In 1976 a great revolution took place in the watch world. Hamilton introduced the very first digital electronic wristwatch. It was like a machine from the future: this watch had no hands, made no ticking noise and was more accurate than any watch before. It wasn’t 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 world’s first-ever digital electronic wristwatch. This Hamilton Pulsar P1 was named after the pulsating neutron stars that emit radiation at extremely precise frequencies.
The original, futuristic design perfectly matched the groundbreaking technology. With the push 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 holding 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, came on the market in 1972. With a case and strap made of 18 carat yellow gold, this watch was not for everyone. At that time you could also buy a family car for the price of $ 2,100. Elvis Presley – who often 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 saw a first 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 wasn’t until a year later, in 1973, that the watch became available 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.
But not only the ‘common man’ fell for this fututistic watch. The PS2 was also incredibly 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 proven to be incredibly timeless. The watch still has a futuristic ‘Space age’ appearance. But despite the fact that 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 with 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). Unlike the old PS where the time was only visible by pressing the button, the strong LCD display of the PSR ensures that the time is also permanently visible. Even in daylight. By combining both technologies, the display also has low energy consumption.
What has remained the same is the simplicity. The watch shows the time. No more. It is a real statement piece, combining bold form with basic functionality.
The watch has a cushion-shaped steel case measuring 40.8 mm x 34.7 mm and is water resistant to 10 ATM (suitable for swimming in open water).


Hamilton watches at Techzle
The employees of our store in Breda are happy to demonstrate the great PSR or other Hamilton watches to you. But of course the PSR can also be ordered online in our webshop. You can check availability on the product page.