Hamilton Pulsar (1972)

A wristwatch with no springs, gears, or hands? In 1970, when venerable U.S. timepiece maker Hamilton announced the Pulsar, the first solid-state watch, the concept was so revolutionary that nobody seemed to care that its LED screen actually displayed the time only when you pressed a button. The first Pulsars were $2100, solid-gold jobs, but a steel model was eventually available for a thriftier $275; everyone from Gerald Ford to Roger Moore was a fan. Check out this dedicated site for more information on Hamilton's breakthrough and its gaggle of imitators. Photo courtesy of Hamilton Watches International.