Big problem with helium escape

alam · Apr 25, 2016

Folks, is a good thing that @styggpyggeno1 brought this important issue to light, however before running to your watchmaker for proper diagnostics/repairs, I suggest renting a He detector to make sure you and your loved ones are not exposed to the effects of this potentially fatal gas -- this is specially important if you have more than one watch filled with He.

http://www.heliumleakdetection.net/Leak-Detector-Rental/rent-a-helium-leak-detector.html

Note the special note to our friends in Australia on this article http://www.partyplus.com.au/Article.../Helium-inhalation-its-no-laughing-matter.asp

Please be safe!

styggpyggeno1 · Apr 25, 2016

Thank you Standy, Cinderella and MMMD. I AM trying to do the right thing here. There are so many newcomers on the site and there has been talk about them cluttering up the forum with strange theads. One way to deal with it is posting serious and informative threads oneself. Thanks for the support!

dougiedude · Apr 25, 2016

Just weighed my Omega SM electric blue, and it was right at 70g, head only.

Please don't tell Archer, but this one's never been serviced, so I don't know if it's ever had a helium re-charge...

Does 70g sound good? Anyone else have an Electric blue that's had the charge? Need some comparison...

Here's my watch... it does seem heavier than it did when I bought it about 2 years ago...

cicindela · Apr 25, 2016

alam
Folks, is a good thing that @styggpyggeno1 brought this important issue to light, however before running to your watchmaker for proper diagnostics/repairs, I suggest renting a He detector to make sure you and your loved ones are not exposed to the effects of this potentially fatal gas -- this is specially important if you have more than one watch filled with He.

http://www.heliumleakdetection.net/Leak-Detector-Rental/rent-a-helium-leak-detector.html

Note the special note to our friends in Australia on this article http://www.partyplus.com.au/Article.../Helium-inhalation-its-no-laughing-matter.asp

Please be safe!

That is overstating the issue. In the US the EPA has ruled that the amounts in watches are too small to cause any harm and, in fact completely safe.

alam · Apr 25, 2016

dougiedude
Just weighed my Omega SM electric blue, and it was right at 70g, head only.

Please don't tell Archer, but this one's never been serviced, so I don't know if it's ever had a helium re-charge...

Does 70g sound good? Anyone else have an Electric blue that's had the charge? Need some comparison...

I suspect Al will tell us that a watch that's keeping good time is not an indicator that the watch has the proper levels of He!

alam · Apr 25, 2016

cicindela
That is overstating the issue. In the US the EPA has ruled that the amounts in watches are too small to cause any harm and, in fact completely safe.

gee! and you really trust the EPA? 😒

cicindela · Apr 25, 2016

alam
I suspect Al will tell us that a watch that's keeping good time is not an indicator that the watch has the proper levels of He!

That of course is only for Divers designed that way, not regular watches. Al told me that once they age, and don't hold He, he uses a different specification and oils as well.

michaelmc · Apr 25, 2016

Can the stuff they put in my tires be used in my seadweller. I get free refills.

lwong · Apr 25, 2016

michaelmc
Can the stuff they put in my tires be used in my seadweller. I get free refills.

I don't know if it's accepted practice, but it works for me - keeps all my divers nice and buoyant!

Vitezi · Apr 25, 2016

Instead of a helium-filled luxury watch, perhaps you should consider one that uses hot air?

cicindela · Apr 25, 2016

michaelmc
Can the stuff they put in my tires be used in my seadweller. I get free refills.

lwong
I don't know if it's accepted practice, but it works for me - keeps all my divers nice and buoyant!

No that is Nitrogen! A big no no with diving!

MMMD · Apr 25, 2016

cicindela
No that is Nitrogen! A big no no with diving!

No, your watch won't get "the bends," but it just might shatter like a Christmas ornament due to nitrogen liquefaction at high pressures... just when you'd need it most. And I expect there might be a nasty wrist-burn as well.

styggpyggeno1 · Apr 25, 2016

OK - I am the Enforcer. From now on - weights of watches (with helium) - and preferably Omegas.

Taddyangle · Apr 25, 2016

My Omega 600 does not have a helium valve. It was a gift from my uncle. Its a very large watch in a funky case from the 60s-70s. He said it belonged to a cook that was on a boat owned by Jacque Cousteau. Is there helium inside, even though I do not see a valve? I can't figure out how to post pics. I did a Google search and found a Omega 1200 that looks similar and it has a valve.

This is the only item we have from our uncle, and we are so happy we have something to remember his legacy. What is the value of the watch? What is best way to sell it? I tried in the for sale section, but I can't figure out how to make a new post.

<Edit by MOD> Lets keep on topic. We are not going to be as tolerant with mocking thread meanderings as in the past.

cicindela · Apr 25, 2016

MMMD
No, your watch won't get "the bends," but it just might shatter like a Christmas ornament due to nitrogen liquefaction at high pressures... just when you'd need it most. And I expect there might be a nasty wrist-burn as well.

Just what we need a Laryngologist clutter up information with facts, or wait a minute is that Lou?

MMMD · Apr 25, 2016

cicindela
Just what we need a Laryngologist clutter up information with facts, or wait a minute is that Lou?

I thought @LouS was a geriatric gynecologist. I'm more of a polyologist, really. Don't like to be pigeon-holed in that way.

tyrantlizardrex · Apr 25, 2016

I don't have a dive watch. Would adding helium to my regular watches make them noticeably lighter?

ulackfocus · Apr 25, 2016

cicindela
Very funny , you know that 65% of people think that Krypton is real 🙄

You really need to get your head out of those bug books. 4th element down on the right in the Noble Gas column:

....unless you were making a joke. (call me if you were and I'll try to pry my foot out of my mouth)

dougiedude
Just weighed my Omega SM electric blue, and it was right at 70g, head only.

Here's my watch... it does seem heavier than it did when I bought it about 2 years ago...

Doug, it seems heavier because you're now used to wearing vintage watches. 😉

MMMD
No, your watch won't get "the bends," but it just might shatter like a Christmas ornament due to nitrogen liquefaction at high pressures... just when you'd need it most. And I expect there might be a nasty wrist-burn as well.

cicindela
Just watch we need a Laryngologist clutter up information with facts, or wait a minute is that Lou?

Wait.... this is really a thing? I guess I should really shut up now because my diver ignorance is starting to become embarrassing. 😬 🤦

Deafboy · Apr 25, 2016

Hey guys, is this a joke? Replacing air with helium won't affect the mass of a watch as stated the OP.

Here's an approximation:
Density of helium: 0.18 kg.m-3
Density of air: 1.28 kg.m-3
Difference: 1.1 kg.m-3
Case volume: 4 cm diameter x 0.8 cm = 10 cm3

Assuming the helium completely fills a watch case with 5psi pressure above atmosphere (or 1.3 atmosphere), we have 1.1kg.m-3 x 1.3 x 10 cm3 = 14 mg, which is over a thousand times smaller than stated above.

Am I missing something???

Nobel Prize · Apr 25, 2016

I have a friend that was a chain smoker, he unfortunately had one of these faulty valves in his Omega PO "Hindenburg limited edition" and it blew his whole hand off. Now he wears a non helium watch around his neck. Looks OK.

Big problem with helium escape

alam

styggpyggeno1

dougiedude

cicindela

alam

alam

cicindela

michaelmc

lwong

Vitezi

cicindela

MMMD

styggpyggeno1

Taddyangle

cicindela

MMMD

tyrantlizardrex

ulackfocus

Deafboy

Nobel Prize

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