IWC Schaffhausen

Hi guys, I have only just come across your Gas Valve chat.
I have been workshop manager for IWC UK for the last 12 years or so.
3 years ago I received an email from a guy who was in a decompresion chamber 250 meters down at the foot of an oil rig.
He had an Aquatimer 3536 and his dive partner had a Rolex with escape valve.
His partner had convinced him that his IWC would not survive their 2 week assent. I spoke at length to all concerned in IWC and the sumarised opinion was that the valve is a gimick or compensation for insufficent sealing of the watch. I relayed this to the diver and 3 weeks later he let me know that his watch was still functioning perfectly, now on dry land.
Good luck
Leo
Leo.sweeneypod@gmail.com

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.....Confucius

Last edited: 22 September, 2012 - 08:43

Interesting report; thanks.

Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com

Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53

Excellent. Good information to know.

THanks Leo.

Leosweeneypod Wrote:Hi guys, I have only just come across your Gas Valve chat.
I have been workshop manager for IWC UK for the last 12 years or so.
3 years ago I received an email from a guy who was in a decompresion chamber 250 meters down at the foot of an oil rig.
He had an Aquatimer 3536 and his dive partner had a Rolex with escape valve.
His partner had convinced him that his IWC would not survive their 2 week assent. I spoke at length to all concerned in IWC and the sumarised opinion was that the valve is a gimick or compensation for insufficent sealing of the watch. I relayed this to the diver and 3 weeks later he let me know that his watch was still functioning perfectly, now on dry land.
Good luck
Leo
Leo.sweeneypod@gmail.com

Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.

Last edited: 8 December, 2012 - 16:07

shing Wrote:I know also that for all active AT collections save the AT 2000, the maximum depth is 12 bar = 80 metres.

AT 2000 can withstand pressure up to 1333 metres (200 bar). This would be the question mark for me, based on what I have written above, on why the AT 2000 would not require a helium valve - because at this depth you probably would.

Alternatively, it could also mean that the deep diver with the AT 2000 simply needs to ensure that the helium escapes during the ascent.

Gents,

I found this very interesting as well - but Shing's calculations above seem wrong to me - isn't the pressure at 200 meteres approx. 200 bar, and approx. 8 bar at 8 meters?? In other words, an IWC watch like that AT Deep Two which can handle 120 bar can withstand the pressure down to approx. 120 meters?? (1000 kg/m3 * 9,8 m/s2 * 120 m = 1176 kPas = 117,6 bar)

Maybe our resident Dive Master Mark can clarify for us??

Thanks

Skule

Last edited: 28 October, 2011 - 18:41

Great info here, thanks people! As a leisure diver I have not taken dive watches beyond 40m, Deep 2 rated at 12 bar Skule equivalent to 120m. :) cheers!

rgds
ks

Hi guys, this is the depth-pressure calculation site I use, in case its useful.

Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.

Last edited: 8 December, 2012 - 16:07

Ah - of course, I moved the comma 1 decimal point too much! 12 bar = 120m - thanks for the correction KS!

And 200 bar equals 2000m for the AT 2000, not 1333m Shing :-)

The site you refer to also includes the 1 atm of air pressure at sea level but I think a point can be argued that the watch, as it was assembled at close to 1 atm, has that pressure internally from when it was sealed. Therfore, even if the diver's body must withstand the total pressure of 1 atm + the water pressure, the watch only must cope with the pressure difference from inside vs outside - the water pressure.

Just in the spirit of accuracy ;-)

Skule

Last edited: 28 October, 2011 - 18:41

hi IWC
i am a professional diver and will be going into SAT, i have been unable to find an answer to the previous questions posted. i will be in a helium environment for approx. 30+ days at a time, so will the watch malfunction while I'm in deco?

jonathanniewerth Wrote:hi IWC
i am a professional diver and will be going into SAT, i have been unable to find an answer to the previous questions posted. i will be in a helium environment for approx. 30+ days at a time, so will the watch malfunction while I'm in deco?

Hi Jonathan,

Great having you here. Can u advise which IWC u are wearing for your deep dive ? How deep are u going ?

Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.