Pulsar P3 (Gold-Filled)

The iconic Pulsar

Description:

The Pulsar P3 is perhaps the most well known and iconic of the Pulsar line with its futuristic curvy astronaut helmet shape. The P3 still looks futuristic 40 years later.

The Pulsar P3, the President's Preferred Timepiece in 1973

The P3 "Date Command" was introduced just one year after the first consumer model, the P2 and was the first digital watch with a date capability. The date is displayed by pressing the left button. The P3 has a "smart calander" which keeps track of the number of days in each month so the date never need resetting except after the last day of Feburary in a leap year. The P3 is one of the largest Pulsar models, but it remains comfortable to wear and is surprisingly light for its size.

President Ford in the Oval Office with Betty and his Pulsar P3

The P3 was available in stainless steel, 14 KT gold filled, and solid gold models by special order. The stainless model above was available with either a solid link bracelet or a hollow link bracelet. The solid link bracelet is a bit heavier but also feels a bit more solid, is more durable and is more sought after by collectors. The more common hollow link bracelet is lighter in weight but more fragile.

David Prowse a.k.a. Darth Vader and his Pulsar P3

The gold filled model was worn by President Gerald Ford (with a leather band) until he got in trouble from the press for wearing such a decadent wristwatch. It was deemed improper for the President to have accepted such a luxury wristwatch as a gift.

The stainless Pulsar P3 is the wristwatch of choice for dark rulers of the galaxy such as David Prowse, a.k.a Darth Vader.

Condition:

Case: Very good.
This gold filled Pulsar P3 is in very good condition with only a few tiny nicks and scratches on the case. There is one small nick in the case on the right near the button. The case has a minty replacement case back that is stainless steel instead of the gold filled case back that originally shipped with this watch case.

Face / Hands: Excellent.
All LED digits and segments are complete and bright.

Crystal: Very good.
The crystal is smooth and clean but has one tiny nick at the upper right as shown in the photos.

Band / Bracelet: Very good.
The bracelet is very good condition with 14 links and fits an 8 " wrist. The first link on the top has a slight depression visible when it reflects light at the right angle. The clasp is in excellent condition and containst the original magnet and magnet holder.

Function / Accuracy: All functions work perfectly. Digital quartz accuracy. Actually, since quartz crystals actually improve with age and the original Pulsar accuracy was a phenomenal 30 seconds per year, these vintage Pulsars usually keep time better than most modern quartz watches!