The first digital watch

The need

None anyone had asked for. It showed that a watch could be pure electronics.

Made by

Hamilton, sold under the Pulsar name.

What was new

A quartz crystal, an integrated circuit and light-emitting diodes forming the digits directly.

Worth knowing

The display drew so much current that it stayed dark until a button was pressed. It went on sale in spring 1972 at 2,100 dollars in an 18-carat gold case. Within a few years liquid-crystal displays, which can stay on, had replaced LEDs.

Historian’s noteAnnounced in 1970, sold from 1972. The 1970 date is often quoted alone, which is misleading.

SourcesHamilton · Smithsonian