What is an automatic watch?
An automatic watch is a mechanical watch that winds itself. A weighted rotor inside the case swings as your wrist moves, tightening the mainspring that powers the watch.
There's no battery to replace.
Wear it most days and it simply keeps running. Many automatics here can also be wound by hand through the crown, which is handy if one has stopped.
Automatic vs mechanical: what's the difference?
Every automatic is a mechanical watch, but not every mechanical watch is automatic. A hand-wound (manual) watch has no rotor, so you wind it yourself, usually once a day.
This page is for self-winding watches only. If you'd like to see hand-wound pieces too, or you enjoy the small daily ritual of winding, browse our full mechanical watches collection.
The movements inside our automatic watches
The movement, or calibre, is the engine of a watch. Each product page names it, and these are the ones you'll find here:
- Seiko NH35: a tough, widely serviced Japanese automatic, in the San Martin SN0130 and SN0108, the Pagani Design PD-1685 and the Addiesdive MY-H2.
- Miyota 8215 and 82S0: dependable Japanese automatics, in the Berny AMT163MS titanium field watch, the Pagani Design PD-1639 and PD-1688, and the Berny AM198M skeleton.
- Miyota 90S5 and 9015: finer Japanese calibres in the San Martin SN0126, SN0149 and SN0150. The 9015 beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour for a smooth sweep, with about 42 hours of power reserve, according to Miyota.
- Sea-Gull ST-series: automatics from the Chinese maker Sea-Gull, in the Sugess S452 moonphase (ST2108) and the Berny sun and moon dress watch (ST1652).
Power reserve is how long a watch keeps running once you take it off.
How to choose an automatic watch
Start with case size. Our automatics run from compact 38mm cases to 42mm and larger.
The San Martin SN0108 pilot is 38.5mm, the SN0150 is 39mm and the SN0126 diver comes in 38mm or 42mm.
Lug-to-lug length (from the top lugs to the bottom lugs) matters too. The SN0130 is 42mm across and 48.5mm lug to lug. Our watch size guide explains how to measure.
Check the crystal. Most watches here have sapphire crystal, which resists scratches far better than mineral glass. The product page always says which one you're getting.
Match water resistance to your life. Ratings here run from 30m to 600m. 50m (5ATM) covers rain and splashes.
100m handles swimming, as on the SN0130, SN0149 and Pagani Design PD-1688.
For more time in the water, the Pagani Design PD-1685 and Addiesdive MY-H2 are rated to 200m, and the 42mm SN0126 to 600m. See all our dive watches.
Choose your extras. A complication is any feature beyond telling the time. Here you'll find moonphase displays and a GMT second time zone on the Pagani Design PD-1662.
Skeleton dials, on the Berny AM198M and Pagani Design PD-YS017, show the movement at work.
Consider materials and dials. The Berny AMT163MS has a full titanium case and bracelet at 90g.
The San Martin SN0149 and SN0150 have mother-of-pearl dials, and the SN0130 offers peacock green and aventurine options.
Automatic watches for men and women
Most of this collection is sized for men's wrists. For a smaller wrist, start with the 38mm SN0126 or the 38.5mm SN0108, which suit many women as well as men.
The OUPINKE 3301 is a women's automatic with a ceramic bracelet, Roman numerals and a week and date display. You'll find more in our women's watches collection.
Living with an automatic watch
An automatic gains or loses a few seconds a day. That's normal for any mechanical watch, and a watchmaker can regulate it if needed.
Leave it off your wrist and it stops when the power reserve runs out. Give the crown a few turns, reset the time and it's away again.
If you rotate several watches, an automatic watch winder keeps them running.
Keep it away from strong magnets such as speakers, phone cases and laptop lids. Avoid hot showers and saunas, and plan on a service every few years.
Why buy an automatic watch from Time & Lustre
- Honest specs: every product page names the movement, crystal and water resistance.
- 2-year warranty on every watch, with Australian Consumer Law guarantees on top.
- 30-day returns on unworn watches in their original packaging. See our returns policy.
- Tracked delivery Australia-wide, free on orders over $50. See our shipping policy for delivery times.
New to self-winding watches? Our complete guide to mechanical watches explains how automatics work, which movements to look for and how to care for one.