Hamilton
Available Now on Revolution: The Hamilton PSR
We covered the basics of the new timepiece in our introduction story which you can go back and read here.
Now Mr Goldberger isn’t your typical watch collector, you could even refer to him as the godfather of watch collecting, so you bet that if he was showing a Pulsar to the world, it would have something special about it. Right on cue, Goldberger’s Pulsar P3 features none other than the famed Tiffany & Co. signature that is so sought after by collectors. As some might remember, in the 1970’s when the original Hamilton Pulsar launched, the innovative digital timepiece was sold at selected upscale retailers such as the famed jewellery retailer Tiffany & Co.
The Pulsar P3 was the successor to the original P1 and P2 models and featured an added date function compared to time-only displays on the first two generations of the Pulsar. Setting the time was still done by applying an external magnet stored in the folding clasp of the bracelet, and the case design featured a more rounded shape compared to the P1 and P2.
Another thing to note is that the logo Pulsar — or Tiffany & Co. in this case — was stamped on the red mineral crystal as opposed to the case’s surface on previous generations. Mr Goldberger being such a cool gentleman, it comes as no surprise that he would also possess such a cool watch that marked quite an important milestone in watch history.
Pulsar Fever
Entering the ’70s, it was clear that the United States had won the coveted “Space Race” with the success of the Apollo 11 mission which landed humans on the Moon in July of 1969. Only 10 months after that historical achievement, in May of 1970, another American company would make an announcement and reveal a ground-breaking product unlike anything that had been seen before: the Hamilton Pulsar, the very first digital wristwatch.
What followed was an undeniable Pulsar fever. In 1972, Hamilton released a consumer-ready version of the Pulsar, the Hamilton Pulsar P1 with an avant-garde cushion case and bracelet in 18ct yellow gold, but the product just flew off the shelves. It was the first true star of the emerging Quartz Era and a completely unheard of in a universe dominated by mechanical analog watches.
Celebrities couldn’t get enough of it and names like Elvis Presley, the Shah of Iran, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Sammy Davis Jr, and Yul Brynner are some of the famous owners of the Hamilton Pulsar.
In 1973, the Hamilton Pulsar P2 in stainless steel reached the market at a more affordable price, achieving colossal success. The P2 rapidly became the period’s must-have watch, with wearers including Keith Richards, Jack Nicholson, Peter Sellers, Elton John, Gianni Agnelli, and U.S. President Gerald Ford. Notably, Roger Moore’s James Bond wore one in Live and Let Die (1973) and the boxing great “Smokin” Joe Frazier was even pictured wearing his in the run-up to his 1973 fight with Joe Bugner.
The New Hamilton PSR, Available for Pre-Order on Revolution
Nearly 50 years on today, Hamilton is announcing the return of the Pulsar in a modern day reincarnation with all of its 70s charm. The 2020 Pulsar will come in a stainless steel version and a second one in steel but coated with yellow gold PVD, which will be produced in a limited run of 1970 pieces.
Make sure to secure yours via the link below.