Author Topic: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex  (Read 10221 times)

Winston

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Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« on: January 22, 2010, 04:47:41 PM »


A helium release valve, or helium escape valve, as it is also called, is a feature found on some diving watches. It provides functionality for professional divers operating at great depths for prolonged periods of time or under saturation.

When commercial divers operate at great depths, they often spend prolonged hours in diving bells under pressure breathing a breathing gas mix like trimix or similar, that contain the gases helium or hydrogen. Since helium molecules are the second smallest and hydrogen molecules the smallest found in nature, these gas molecules are able to work their way inside the watch, around any o-rings or other seals the watch may feature. This is not a problem as long as the divers stay under pressure, but when the decompression stops during resurfacing aren't long enough, a pressure difference builds up between the trapped gas(es) inside the watch case and its environment. Depending on the construction of the watch case and crystal, this effect can cause damage to the watch, like making the crystal pop off.

Whilst many watch companies react to this effect by simply offering an even more robust case/crystal construction, Rolex and Doxa S.A. however thought of a different concept when they co-created the helium escape valve in the 1960s (first introduced in the Rolex Submariner/Sea-Dweller and the Doxa Conquistador): A small, spring loaded one-way valve integrated in the watch case that is activated when the differential between the inner and the outside pressure reaches a critical level. Result: The valve releases the helium, hydrogen and/or other gases used in the breathing gas mix trapped inside the watch case.

Automatic helium release valves usually don't need any manual operation. There are however helium release valves featuring an additional screw-down crown at the side of the watch. When the diver starts to ascend, the diver simply unscrews the valve's crown to the full open position, allowing any breathing gas that may have been trapped inside the watch to escape during decompression.

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.

Source:(Wikipedia)

Offline chrisyen

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2010, 08:28:14 PM »
thanks for sharing....
sometimes i'll ask is that a solution for a not so good case? a well built case like sinn need no HV actually...

Offline dennis.T

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2010, 01:40:44 PM »
i though rollie is using a special steel so called 904L which is stiff enuff to the under sea pressure? :Confused:

Offline sshark

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2010, 07:08:34 PM »
rolex uses 904L because it has better resistance against corrosion than normally used 316L steel. it is not so much to do with the compression asserted by the water pressure in the deep sea.

Offline chrisyen

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2010, 07:17:56 PM »
using 904l more on marketing to me... product differentiation.... or to justify their price...
even 316l steel got no problem with your sweat n diving... just rinse with water will do....
sinn submarine steel also gd for diving...

Offline Scott C.

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2010, 08:07:31 PM »
All current production SS Rolex uses 904L steel on the case only... Except DSSD usin 904L on the entire watch include the bracelet... That's all I know... Market or not I'm not sure but just feel different lo...

Offline collatzer

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Re: Function of Original Gas Escape Valve in Rolex
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2010, 04:19:46 AM »
using 904l more on marketing to me... product differentiation.... or to justify their price...
even 316l steel got no problem with your sweat n diving... just rinse with water will do....
sinn submarine steel also gd for diving...
totally agree with u. 904L actually is not so good for sensitive skin but as for corrosion resistance... better than 316..