The ultimate watch for women? A review of the Hamilton PSR 74

Hamilton released the Hamilton Pulsar in 1970. It is known as the world's first LED digital watch. There are several variations of the Pulsar, and the model I'm reviewing this time is the PSR 74, which faithfully reproduces the design of the Hamilton Pulsar Cushion, released in 1974. While wearing this model, many people, both men and women, asked me, "What kind of watch is that?" Is this the ultimate popular watch for women?! *Only for watch lovers

A review of Hamilton's new 2024 model, the PSR 74!

　In 1970, Hamilton released the Hamilton Pulsar, the world's first LED watch. In 2020, marking its 50th anniversary, the brand released the PSR, a reissue of the 1973 Hamilton Pulsar P2. Its retro-futuristic case and nostalgic digital time display created a buzz. This reissue model comes in two versions: a yellow gold PVD limited edition of 1970 pieces, and a silver-colored stainless steel model without PVD.

　An all-black model will be added in 2022. Both models are aimed at men, with case sizes of 34.7mm x 40.8mm, and are thick and heavy, so although I was attracted by the story and design, I hadn't really looked into them.

　However, the new 2024 model I'm wearing today, the PSR 74, is inspired by the Hamilton Pulsar Cushion, released in 1974, and has a case size of approximately 31mm in diameter. This means that it's a model that's easy for me, a woman with a wrist circumference of 14.7cm, to wear.

　The PSR 74 is also available in a yellow gold PVD model and a stainless steel model without PVD, and the model reviewed for wearing is the former.

The retro-futuristic design and story to tell make it the center of attention!

　As I mentioned at the beginning, during the week I wore the PSR 74, many people, both men and women, asked me, "What kind of watch is that?" Most of these "various people" were acquaintances in the watch industry. However, once, on the train, a stranger asked me, "What brand of watch is that?" After a short conversation, I discovered that he, too, was a watch lover.

　The reason this watch was able to be spotted by eagle-eyed watch professionals and enthusiasts, even while hidden under the cuffs of a shirt or cardigan, is due to its striking retro-futuristic appearance. The Pulsar series, manufactured by Hamilton in the 1970s, is characterized by its cushion-shaped case and a display that occupies a large area in the center of the case. The original Hamilton Pulsar Cushion PSR 74 also features the same style, with a tapered bangle-style bracelet that accentuates its unique shape.

　As we will discuss later, the two push buttons on the side of the case are used to illuminate the display and set the time. These push buttons are not too large, so the iconic Pulsar case shape is maintained. Incidentally, the PSR has a single button.

　Watches with a unique atmosphere, such as colorful color schemes and unique case shapes, from the 1970s are a current trend. While I personally love this design code, most watches with this style tend to be large in size. As such, this watch is a welcome addition to the ladies' watch market as a "retro-future watch that women can enjoy."

　Also, this size is unusual for a digital watch. When it comes to digital watches, G-SHOCK and BABY-G are often mentioned as options, but because they are shock-resistant and multifunctional, they tend to have bulky cases. I'm not familiar with the idea of ​​a watch being this compact, although this may be due to my lack of knowledge about digital watches.

　It is likely that these unique features in the ladies' watch market are what make this watch stand out to watch-conscious individuals, regardless of gender. Even before writing this review, if I had met a woman wearing this watch, I would have instinctively spoken to her.

　Incidentally, the story behind this work was also a great way to spark conversation. As mentioned above, this work is the successor to the model released by Hamilton in 1970 as the world's first LED watch. Starting with that, we moved on to the watch industry of the 1970s and the current boom in reissues, and we ended up talking for about an hour.

The high-quality exterior is typical of Hamilton.

　The price of this watch is 135,300 yen including tax (121,000 yen for the stainless steel model without PVD). Although high-end digital watches such as the G-SHOCK MR-G have been appearing recently, they still do not have a large market share, and this watch is also on the expensive side.

　Because of its high price, this product is well-made for its price. It reproduces the unique shape of the Pulsar, has a satin finish all over, and the corners are rounded, making it smooth to the touch. Incidentally, the sapphire crystal glass of the display also has no sharp edges, so it doesn't hurt your fingers when you touch it.

　The links on the bracelet have little play between them, so if I wore it a little loose, some parts would float, so I removed one link to make it the perfect size. One link is not too big, and there is also a link that is half the size that can be removed, so it can be said that this model is easy to fine-tune. However, special tools are required, so it is best to leave bracelet adjustments to the store where you purchased the watch or a specialist store.

　The push buttons and buckle open and close smoothly without any snagging. By the way, the HAMILTON logo is not only under the display but also on the buckle.

　The case back features an engraving unique to pulsar watches. Pulsars are celestial bodies that emit pulsed radio waves, and this design is intended to represent this. The engraving does not irritate the wearer, and although it is slightly protruding and thick, the small diameter and lightweight case make it comfortable to wear.

　With a water resistance of 10 atmospheres, this is a luxury digital watch that is perfect for daily use.

It was difficult to use until I got used to it.

　To prevent battery drain, the original Pulsar's display only showed the time when you pressed a button to turn it on. However, the 2020 reissue model is a hybrid of a reflective LCD (liquid crystal display) and an emissive OLED (organic light-emitting diode), and the LCD display means the time is always on. This same display is used in this model.

　It offers the modern advantage of being able to check the time at any time, but since I didn't know much about digital displays myself, I initially thought the battery might have run out because the display was faint. When I asked my colleague Hosoda, he told me that digital displays like this often have a dim or no display (like the original Pulsar) when they're not lit, in order to conserve battery power. It can be turned on with a single touch, and while I eventually got the hang of tilting it toward a light source to ensure a clear view, it still took me a couple of days to get used to it.

　Operation is simple, including lighting. A short press of the push button on the left side of the case will light up the time, and if no action is taken, it will return to standard mode in 4 seconds. If the left push button is pressed again while the time is still lit, it will display the seconds. Pressing it again will return to standard mode. If no action is taken when the seconds are displayed, it will return to standard mode after 10 seconds. A short press of the right push button will display the date.

　You can choose to display the time in 24-hour format or AM/PM format.

　Pressing and holding the left push button for 3 seconds will enter the adjustment mode, and the time to be adjusted will flash. Pressing the left push button once will select the 24-hour format or AM/PM format, and if no action is taken after selecting the desired format, the time will return to standard mode with the desired display format after 5 seconds.

　When setting this time display format, pressing the right push button will switch to time adjustment mode. Pressing the left push button will change the flashing numbers, so press it any number of times to adjust the time. The display is not in illuminated mode, so it is a little hard to see, and it was quite a hassle to press the push button multiple times, but the buttons are not difficult to press, so once you get used to it, it's not a problem. When operating in AM/PM display format, A or P will appear on the minute display side when setting the time. Once the time is set, press the right push button to switch to minutes and seconds. If you do nothing from adjustment mode, it will switch to standard mode in 10 seconds.

　The dates will be entered in the same way.

　According to the instruction manual, the battery is low when the time display is displayed for 9 seconds followed by the word "bat" for 1 second. If the time display continues to flash, it is a sign that the battery needs to be replaced immediately and the light mode will no longer be available.

A film that will spark conversation

　We reviewed Hamilton's new 2024 model, the PSR 74.

　I've mentioned this watch many times in the main text, and even used it as the title, as a "popular watch." While its popularity is merely a matter of "it's likely to become a hot topic among watch enthusiasts," I personally believe it's a watch that's extremely useful for starting conversations. Even in the watch industry, it's rare to be asked about the watch you normally wear. While wearing this watch, however, it was an exception; it was often a topic of conversation, and I personally enjoyed talking about the story of this model. Watches as communication tools like this further broaden the enjoyment of watchmaking. You want to learn more about the watch yourself in order to talk about it with others, and receiving positive feedback from others can help you grow even more attached to it.

　At an affordable price of 135,300 yen (tax included), I'm seriously considering buying one to be more popular.