The Worlds First LED Digital Watch
Pulsar in the James Bond movies. Probably the most notorious Pulsar watch of them all.
The Pulsar debuted in America’s favorite late-night program, The Tonight Show. Johnny Carson, the host of the show, demonstrated the unique functionality of the watch. By pushing a button on the side of the case the otherwise dark dial would light up and the time would show in bright red led numerals. No moving parts, no ticking sound only unmatchable accuracy and robustness.
The Pulsar watch was on the wrist of every celebrity in the entertainment world and beyond. Keith Richards, Joe Frazier, Elton John, and Elvis Presley, all wore the Pulsar. Still, the greatest achievement of the watch was to make it to the White House. President Gerald Ford was a proud owner of a Pulsar and so was James Bond. In the 1973 movie, Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s interpretation of the iconic hero sported the timepiece on the silver screen.
When the Roger Moore Pulsar was featured in the Bond movie “Live and Let Die” it sunk deep in everyone’s mind forever. Mention of this scene is often in many Pulsar descriptions on eBay for just about every model being sold. But only the Stainless Steel P2 model #2900 Pulsar Stainless Steel P2 model was ever in any Bond movie.
The first scene is the only time you’ll see the Pulsar, Bond soon replaces his Pulsar with the Famous magnetized Rolex, you know, the one he uses to unzip the back of the dress of the young beauty. Also worth mentioning is the survey done a few years ago asking Bond fans to vote for the favorite “Gizmo” in any Bond movie. The Rolex in this movie won top honors.
One of the most prestigious awards for an invention is for it to be displayed in the Museum at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.
On the technical side, the first electronic module had 25 ICs (Integrated Chips) and was completely transistorized with no “moving parts”. That in conjunction with the LED digital display (which seemed to hypnotize people) started the digital frenzy.
It only had the capability to show the time (hours, minutes, and seconds) – but no date, stopwatch, alarm, or other functions were included. But the P2 was the world’s first successful, mass-produced digital watch. LED (Light Emitting Diode) watches were only popular during the 1970s and were quickly replaced by LCD watches. The time is set by using a magnet, which is stored in the clasp. Holding the magnet against the Hour or Minute position in the back of the case enables you to adjust the time.
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