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The Pulsar brand was first registered in 1970 by Time Computer Inc., a subsidiary of the U.S. company Hamilton Watch Co. for the world's first digital watch using light-emitting diode (LED) display.
For a brief period after its launch in 1972 the name Pulsar was synonymous with the latest in technology, but the LED system ultimately proved less successful than its rival LCD marketed by Seiko and in 1977, Seiko's USA subsidiary purchased the Pulsar name and introduced a new range of high value, technically advanced watches in the medium price range. These were marketed, in 1979, under the theme 'Always a beat beyond. In technology. In value.' Pulsar was an over-night sensation from the coast to coast in the USA and Canada. By 1983, Pulsar was the number 2 brand in the over $50 category, second only to Seiko.
Pulsar's meteoric rise was replicated in Europe and Oceania. Launched first in France, Germany, the Netherlands and UK in 1980, it was rapidly rolled out across these regions, succeeding on the same value platform as in North America.