05 Jul 2023, 11:49
The Pulse-Time models (both the 3725 in stainless, and the 7725 in 14K solid gold), were, by any applicable standard, oddball watches. They were Time Computer's first, and only, entry into the field of what John Bergey (the CEO of Time Computer) called "wrist instruments". The first offering, probably in April 1977, the 7725, is one of the very few models for which we have a definite production number...just 100 pieces (with serial numbers going from 501 to 600). Of those, only 7 or 8 are definitely known to still exist in collections, worldwide. It is essentially a modified standard P3 case, with the pulse sensor added below the time screen. Two different bracelets are known; both the standard and folded-tab hollow-link types were used. A special "deep-dish" case back was needed to accommodate the four 357 cells needed to operate the more complex circuitry.
The stainless steel (3725) is also a standard Pulsar case...here the plain Date2 is modified in similar fashion to the P3. Either unused Date2 cases were still available (over three years later?), or a special run was done to satisfy the design need. Similar extended-depth case backs (identical in size to the ones made for the 7725s) are seen on 3725s. Serial numbers here are a lot more problematic. I have two 3725s...serial numbers 764893 and 791088. I find it impossible to believe that nearly 27000 3725s were actually made. It doesn't seem reasonable that so many could be produced and sold in the few months between the initial introduction (June) and the closing of Time Computer's doors forever in late 1977. Perhaps, if a dozen or so owners would volunteer to reveal the serial number of their watches, we could get a better idea of what was going on with the numbering, but it seems unlikely (unless some documentation miraculously shows up) we will ever know for sure. We are a long way from writing the last page of the history of the Pulse-Time Pulsar.
BTW, the "6-77" marking on the bracelet hinge is a manufacturing date code for the bracelet, not the watch. The serial number (located on the case back, as on all other Pulsars, will almost certainly fall within the range of the two numbers I specified). So...what might that be?
