41
40
En
gl
is
h
Thermocompensated quartz
Specific sections/general information
3
Watches with thermocompensated quartz
This movement is equipped with an electronic module that balances
out the influences of temperature on the precision of the quartz.
H
2
O
He
He
He
He
He
Helium escape valve
Specific sections/general information
3
In-dive
Screwed-in escape valve
Hyperbaric chamber
Screwed-in escape valve
During decompression phase
Unscrewed escape valve
OMEGA
Seamaster watches
equipped with a helium escape
valve, also known as a helium
release valve, have been developed
for professional or amateur divers
who practise saturation diving. This
type of technical diving is essen-
tially used for under-water work car-
ried out at great depths. Between
two interventions, the diver is kept
in a hyperbaric chamber at a pres-
sure equivalent to the diving depth.
He or she is exposed to a complex
gaseous mix containing oxygen,
hydrogen and helium, among other
gases. This technique allows for very
long diving times while reducing
the risk of accidental decompres-
sion. Once the work is finished, the
decompression phase begins, with
the diver progressively returned to
atmospheric pressure levels in the
hyperbaric chamber.
During a long stay inside a hyper-
baric chamber or under-water sta-
tion, helium is diffused through all
the water-resistant materials and
penetrates the interior of the watch.
During the decompression phase,
the infiltrated helium generates
excessive pressure in the watch,
which can cause it to deteriorate.
The function of the escape valve
is to evacuate this high pressure
during the decompression phase.
