by Tyler Frederick

Seeing Double

In a recent article, I wrote about my love for stories and memories tied to watches. I may have manifested that because the things which transpired over the last week or so have been precisely that: stories and memories. While doing my usual stop to drop off a watch that I had on loan courtesy of our friends at Gem Bijou, a gentleman named Sean stopped in to show Sam (owner of Gem Bijou) a watch handed down from his grandfather. The next thing I knew, I saw an original Pulsar box on the counter, and inside was a 1973 Pulsar P2 2900 with all the original paperwork. To say I was floored is an understatement.

Sean spoke with me about his grandfather’s watch, and from looking at it closely, the Pulsar was worn and aged from his grandfather’s work, which made it even more special. The man wore a digital Pulsar for daily use, and it’s now a time capsule and a remembrance of his life, which can be carried forward for generations to come. Near the end of the discussion, Sam had an idea: I would borrow Sean’s grandfather’s watch and compare it to a Hamilton PSR provided by Sam. So, here we are.

Now, side note. When we discussed how the watch would be returned and how the process goes with reviews, we had planned to meet at Gem Bijou so I could return Sean’s watch along with the PSR. However, Sean and I quickly realized we lived in the same city and about five minutes away from one another, so grabbing a pint and talking about watches at our local was the better option—small world.

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Pulsar P2 2900

For those unaware of the Pulsar P2 2900, you would know the reissued edition, the Hamilton PSR. While I have had the chance to check out the PSR, I’ve never had the chance to experience the original P2 2900 in person. While they’re practically identical, the Pulsar is more “magical” than its modern-contemporary little brother. Why? The original P2 2900 was featured on the silver screen on the wrist of James Bond (Roger Moore) in the 1973 classic Live and Let Die. It’s safe to say anything attached to James Bond makes it 100 times more incredible.

Hamilton PSR

Fast-forward to 2020, Hamilton releases a reissue of the P2 2900, the PSR. What do I love about the PSR? Its design is virtually untouched from the original P2 2900; both watches are practically identical. When brands reissue a watch from their archive, or a timepiece lost to history, components or complications are added to the contemporary version. While technically a reissue, it’s not accurate to form, and I find it partially soils the purpose of paying tribute or homage to an already fantastic watch. The PSR is precisely what I look for in a reissue; it is
accurate to the original P2 2900 in every way, except for the display, of course: the P2 2900 features an LED display while the PSR features an LCD-LED Hybrid display, but the functionality of both watches are the same.

The P2 2900 and the PSR on my desk were a surreal experience. I’ve read so much about the original Pulsar and the brand’s history in general, and having experienced the PSR from previous reviews, I believe both watches are “grails” for me. Again, apart from the time display technology and the brand on the front of the watch, the P2 2900 and the PSR are identical. Both watches sport a stainless steel case with a thickness of 13mm and a 24mm stainless steel bracelet that tapers down to 19mm. In fact, Sean pointed out that the Pulsar bracelet was
slightly too tight on his wrist, and he had no spare links. Sam pulled a link from a PSR bracelet, and it fit perfectly. If that isn’t a perfect reissue, I don’t know what is.

To have the opportunity to check out the vintage and modern versions has been amazing. I still can’t wrap my head around how it all worked out; I was at the right place at the right time. I love the watch community for various reasons, but nostalgia and the stories of timepieces can always bring us together; that’s the best part. I want to thank Sean for graciously allowing me to check out a watch close to his heart and his family, and Gem Bijou for letting me borrow the PSR for this story

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About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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