Hamilton PSR and Pulsar: The First Digital Watch and Its Revival

The Hamilton Pulsar was the world's first electronic digital wristwatch. Announced in 1970 and sold from 1972, it showed the time in glowing red LED numerals at the press of a button, cost as much as a car, and was worn by James Bond. Hamilton revived it in 2020 as the PSR , now part of the Hamilton American Classic collection.

1970: The Pulsar Announcement

Hamilton developed the Pulsar with Electro/Data and announced it on May 6, 1970 , with Johnny Carson showing a prototype on The Tonight Show. Rather than hands, a dial or a balance wheel, it used a quartz oscillator and an integrated circuit, and showed the time on a red light-emitting diode (LED) display when the wearer pressed a button. It was the next step after Hamilton's 1957 electric Ventura.

1972: The $2,100 Pulsar P1

The first production model, the Pulsar P1 , went on sale in spring 1972 in 18k gold for $2,100 — more than many cars at the time. Steel versions at about $275 followed, and the first 400 sold in three days. Celebrities bought them: Jack Nicholson, Elton John, Keith Richards and boxer Joe Frazier among them.

James Bond and the P2

The first digital Bond watch

In Live and Let Die (1973), Roger Moore's first Bond film, 007 wakes up and presses a button on a Hamilton Pulsar P2 2900 to light up the time — the first digital watch in a Bond film. See our complete guide to James Bond watches.

Seiko Buys the Pulsar Name

As cheaper LED watches flooded the market and LCD displays took over, the Pulsar lost money — $5.9 million in 1976. Hamilton sold the Pulsar brand in 1977 to Rapsodie, which sold it to Seiko in 1978. Today's Pulsar watches are a Seiko brand, unrelated to Hamilton.

2020: The PSR Revival

For the Pulsar's 50th anniversary, Hamilton launched the PSR in 2020, recreating the P2's cushion case (40.8 × 34.7mm, 100m water resistance) with a hybrid display that combines a reflective LCD, readable in daylight, and an OLED that glows red at the press of the pusher. It cost US$745 in steel, and a gold-plated edition was limited to 1,970 pieces. The PSR MTX (2021), tied to The Matrix Resurrections , has a green display and was limited to 1,999 pieces.

2024: The PSR 74

The PSR 74 (H52304130), launched in November 2024, recreates the smaller 1974 Pulsar cushion case at 30.9 × 25.6mm, with a date-on-demand pusher. It costs US$745 in steel and US$845 in gold PVD.

How It Compares

The PSR is a design and history piece rather than a tool watch. For a digital watch with modern functions at a lower price, see Casio's G-Shock 5600, or Timex's Ironman.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the first digital watch?
The Hamilton Pulsar, announced in 1970 and sold from 1972, was the first electronic digital wristwatch, with a red LED display.

How much did the original Pulsar cost?
The 18k gold Pulsar P1 cost $2,100 in 1972.

What watch did Roger Moore wear in Live and Let Die?
A Hamilton Pulsar P2 2900 LED watch.

Does Hamilton still own Pulsar?
No. Hamilton sold the Pulsar brand in 1977; it has belonged to Seiko since 1978. Hamilton's modern revival is called the PSR.

What display does the Hamilton PSR use?
A hybrid of reflective LCD and OLED, so it is readable in daylight and glows red when the pusher is pressed.

Related Reading

• Hamilton: Brand History
• James Bond Watches: The Complete Guide
• Casio: Brand History