Katarina Mullina
This watch is a completely different take on what we are used to seeing on the wrist. Don’t expect some fancy complications and sophisticated dials. No, all you get is time digital display and that’s all. This is a Hamilton PSR which comes as a fresh take on the classic model from the famous watchmaker. Whole concept sounds a bit outrageous – small digital display and nothing else for this price looks a bit questionable.
I have to admit that I myself was quite skeptical about this idea, so let’s take a closer look together.
Get your watch here in Helveti webshop.
Here you can read about another interesting watch.
First of all, there are several versions available on the market – different in color, size and even LCD color. Today’s review will tell you more about large models with red displays, and I think it is quite important as smaller models might offer different experiences. I will definitely review it separately later, so stay tuned.
Packaging is not that sophisticated, but still comes with all necessary things you would expect for the price. I have to say that Hamilton could have come up with something more original for this special model, but cost also has an influence on the final decision of course.
Small history note – this watch comes as not a reissue, but more of homage to the original Pulsar. Moreover, there is quite a story behind the original watch, I recommend to google it as it is worth the separate video. To make things a bit more compact, it is worth saying that Pulsar was more of HMW Industries division which was later sold to Seiko. What we have today is more of reimagining how the thing would look like in current conditions.
Dial
Okay, so first we are going to talk about dial or display or frontal section if you would prefer. The main catch is that there are not that many things to talk about. Display is very small and takes a central place in the whole design. It is a one-line affair, so there is no additional information in the form of day, date or anything else. Don’t expect a stopwatch or calendar – only time can be checked with this tiny display.
In one way it is a completely different take from what we are used to seeing in new watches recently. No, you are not getting anything extra and you use the watch only for what it is supposed to be used – checking time. Of course, such a thing is definitely a matter of personal taste, and I know some people who were getting almost offended by such simplicity.
Another nice quirk here is the off-center Hamilton logo placed in the lower right corner. That’s another good thing in my opinion. We don’t see the feature list or anything else on the frontal section. Only this writing and this is actually good as it keeps the whole styling composed and doesn’t distract you with some unnecessary writings.
As it was mentioned before, dial digits can be in different colors, but I think red is more up to the classic image. Green might look nice with dark case though, so try to check both in person. Whole display is covered with slightly raised sapphire glass, which is nicely engraved on the edges.
Well, there is nothing extra to add to this, and that is a good thing about the dial design. Now it might be time to talk about the case here.
Case
Here I have to note one thing – official photos somehow managed to make the whole watch look bulky and towering over the wrist. Real life situation is slightly different and the case size is not that big at 40.8mm X 34.7mm. As a result it can be easily everyday watch without bothering you too much.
Note that weight is still hefty 139g, which helps with feeling PSR as something a bit more serious. Yes, thickness is 13.3mm, but it still not as bad as digits might suggest. You will see it on the wrist videos too.
Water protection is at 100m and whole part is made out of stainless steel. I am glad to see brushed finish here as such thing will be more durable and also adds to the sophisticated look of the watch. Hamilton PSR would look completely different with polished case, and I am sure we will see such thing in the future.
Caseback features pulsar engraving as another hint on the original model. It is not much, but still looks better than typical featurelist on other watches.
Now the whole PSR looks more serious thanks to the mentioned simple design cues. Whole shape is slightly angled, so the case doesn’t look like a brick and mimics the original model of the watch from Hamilton. Don’t look for buttons though – there is only one on the right side. It is a surprisingly large element and I am saying this as I am quite used to what we get in digital Casios for example.
Push action is smooth and distinct so I recommend trying this in person, and also it is a big question how the real thing works. The sole use is to wake up the watch and switch to seconds indication. Well, we already discussed that this watch is all about simplicity. Time setup is done by holding this button for some time and then adjusting the values to the necessary number. Note that seconds can be synced with your reference time for ease of adjusting.
Strap
Watch comes with a metal bracelet and I think it has to be this way, don’t try to come up with some replacements. This accessory makes the whole design complete and looks just right. Strap width is 24mm. As for the design, it is classic styling with so-called “President” structure. Note how the installation point is designed, this downward pointing solution makes it easier to have the watch on your wrist and not be bothered by its size.
It is also good that the bracelet comes with a butterfly link. Such a thing contributes to the “solid” look. Moreover, there is a traditional adjustment system for Hamilton – pins can be adjusted from both sides.
Bracelet itself is quite flexible, I didn’t have an issue with having the watch on my hand. Of course, I didn’t adjust the links, but I guess with some tweaking you will get an even better looking result. Ok, if we are going to talk about alternatives, then it might be worth looking at some plain brush-polished links metal bracelet. This option might work, but I didn’t find photos with such a combo.
There are shots of leather strap replacement on Reddit, but I don’t like the look of the whole thing. Of course, it is a matter of personal taste, but I think this design works the best with metal options.
In Use
So I have said it already, but this watch doesn’t feel as big as photos might suggest. In my opinion this is the biggest problem with official pics as they make the whole Hamilton PSR look like a huge brick on your wrist, but real life is different.
Whole design looks hefty, but feels surprisingly compact on your wrist. Thanks to sturdy design it might be even a good everyday pick for those who are searching for something different. Legibility is not an issue here, even though small digits might be troublesome for people with bad eyesight. That makes me wonder if we will see a bigger font version in the future.
Build quality is also on top level. All panels are nicely finished, display glass sits nicely on top and plays on the light. Big button is something that could be a bit more interactive, but I guess designers decided to stay true to the original.
Hamilton PSR – Price and Availability
Today’s watch is available in Helveti webshop for 830EUR at the time of shooting this video. In my opinion this is quite a tricky segment with a lot of alternatives. Well, it should be said that alternatives is not the right word as there are few watches which can offer something similar in terms of styling.
Hamilton managed to pull quite a fit with launching a digital watch which commemorates the first original digital watch. Its predecessor was the sign of luxury at the time, but now we can get it for relatively reasonable money.
In my opinion the design is the main selling point and this is definitely not the product for those who are searching for more functions. It is more for people who would like to have a touch of classic look without getting burdened with useless stuff and indicators. If you are brave enough to go this bold way, then it might be a good opportunity to try.
Yes, you can also get Casio watches for cheaper price, but they will not match the original Pulsar image. Moreover, nobody forbids you from having both in your collection, right?
