Hamilton American Classic PSR Digital Quartz Reference H52414130 (similar to H52424130) - A Time When it Became an Industry Disruptor, A Review (plus Video)

I found a tribute watch that represent my birth year (1970). The Hamilton American Classic PSR Digital Quartz Quartz Reference H52414130 (let's call it the PSR from now) is a modern reinterpretation of the famous Hamilton Pulsar. That particular model was Hamilton first digital quartz timepiece.

 

Hamilton PSR on my wrist

The PSR was created to mark the 50th anniversary of Hamilton's key milestone of creating the first digital watch. A short history of the milestone can be found in the next section.  

As a watch, it is the most basic of digital quartz watches. It only shows the time and have only one pusher. You may be wondering why I got this timepiece. Well, it looks so retro-cool and it has a tie-in to my birth year as well as to James Bond (of the 007 fame). More of this later. Suffice to say that its DNA is seeped with many firsts. 

The History Of Hamilton's Quartz Watches 

Here is a short summary of the history of Hamilton's quartz watches which I found online. The full article can be found here: https://monochrome-watches.com/hamilton-psr-reedition-hamilton-pulsar-first-digital-watch-review-price/

".....The first electric wristwatch was presented in 1957 by Hamilton.......In the 1960s, Swiss, American and Japanese watchmakers embarked on a race to develop the first applications of quartz technology for the wristwatch........The first quartz wristwatch.......came from Japan. In December 1969, Seiko announced the launch of the Astron.......May 6, 1970.......A watch like no other watch before was presented.......in New York City. Not only was the Hamilton Pulsar powered by a quartz movement but it had no moving parts, no ticking sound. This 'solid state wrist computer no larger than a wristwatch', had no hands and no dial, replacing these with a digital display. 

The 1970 Hamilton Pulsar P1

.......The first Hamilton Pulsar, the P1, made it to the market in 1972. A limited edition of 400 pieces with a yellow gold case and bracelet was launched; it initially sold for USD2,100.......The command button was located at 6 o’clock and the crystal was made of synthetic ruby. Inside was a 25-integrated-chips quartz movement running at 32,768 Hz and accurate to 60 seconds per year. 

The 1972 Hamilton Pulsar P2

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 the model that Roger Moore wore in the first scene of James Bond – Live and Let Die..............

The 2010 Hamilton Pulsomatic, combining an automatic movement and a digital display

In 2010, Hamilton launched the Pulsomatic to mark the 40th birthday of the first digital watch. This digital timepiece features a liquid crystal display powered by an automatic movement........For the 50th anniversary of this milestone, the brand now releases.......the Hamilton PSR."

The Hamilton PSR

For the 50th anniversary tribute watch, Hamilton chose the original Pulsar 2 as the underlying basis for the design. There are two models under the PSR series. The yellow gold PVD coated model is a limited edition timepiece and only 1,970 units will be made available worldwide.

Hamilton PSR Reference H52414130 Standard Edition Stainless steel MSRP: RM3,000

Hamilton PSR Reference H52424130 Limited Edition (1,970 examples) Stainless steel with yellow gold PVD coated MSRP: RM4,000

Unfortunately, Hamilton had to forgo the Pulsar branding as that brand no longer belongs to Hamilton but was sold to Seiko. Instead of coming up with something unique, Hamilton decided to just called it PSR.

The Watch

If Hamilton truly wanted to recognise the 50th anniversary, the choice of P1 is obvious as it was the model issued in 1970 whereas the P2 only came out in 1972. I suspect why Hamilton chose the original Pulsar P2 as the underlying basis for the tribute watch instead of the Pulsar P1 was due to manufacturing constraints.

As a comparison between the P1 and P2, you can clearly see the different location for the pusher. Having the pusher protruding from the end-link forces Hamilton to create a single-model design bracelet that cannot be interchangeable with other models.  

The PSR is made out of stainless steel with brushed and polished surfaces. Measuring 40.8 mm wide from left to right and 34.7 mm from lug-to-lug, the watch is well suited for most wrist sizes. The cushion-shaped vertical aligned case design ensures a wrist-hugging design that can be worn with formal wear. Despite it being a very basic quartz watch and not having any additional complications, the watch stand tall at a height of 13.5 mm. Inclusive of the stainless steel bracelet, the total package tips the scale at 125 gm. 

The sapphire crystal that protects the display has the same cushion shape like the watch casing albeit much smaller. This has the effect of creating a very wide 'bezel'. This is turn gives an impression that the watch is built like a tank. The exposed sides of the sapphire crystal also creates an impression of impenetrability; the same way certain dive watches with very thick dome crystals.  

Above is a photo of the side profile of the watch. You can see the large pusher located at the 3 o'clock position as well as the raised crystal and the flat cone screw-down case-back. Note also the unique lug profile which again suggest a very well protected watch.

Unfortunately, due to the special lug design, you cannot replace the bracelet with any generic after-market straps. The bracelet is also made of stainless steel and designed with cues from the 1970s. The lug width is 24 mm and the bracelet tapers down rather nicely to 19 mm at the clasp. The butterfly-style clasp for the PSR blends in nicely when closed. The lack of micro-adjustment points may affect a number of users especially when trying to resize the bracelet to the desired length. You may not be able to get the watch to size 'just right' for your wrist. 

The screw-down case-back has a nice graphic etched on it: a pulsar, what else? Underneath is the quartz module which is not identified in the official documents.

Although there is no mentioned about the type of quartz module used in the PSR, we do know something about the display. Hamilton utilised a hybrid LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen with OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) panel imbedded. This has the ability to create a clear digital display of the time even in a bright room or sunlight. This modern technology does not require any backlight, hence power consumption is kept to a minimum. For my particular watch, Hamilton set a date of April 2024 as the time to replace the battery.

The Wearing Experience

For some 1970s nostalgia, the PSR fits the bill perfectly. The lack of any other information except for the time makes the PSR a watch at the most basic. It wears well and it fits in every scenario a typical person is expected to be in. Whether with formal wear or in winter clouting for the great outdoors, PSR perform its tasks without a care in the world. 

 

 

Above is a short video of the watch on my wrist. Note that the watch is slightly loose, This is because the lack of any micro-adjustment points on the clasp may make it hard to properly sized a wrist perfectly. If you are unlucky (like I am), it is either it is too tight or otherwise. In this case, it would be better to have it loose.

Some of you may balked at the asking pricing for this watch. Hamilton has set a MSRP of RM3,000 in Kuala Lumpur. After taking into consideration the solid framed casing and bracelet, and the thick and oddly shaped sapphire crystal; the price may not be that bad. Nevertheless, this is the MSRP and the actual purchase price can be gotten at good discount. One just need to shop around to get a good deal.

Overall, if you are a collector, this is one model that you should consider having in your collection if you don't have the chance to get an original Pulsar. It represent a time when the notion of a quartz digital display is so advanced that the price of such technology was valued way above the more traditional mechanical complications available at that time. It was also a good reminder how such technology disrupted traditional watch-making and nearly brought the mechanical watch industry to its knees. Even today, traditional watch-makers will always remember the 'Quartz Crisis' of the 1970 with fear.

The Packaging

Due to the PSR's historical representation, Hamilton decided to pair the watch with a very nice wooden watch-box (see below). The main watch-box is kept in a black cardboard box with a slot for the important documents such as the warranty and manual (at the end of this review is a copy of the operational manual for reference).

Inside the watch-box, the PSR sits on its pillow in a slot.

Hamilton PSR Instruction Manual 

Specifications

Reference: H52414130
Caliber: No caliber
Collection: American Classic
Movement: Quartz

Battery Replacement: April 2024
Case Size: 40.8 mm x 34.7 mm x 13.5 mm

Weight: Approximatly 125 gm
Dial Colour: Black

Display: Hybrid LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes)
Case Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Lug Width: 24 mm
Water Resistance: 10 bar (100 m) /145 psi (328 ft)

Strap reference: H605.524.100

Buckle type: Folding clasp

Buckle width: 19 mm

MSRP: RM3,000; CHF745

Available: May 2020

Purchase Date: 24 August 2020

Purchase Price: RM2,250

Vendor: Hang Thai Watch (Bangsar Village)

Serial Number: 2KC DTB 0JC

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