product Location
CHF 1’325
incl. import taxes & duties
Hamilton Khaki Navy H77825331 259288

Hamilton
Khaki Navy
H77825331

Box
Papers
Year 2022
CHF 725
Grand Seiko Grand Seiko SLGA009 274820
Manufacturer's Warranty

Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko
SLGA009

Box
Papers
Year 2023
Product Location
CHF 8’560
incl. import taxes & duties
Roger Dubuis La Monegasque MG42-821-90-00/0ER01/B 212685

Roger Dubuis
La Monegasque
MG42-821-90-00/0ER01/B

Box
Papers
Year 2012
CHF 5’825
Carl F. Bucherer Heritage 00.10803.08.92.93 227535
Limited Edition

Carl F. Bucherer
Heritage
00.10803.08.92.93

Box
Papers
Year 2022
CHF 4’075
Roger Dubuis La Monegasque DBMG0005 221801

Roger Dubuis
La Monegasque
DBMG0005

Box
Papers
Year 2014
CHF 7’665
Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle 4020T/000R-B654 218689

Vacheron Constantin
Traditionelle
4020T/000R-B654

Box
Papers
Year 2022
CHF 21’760
Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle 86060/000R-9640 219585

Vacheron Constantin
Traditionelle
86060/000R-9640

Box
Papers
Year 2017
CHF 23’115
Meistersinger Salthora SAM901 208529

Meistersinger
Salthora
SAM901

Box
Papers
Year 2019
CHF 565
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGH266 265734
Limited Edition

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SBGH266

Box
Papers
Year 2021
CHF 17’725
Breitling Avenger Hurricane XB1210 280205

Breitling
Avenger Hurricane
XB1210

Box
Papers
Year 2017
Product Location
CHF 3’800
incl. import taxes & duties
Carl F. Bucherer Manero 00.10917.08.53.98 263475

Carl F. Bucherer
Manero
00.10917.08.53.98

Box
Papers
Year 2023
Product Location
CHF 6’380
incl. import taxes & duties
H. Moser and Cie Endeavour 1200-1229 276626
Limited Edition

H. Moser and Cie
Endeavour
1200-1229

Box
Papers
Year 2021
Product Location
CHF 21’535
incl. import taxes & duties
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 7900V/110A-B546 267991

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
7900V/110A-B546

Box
Papers
Year 2022
Product Location
CHF 30’810
incl. import taxes & duties
Roger Dubuis Hommage RDDBHO0565 235224

Roger Dubuis
Hommage
RDDBHO0565

Box
Papers
Year 2015
CHF 8’020
Roger Dubuis Hommage DBHO0569 218013

Roger Dubuis
Hommage
DBHO0569

Box
Papers
Year 2017
CHF 8’680
Grand Seiko Heritage Collection SBGJ253 274280
Limited Edition

Grand Seiko
Heritage Collection
SBGJ253

Box
Papers
Year 2022
Product Location
CHF 4’740
incl. import taxes & duties
Hamilton Khaki Aviation H77906940 274190

Hamilton
Khaki Aviation
H77906940

Box
Papers
Year 2023
Product Location
CHF 1’505
incl. import taxes & duties
Nomos Glashutte Tangente 182 276919

Nomos Glashutte
Tangente
182

Box
Papers
Year 2021
Product Location
CHF 2’335
incl. import taxes & duties
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 7900V/110A-B546 273290

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
7900V/110A-B546

Box
Papers
Year 2019
Product Location
CHF 29’190
incl. import taxes & duties
Bremont Supermarine SUPERMARINE CHRONO JET 276355

Bremont
Supermarine
SUPERMARINE CHRONO JET

Box
Papers
Year 2023
Product Location
CHF 3’845
incl. import taxes & duties
Eterna Legacy 7682.41.40.1700 270042

Eterna
Legacy
7682.41.40.1700

Box
Papers
Year 2019
Product Location
CHF 1’560
incl. import taxes & duties
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 49140/423A-8790 265141

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
49140/423A-8790

Box
Papers
Year 2010
CHF 14’575
Roger Dubuis La Monegasque MG44-680-90-00/0ER01/B 179530

Roger Dubuis
La Monegasque
MG44-680-90-00/0ER01/B

Box
Papers
Year 2014
CHF 5’970
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/SI/07 242150

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/SI/07

Box
Papers
Year 2008
CHF 2’740
Bremont ALT1 ALT1-C/BL 273793

Bremont
ALT1
ALT1-C/BL

Box
Papers
Year 2019
Product Location
CHF 3’045
incl. import taxes & duties
Parmigiani Kalpagraph PFC128-0243200-X01401 276001
Limited Edition

Parmigiani
Kalpagraph
PFC128-0243200-X01401

Box
Papers
Year 2017
Product Location
CHF 11’100
incl. import taxes & duties
Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar 1-90-02-43-32-05 284795

Glashutte Original
PanoMaticLunar
1-90-02-43-32-05

Box
Papers
Year 2021
Product Location
CHF 6’710
incl. import taxes & duties
Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V/110A-B483 218871

Vacheron Constantin
Overseas
4500V/110A-B483

Box
Papers
Year 2022
CHF 21’175
A. Lange and Sohne 1815 221.021 236573

A. Lange and Sohne
1815
221.021

Box
Papers
Year 2003
CHF 16’935
Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix 4400E/000A-B437 263564

Vacheron Constantin
Fiftysix
4400E/000A-B437

Box
Papers
Year 2021
Product Location
CHF 17’705
incl. import taxes & duties

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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