Baselworld 2010: Hamilton
By Melvyn Teillol-Foo
Hamilton Pulsomatic
Evolution
The producer of the world’s first digital watch makes this technology automatic.
2010 marks the fortieth birthday of the world’s first digital watch – The Pulsar – made by Hamilton. The American brand is celebrating with the new Hamilton Pulsomatic, a digital timepiece with Swiss craftsmanship in the form of an automatic movement.
The brushed stainless steel case resembles a space-age, Jetsons-style TV set from the front, while a ridged effect on the sides and crown is contemporary. A sleek black screen reminds me of the black & white TV of my childhood.
Khaki X-Landing
The Khaki X-Landing takes a nostalgic journey back early aviation with a feature for measuring the top of descent (TOD). The TOD marks the transition from the cruise phase of a flight to the descent phase. Pilot wearers simply mark the aircraft’s cruising altitude in feet at the 9 o’clock position, using the crown located at 10 o’clock. Integrating a standard descent angle of 3°, the Khaki X-Landing then reveals the number of nautical miles before the final destination that marks the start of the optimal descent in a small, dedicated window.
Pilots also get a GMT chronograph, with design touches reflecting the materials and structures of the early metal planes. The language of aviation continues on the bezel’s surface where 24 different time zones are printed. On one model these are represented by place names, on the other by military alphabet terms - alpha, bravo charlie....
Conclusion:
Hamilton used to make ‘cool’ watches from when they were railway timekeepers, through the iconic Ventura electric and Pulsar LED phases. Then, they went ‘off the boil’. Recently, they discovered that their most valuable asset is their history. By updating their old models to contemporary form and function, they may be on the rise again.