Back to the future with Hamilton PSR

In 1976 a great revolution took place in the watch world. Hamilton introduced the very first digital electronic wristwatch. It looked like a machine from the future: this watch had no hands, no ticking sound and was more accurate than any watch until then. It was no science fiction, but reality. The Hamilton PS would forever change the way we read time. And now you can go back to the future with the new Hamilton PSR.

The Hamilton PS; the very first digital wristwatch

On May 6, 1970, Hamilton unveiled the very first digital electronic wristwatch to the world. This Hamilton Pulsar P1, was named after the pulsating neutron stars that emit radiation at extremely accurate frequencies.

The original, futuristic design perfectly matched the groundbreaking technology. At the touch of a button on the side of the watch, the time lit up in red LED numbers against a dark screen. The seconds became visible by pressing the button longer. The watch could be adjusted by means of a unique magnetic bar hidden in the strap.

The first Hamilton Pulsar, the P1, was launched in 1972. With a case and strap made of 18 carat yellow gold, this watch was not for everyone. At the time, for the price of $ 2,100, you could also buy a family car! Elvis Presley - who regularly wore Hamilton watches - was one of the lucky ones to get hold of one of only 400 P1s made.

Popular with the stars

The general public first saw a glimpse of the Pulsar P1 in the (still existing) American TV program The Tonight Show. The then very popular presenter Johnny Carson showed the unique functionality of the watch.

It was not until a year later, in 1973, that the watch became accessible to the general public. This more affordable stainless steel Pulsar P2 was produced in large quantities and was a huge success. The watch had a rounder case and an improved chip module and became a kind of blueprint for the emerging digital watch market.

Not only the 'common man' fell for this fututistic watch. The PS2 was also extremely popular among stars such as Keith Richards, Joe Frazier, Elton John, Giovanni Agnelli and US President Gerald Ford.

The PS then and the PSR now

The look of the PSR has turned out to be incredibly timeless. The watch still has a futurist 'Space age' appearance. But although the PSR has the same design and principles as the PS from the 1970s, it is of course a watch for the twenty-first century. And, Swiss Made!

One of the differences from the PS1 is the way the time is displayed. The new Hamilton PSR has a hybrid display, which combines the technologies of reflective LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and radiating OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes). In contrast to the old PS where the time was only visible by pressing the button, with the PSR the strong LCD display ensures that the time is permanently visible. Even in daylight. 

By combining both technologies, the display also has a low energy consumption. What has remained the same is its simplicity. The watch shows the time. No more. It is a real statement piece that combines a daring shape with basic functionality. The watch has a pillow shaped steel case of 40.8 mm x 34.7 mm, and is water resistant up to 10 ATM (suitable for swimming in open water).

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