Hamilton PSR H52414130 Unisex Watch

Product Information

My first impression: the Hamilton PSR is quite the chunky monkey. I immediately noticed the PSR’s resemblance to Hershey’s nuggets. Sweet! In direct sunlight (above), the PSR’s LCD display is easily read. Curiously, when I push the button to fire up the LEDs, the LCDs turn off, and the LEDs are washed out by the bright sun. OMEGA made the original moon and James Bond watches. Not my jam. Contrarian that I am, I was captivated by Bulova’s “other” Moon Watch, the Lunar Pilot. It stands to reason that I find the “other” Bond Watch appealing. Enter the Hamilton PSR, a remake of the Pulsar P2 digital wonder-watch of 1972 . . .

First world problems, for sure. But there’s a good reason to grouse about the Hamilton PSR’s affixing gizmo: the clasp’s buttons are made of milled metal. They have SHARP edges and corners. In the lower right corner of the crystal is a very tiny area which contains the ambient light sensor. The sensor implementation optimizes battery life. The seconds remain illuminated for 10 seconds and then turn off. That’s it! No other functions. Not even the date. Just like the original Pulsar P2. Pressing the button will once again bring up light red digits in the familiar ‘digit dot’ style, but this time in OLED, while the energy efficient LCD display ensures that time is also permanently visible in daylight conditions. ETA (5/19/21): After seven weeks, the Hamilton PSR is an honest-to-goodness +/- 0 seconds per day accurate.

Recent updates

Bracelet: The PSR has a Stainless-Steel 24mm (0.945”) bracelet, tapering to 16.0mm (0.630”) at the clasp, and the clasp is the “Butterfly” folding type with a release button on each side. The bracelet appears to be of good engineering and build quality. The buttons are scratchy and annoying against the skin. Scratchy and annoying should be the name of a 1930’s comedy act, not characteristics of a daily wear watch. The Hamilton PSR is part of Hamilton’s American Classic Collection and was crafted as a timely reminder of the start of the digital world as well as digital timekeeping. In the same way the Pulsar was popular for its futuristic and statement design, the PSR achieves the epitome of cool. In late 1972, the Hamilton Pulsar P1 was replaced by the P2, which featured an improved electronic module and a more rounded case with the push-piece on the side. It was released in different materials, in much larger quantities and enjoyed commercial success. It was the model that Roger Moore wore in the first scene of James Bond – Live and Let Die. Among those to wear it were Keith Richards, Joe Frazier, Elton John, Giovanni Agnelli and US President Gerald Ford. The 2010 Hamilton Pulsomatic, combining an automatic movement and a digital display. The Hamilton PSR inspired three Boomers to make references to the old TV space soap opera Lost in Space. The first words out of my wife’s mouth: “ Danger, Will Robinson!” Then she wrinkled her face and shook her head. “It looks 1970s cheesy.” Copy that.

Again, what took you so long? We put a man on the moon in 1969 for goodness sake! That said, it took the Apple Watch five goes to get there. Box and Papers: A dark blue Hamilton outer box is supplied, containing a ‘wood simulated’ hinged watch box. In with the watch were the price tag and model tag. You also get what all manufacturers supply, a warranty card and the normal booklet set. The original Pulsar came out in 1970, exactly 50 years ago, when Pulsar was a brand of the American Hamilton Watch Company. With an 18-carat gold case, the world's first all-electronic digital watch was also the first to use a digital display – created with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A button was pressed to display the time.

With a combination of ground-breaking technology and an innovative and futuristic aesthetic, the new PSR model is a dynamic take on the 1970s original, featuring the same avant-garde case design, and a brand new striking appearance with hybrid LCD-OLED display. If you require an extra large bracelet or you are in need of additional links these may be supplied at an additional cost. We strongly recommend Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Service with full insurance for returning items to us. This was probably one of the most unique, technically advanced and modern watches to appear in a Bond film. Audiences must have been amazed by the digital electronic wrist computer watch, at a time when computers still were the size of a large room.

The online WIS community dislikes butterfly clasps. Their kvetch? Butterfly clasps don’t tend to offer micro-adjustments and they’re more tedious to secure on the wrist. Time Readout Size: The size of the time readout text is ~15mm (~0.590”) W X ~4mm (~0.157”) H. It is very easy to read, even though the readout display size ‘sounds’ small. Its readout size is good, even if you hold the watch out at arm’s length. Display Technology: The watch features a hybrid dual display utilizing LCD/OLED technology. [Liquid Crystal Display / Organic Light Emitting Diode.] A few months ago, visiting a local jewelry store for a Breitling service, I spotted a Hamilton PSR in a display case. (Who knew you could go out and see watches in the flesh?) It felt like a well-made piece; the build quality was evident. My inner 10-year-old hankered after the LED display. The dot-matrix LED display is bright and sharp in subdued light or, obviously, in the dark. The PSR’s LCD is always on and is visible when ambient light is brighter and LEDs are less visible.

SkyFall

The name, Pulsar, came from the pulsating neutron stars that emit beams of radiation at ultra-precise frequencies. After the P1 came the P2 in 1973, a more affordable and steel version. It was this P2 model that appeared in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. For my small flattish arm size of 155.6mm (6-1/8”), 9 of the 13 removable links were removed. As the links are relatively short, you should be able to obtain an acceptable to perfect fit. I hope so, as there is no micro-adjust feature. Hamilton has recreated the watch in virtually the same case design and cool red digits, but with modern and more energy efficient screens to get that effect. In the film, Moneypenny also comes to Bond's apartment and hands him his Rolex Submariner, “Q has repaired your wristwatch”.

Hamilton's timepiece unites a tough stainless steel case with a silver strap created from stainless steel. Hamilton PSR H52414130 There isn’t even a 12/24 hour mode option. However, there’s an AM/PM distinction when setting the time. For reason best known to Hamiltonians, the 12 am hour displays as zero in operating mode. It’s always something The new Hamilton PSR looks precisely like its vintage counterpart. The name on the case needed to be changed and the size also adapted to modern standards. We have a 40 x 35mm case here in either steel (standard model) or gold PVD coated steel (limited edition). The bracelet looks like all those other iconic ones we are used to seeing on our favorite vintage chronographs. You know, the 1171s or the 1162s.

What’s new?

We are also able to offer an exchange to a different product if required, please specify this when returning your product. The case design and size should make for a good fit to flattish arms even smaller than mine, which is 155.6mm (6-1/8”).