Tri/5/9 LED watch is deceptively simple to read. (update)

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Design submitted by Peter from the UK.

Peter says: This is “Tri/5/9” a back to basics 12/5/9 LED design.

I was trying to think of a simple and intuitive 12/5/9 watch and the most logical format I could think of was a triangular layout. One side for hours, one for tens of minutes and one for single minutes.

The time is told by three rows of LEDs arranged around the three sides of the triangular shaped watch body. The left hand row describes the hours, the bottom row describes groups of ten minutes and the right hand row describes single minutes. The remaining areas of the triangular layout can be illuminated which allows for interesting animations and also allows the display to be inverted.

This design is simple and intuitive so should appeal to old school TF customers, the triangular shape gives the watch an unusual look that should appeal to the more adventurous.

The simple layout and glowing display should combined with opportunity of striking animations sets this design apart from others.

[View Large Animation] (4.1MB)

UPDATE: Additional images to explore some of the discussion points.

49 thoughts on “Tri/5/9 LED watch is deceptively simple to read. (update)”

  1. Ahhh, the warm comforting glow of a 12-5-9 watch. To people at Tokyoflash this is like a warm cup of cocoa in front of a blazing fire. 😉
    Actually, we don’t have any 12-5-9 watches right now & I would really to see a new one.

    This is a winner for me because the use of different coloured lights at 3,6,9 helps greatly to read it at a glance. The triangle shape is a fresh form & that heat-stressed brushed metal on the first rendering is beautiful – what a great idea.

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    • Thanks a lot Toky! For posting and commenting. I don’t what you mean about the nice feeling familiarity brings. Some of my favourite watches to grace the watches page were 12/5/9. It’s probably one of the more initiative time telling formats after analog and digits. Fingers crossed there is room in this world for a triangular watch, it’s always possible to make a triangular peg fit a square or a round hole, it’s merely a question of the size of the mallet to hit it home lol cheers again 😀

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    • Difficult question to answer with my British modesty! lol I hope I contribute in some way even if it’s only padding the blog out lol cheers for the vote sir! 😀

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      • Yeah…naaaaah!

        Come on TF!!! Pete has contributed over a hundred designs, and you’ve only put out one of his watches!!! He deserves another.

        Preferably a design by the name of Tokoro/ Tokei!

        😀

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  4. Good work as always Pete! I agree with TF that the ‘marker’ LEDs is a winning touch, saves on the counting…=)

    The shape’s interesting, and I have to ask; did you try it the other way (edge to one side, point to the other)? Makes little difference, the main one being that the strap fitting would be identical…

    Good luck mate!

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    • There are markers on the case too, if alternate colour LEDs or lenses proved technically difficult. I did contemplate a version with a flat side parallel with the strap for comfort, but you make a fair comment about the strap. I’ll knock an image up at some point. My only concern is that in the two orientations I have is the displays have an intuitive feel to the way you read them. I dunno if it would look right rotated 60degrees. We can but try it, cheers for the feedback and support sir! 😀

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      • Yeah, I noticed the markers in some of the images. I think, though, that the different-coloured LEDs would be easier to read at a glance.

        The rotation comment was just an idle question really, it works fine as it is. If you do make the effort, for what it’s worth I think (keeping the western reading direction ‘left to right, top down’ in mind) that vertical hours to the left, 10’s of minutes top right, and single minutes bottom right is most intuitive… Anyway, just a thought.

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      • I know what you mean, but on the other hand you don’t know what can of worms might be opened if I start to share all my ‘Ummm, couldn’t you…’ thoughts here. =)

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  6. great design pete, I’m all for simplicity and this watch is very easy to read and looks awesome.

    5*/Y

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  8. I love the renderings, Pete! But I would like to see the band continue through the case, so that it’s essentially just a ‘buckle’ with LEDs. Perhaps tighten up the triangle so that it’s inner opening is less than or equal to the width of the band. As beautiful as you make the steel look, I feel the center is dead space.

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  9. This triangular wristwatch is a awesome concept. I would like to suggest that the corners of the inner triangle serve as Mode / Control Buttons & the Center triangle act as the Back light / activation button. For both the LED / LCD Binary & Digital versions of this design.

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    • Nice suggestion Andrew, I was contemplating just a couple of hours ago adding buttons to the centre of the display to give it more purpose. You suggestion would do exactly that 😀 Cheers

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      • What are you, the CAD Terminator? You just never stop, do you? =)
        I wish I had your working speed, that way I might some day manage to work through my backlog… Ah well, easy does it I s’pose.

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  10. Pete it looks really nice. I just wish the time telling was a bit more different like in some of your other designs. I do like the glowing effect though. 5Y. 🙂 Good luck with it.

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    • On the digital version could the digits on the left and right side of the triangle be rotated 90 degrees to make them a bit easier to read? Btw, I like the light blue variant best if the strap was faux leather.

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      • The three arrays of LEDs on the digital versions are all the same so it theory the user could switch the order or orientation. On the linked ones I have rotated the display so I have had to make one of the digits portrait instead of landscape and it works fine. So all is possible 😀 Cheers for the feedback 😀

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  11. I like the blue/orange 12-5-9 version and the digital version as well. If both can be in one watch, there would be enough justification to create this watch I think. I like the simple geometry and it would look cool on a wrist. Good luck sir!!

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    • Hi Sam, the later revisions of this design use the slightly wider display which allows for both 12/5/9 blocks and digits. Please see new updated images. Cheers for the feedback and support sir! 😀

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  12. The Rotated triangular layout with six digits only add to the brilliance of this Concept. I really want the Hollow Triangle Frame: Blue,version to become reality even if the Solid versions: Green / Red maybe more realistic.

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    • Hi Andrew, the advantage of the wider display is that you could have a multitude of different digital and block layouts that the wearer could cycle thru. They could be switched in order and orientation. It would be cool if the hollow version was possible but I imagine the power requirements for LED would require too large a battery. Maybe the centre could be transparent. You would see some electronics but might still give the hallow feeling. There are many ways this concept could be developed. Fingers crossed TF see the potential. Cheers for the feedback and support sir! 😀

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  13. Joining this late, so a lot of comments and additional images/variations to review!
    I do like this concept, but whether to buy or not would depend on which variant got made. I don’t mind which way around the triangle ends up – both look good. I like the first image best, with no numbers on the inside (not needed with the 2 colours in the display) – simple and very effective. I don’t like the single colour version that need the numbers and certainly wouldn’t go for the version with the hole. The final image looks great, and the touch screen is certainly a good idea, but my preference would still be the one in the first image.
    Whatever design is chosen, there is definitely a need for a triangular watch in the TF collection. Good luck and 5*/Y (in the hope I like the final product).

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    • Hi Nev, Cheers for taking the time (better late than Nev…er! 😉 ) Great feedback as ever! I hear ya load and clear, simple and clean version is yer preference. I wonder if it would be possible to have a few multi-coloured LEDs in with single coloured LED array, that way you could have the best of both worlds. Single colour for digital modes, and two (or more) colours for blocks. That way like you say no markers are needed. Fingers crossed they make a version, and its suits you sir! Cheers for the feedback and vote! 😀

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  14. I like the overall look. I like the reading order. I like the dual-color LED’s. red/green is my favorite combo. I like the “light(s) off” (6, 9-11) but I don’t like having etched numbers. I also like the dual-length bar version but I don’t like the case orientation.

    I’m not sure about the digital version. The best (& maybe only good case) is the 1st. I like the reading order except that I would rotate the M-S numbers for a better reading. (10’s at top, 1’s under. Like the 59 of the 1st update pic) Also, If that case was used for the dual-color/dual-length method, which could be good, it would be better to read the minute down to up.

    A lot of potential & I would buy.

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    • The orientation of the watch body and the order of the units of time seem to be the most debated points on this design. In an ideal world I would suggest that the watch body be rotatable on the strap (mounted on a pivot etc) so that it can be at the users preferred angle of attack. Then if the three display areas could also be cycled through so again the user could determine the order of the units. The larger matrix displays on the newer images would allow for all display orders and the binary and digital modes. Fingers crossed TF see the potential, Cheers Makko! 😀

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  15. Time runs out for this concept soon, so all that’s left to do is thank TF for posting it here and everyone who voted, commented and shared. Cheers everyone,

    Pete from the UK 😀

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