If you compare the beam pattern, how even the intensity is of the beam and MTBF between a quality LED and the cheap China imports you will see what I mean. Shine a LED from ChiWing at the wall and it won't give an even spread of light, you'll probably see rings of bright or darker light. Cheaper methods for manufacture and cheaper materials are used to make the ebay LEDs. They're ok for gadgets, but if you were to build anything serious you wouldn't want to use them...
I got them along with a big bundle of other LEDs I bought a couple of years back from a friend. Kingbright do some nice blue diffused LEDs that are very similar. I have used many of their diffused blue LEDs before, although the ones I got from Kingbright had a tinted blue package rather than the milky white used in the ones on the clock. edit: Ultraleds.co.uk sells some that are exactly the same.
Made an order After all the advice i've ordered from Ultra LEDs. Seem to offer the best range and offer exactly what i want for a price i can pay. Will let you know about the quality.
