Type of LED display on the Fossil JR8852

[Lillegutt]

I have this Fossil, and I like it a lot. But I'm curious about the LEDs used for display.

Mine is built up by quite large dots like this one or this one. But I also see line segments on some of these, like this one.

Is it just the pictures messing it up, or are there in fact different displays?


JHH

[retroleds]

They are different displays, but mainly it is a construction "artifact". LEDs only produce light at the point where the current flow drops due to hitting a small amount of semicondutor material - releasing energy as light. Tthe manufacturers have tried different shapes and substrates to make the displays more legible, help dissipate heat(substantial) and avoid light being reabsorbed by the semiconducting material. The modern trend is to make the LEDs smaller and brighter, and then magnify them up to the size desired. Not as soothing to look at as the early dot displays, but much more energy efficient. The heat they produce is amazing!

[Lillegutt]

So, if I understand you correct, Fossil did really put two different displays (but same module?) into the JR8852? Or are they from different time periods? I suspect they are not Vintage...?


JHH

[AlmightyTallest]

That's interesting, I've never seen a fossil watch with such large dot style displays. All of the one's I have seen use the bar-segment type of display like the one in your last example.

[retroleds]

So, if I understand you correct, Fossil did really put two different displays (but same module?) into the JR8852? Or are they from different time periods? I suspect they are not Vintage...?
JHH

Look at the caseback - common series are the 1998(kind of rare now),2000,2002,2006. Oh, very different displays on virtually identical modules. I personally like the 2002 series since the magnifiers are a little larger with a less radical curvature. Less "fish-eye" effect like you see on the Commadore modules. The LED charecters on a 2002 are only 2mm X 1mm(h X w) and the magnifier takes them up about 1.5. Which correlates reasonably to the vintage displays which ran from 3-3.5mm tall.

[Planet-LED]

Fossil currently offers one LED watch for sale on their website--#JR8864. I have seen this watch with the large, very bright dot segments, and I have also seen it with bar segments. Perhaps it is my aging eyes, but the large dot segment display borders on being harsh. The bar segment digits are very small--especially in contrast to the size of the watch case.

I agree with Ed. The 2002 series are the best display that they produced. They were a good sized digit with minimal distortion. I think that they have also proven to be a robust module for a watch offered in that price range ($55 I believe).

[redled]

I have an 8852 with the dot display and I think it's excellent. It's very legible as far as dot spacing and it's bright enough for just about all light conditions. It also keeps decent time. I think for a modern LED it's at the top of what's available right now. I hated the older Fossil line segments, they were so anemic they were completely useless in daylight. I just wish they would come up with some more interesting case designs.

[LEDWatchStop]

If anyone is interested......we have several of these in stock. Both display types available. Fossil JR8852

Troy

[LEDWatchStop]

PS:...they are not listed...so contact us directly. sales@ledwatchstop.com

TS