Helium escape valve needed ?

[Pete J]

I am still thinking of buying the omega PO or the chrono diver as both really impressed me... I noticed that both has a helium escape valve which seem we can manually open it or close it.

I hv read somewhere that to a certain depth ( diving) & time , there will be a kind of pressure built inside the watch case which will explode the watch case .... I can see that my Seiko Monster doesn't have this valve so does it mean that the Seiko Monster will explode in the depth of 200 m ? or maybe it will only explode after 200m + ?

appreciate your comment

rgds
Pete J

[ulackfocus]

I doubt your Seiko will explode! ...but the next time you're 660 feet deep and wearing it, let us know. I'll have to wait for a true diver's explanation of why the He valve is important.

[bio]

From wiki:
"Helium release valves can primarily be found on mechanical diving watches featuring a water/pressure resistance greater than 300 m (1000 ft) and therefore positioned as more extreme dive watches. Models that feature a helium release valve include most of the Omega Seamaster series, Rolex Sea Dweller, some dive watches from the Citizen Watch Co., Ltd, Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Panerai, all watches produced by Enzo Mechana, and selected Doxa and Oris models. Other watch manufacturers such as Seiko still offer high-level dive watches that are guaranteed safe against the effects of helium gas without needing an additional opening in the case in form of a release valve."

[Ham X Guy]

Actually, I think the watch would "implode", not explode, meaning it would basically get crushed at a depth beyond it's rating. The valve would not prevent this from happening.

I'm guessing the helium valve would be used so that the watch doesn't get "the bends" when coming back up from deep depths. Like humans, bad things happen when rising from the deep to quickly, so you would slowly let the helium build-up in the watch caused by deep depths escape through the valve to prevent damage on the way up...

[diver88]

:)

you don't need it unless you plan on being in a pressurized environment requiring He for recompression.

normal scuba (recreational) does not get in to the realm unless you need to go to a chamber, by then the watch on your arm is the least of your worries and can simply be taken off before entering the chamber, you won't need to time anything at that point , medical professionals are in control after that.

diver88:)

[N2FHL]

Helium, the second smallest atom, can actually get into a normally watersealed watch at more extreme pressures. But this only happen to divers who are pressurized for long periods of time with the Helium mixture of gasses. It enters while they are living in their pressurized chambers. Without being released, the pressurize helium inside the watch could cause the crystal to pop off when the divers are depressurized. Most crystals are engineered to withstand pressure from the outside.

In fact, 99.9% of those who own a watch with a helium release valve will never need it. It is simply a useless accessory.

Steve

[chris]

The helium valves on watches are only useful for professional construction divers who do what is called "mixed gas diving" and stay under water in a diving bell filled with a mixture of oxygen and helium for as much as 2 weeks at a time at depths as high as 300 meters. They stay down at that depth for the length of the job they're doing, to avoid having to compress\decompress every time they come up and down, decompression from a long dive at deep depth can potentially take days. Additionally, the reason the helium is involved is that it is a harmless inert gas that can be mixed with oxygen for breathing without damaging human tissues. At extreme depth the nitrogen in a normal atmospheric air mixture becomes toxic, causing nitrogen narcosis and eventually death, so deep divers can't breath normal air, and need to use the helium\oxygen mixture. However the helium molecules are so small and speedy they can penetrate into the seals of a water resistant watch and equalize the pressure, then when you come up the higher pressure inside the watch tries to equalize to the the lower pressure outside, and the crystal can pop off. The watch doesn't actually explode.

[bio]

Great info Chris

[stales]

Thanks Chris!! You've just saved me $1,500++ and now I'll never have to explain to my wife why I want to buy an Omega SeaMaster. Can't ever see myself at 3m let alone 300m so won't be getting any watch with a He release valve.

stales

[ulackfocus]

Thanks Chris!! You've just saved me $1,500++ and now I'll never have to explain to my wife why I want to buy an Omega SeaMaster. Can't ever see myself at 3m let alone 300m so won't be getting any watch with a He release valve.

stales

So get the GMT - no He valve on that Omega SMP. And you can justify it if you have relatives in another time zone. Or better yet, if she has relatives in another time zone.