Proof the He valve is pointless.

[Fergie]

I've just been looking at the ladies Seamasters Pro's and they are rated to 300m, just like the gents SMP. Omega don't offer an auto version and the He valve is quite clearly missing. So if its not needed on the ladies SMP, it's not needed on a gents SMP. Or am I missing something? :think:

http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=178&details=1&ref=22248000&no_cache=1

[Sunshine86]

Thats because commercial, mixed gas diving is man's business.

[ripper]

It means that ladies, can't make saturation dives with this watch. ;-)

[M4tt]

Omega a paternalistic, sexist organisation? I can't believe it!

[Donf]

My wife says that women don't have gas. This could explain it

Don

[SafetyStop]

It means that ladies, can't make saturation dives with this watch. ;-)

LOL-tell that to my wife...I think it's more of a business decision more than anything. The He valve is more for bathyspheric diving when the entire environment is Trimix. Most of the people doing this are men, so it just makes sense to cater to the majority of their audience. I don't think it's pointless, especially if the watch will see that type of environment. Or if by some accident the diver has to make a chamber ride. But at that point my watch is the furthest thing from my mind. Not dying is more of a priority than my watch crystal popping off.

[DMB]

I've just been looking at the ladies Seamasters Pro's and they are rated to 300m, just like the gents SMP. Omega don't offer an auto version and the He valve is quite clearly missing. So if its not needed on the ladies SMP, it's not needed on a gents SMP. Or am I missing something? :think:

http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=178&details=1&ref=22248000&no_cache=1

No, I don't think you are missing anything. I figured that Omega, in all it's wisdom, didn't see the need for a HEV on a woman's watch. What with cooking dinner for her man, cleaning her man's house, and having his offspring, she probably wouldn't have time for a mixed gas saturation dive. BTW, don't look for me in Hell cause I was REALLY joking. :oops: - David

[AAP]

No, I don't think you are missing anything. I figured that Omega, in all it's wisdom, didn't see the need for a HEV on a woman's watch. What with cooking dinner for her man, cleaning her man's house, and having his offspring, she probably wouldn't have time for a mixed gas saturation dive. BTW, don't look for me in Hell cause I was REALLY joking. :oops: - David

So, your wife walked in while you were typing that last line, did she?

[DMB]

So, your wife walked in while you were typing that last line, did she?

Somebody call 911. Really. NOW !!! - David

[rbt]

No, I don't think you are missing anything. I figured that Omega, in all it's wisdom, didn't see the need for a HEV on a woman's watch. What with cooking dinner for her man, cleaning her man's house, and having his offspring, she probably wouldn't have time for a mixed gas saturation dive. BTW, don't look for me in Hell cause I was REALLY joking. :oops: - David

Talk about redundancy. Why would a wife even need a watch? There's a clock on the stove. :-x

[snootydog]

My Stowa Prodiver is depth rated to 1000mtrs/3300ft and it has no HE valve,so at what point do you need an HE valve? My watch coped just fine in a swimming pool,mind you,its so heavy i had trouble staying afloat,lol. Andy

[snootydog]

Talk about redundancy. Why would a wife even need a watch? There's a clock on the stove. :-x
Wow you have a clock on your stove?....you have a stove? My wife said she wanted to go somewhere she's never been before for our next holiday....i told her i would take her to ....the kitchen. (i await heavy slanging from our female friends on here...sorry ladies). Andy

[Trojan]

Talk about redundancy. Why would a wife even need a watch? There's a clock on the stove. :-x

Now I don't care who you are... that's funny!!!! And fearless and manly as I am, I prolly don't have the balls to repeat that one around my house. Maybe....b-) Hell, maybe I will. But my timing has to be good.

[crock921]

My Tag Heuer 2000 is rated to 200m and has no He valve.

I am not sure how necessary it is, but I only rec dive to the 135 limit.

[J.Bond]

I cannot imagine a person doing a saturation dive with that tiny (28mm) SMP attached to their wrist. You need something you can see, something larger (38mm-45.5mm). That is why I think Omega omitted the HEV on the ladies SMP and kept it on the men's models.

~JB

[crock921]

I can't imagine the lume holds up that long at that depth. I like my Suunto dive computer because of the backlight.

[rbt]

Now I don't care who you are... that's funny!!!! And fearless and manly as I am, I prolly don't have the balls to repeat that one around my house. Maybe....b-) Hell, maybe I will. But my timing has to be good.

Here's how you do it, John. Just come out with it and right before she gets to your throat, attribute it to me and explain to her you were just trying to show what a Chauvinistic pig I am. You're a hero, she can't find me, life is good.

[mrsnak]

There are different kinds of diving. ;-)

[Donf]

I can't imagine the lume holds up that long at that depth. I like my Suunto dive computer because of the backlight.

They have a light switch. I wouldn't think depth would affect the lume.

Don

[shappy692]

There are different kinds of diving. ;-)
I prefer dumpster:-d

-Ben

[kmb]

My wife says that women don't have gas. This could explain it

Don

If that's true, I married a man ! :think:

[no_self_control]

I've just been looking at the ladies Seamasters Pro's and they are rated to 300m, just like the gents SMP. Omega don't offer an auto version and the He valve is quite clearly missing. So if its not needed on the ladies SMP, it's not needed on a gents SMP. Or am I missing something? :think:

http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=178&details=1&ref=22248000&no_cache=1

lets face it. the He Valve Cap is a boys toy. its a great piece of marketing. and most people will never know if it's any use. to that end, anyone ever used one in anger???

by the way, i saw a seiko 1000m (yes, meter) dive watch on eBay last night. not a He Valve Cap in sight if i recall correctly.

[Otto Phan]

LOL-tell that to my wife...I think it's more of a business decision more than anything. The He valve is more for bathyspheric diving when the entire environment is Trimix. Most of the people doing this are men, so it just makes sense to cater to the majority of their audience. I don't think it's pointless, especially if the watch will see that type of environment. Or if by some accident the diver has to make a chamber ride. But at that point my watch is the furthest thing from my mind. Not dying is more of a priority than my watch crystal popping off.

Well, he's dead.... Nice watch though. I call dibs....

[Joe K.]

I guess its that time of the year again to have the He valve discussion ;-)

1. The valve is intended for use in saturation dives. When doing commercial dives at considerable depth the divers will use a pressure chamber with an air mixture containing helium.

2. Helium is a small molecule. With the extended pressure in the chamber, over time, helium enter a waterproof watch through the seals.

3. Upon decompression, the pressure in the chamber drops at a faster rate then the helium can escape from the watch. This will result in increased internal pressure - leading the crystal to pop out. By opening the He valve at this point, the helium can escape without damaging the watch.

So - how many people in the world do these types of dives?? Not many. You can almost be certain that the number of people who actually need the valve is minuscule when compared to the market. Then why have it ? Simple - MARKETING gimmick. So if you do your marketing analysis and figure out that this feature does not work with women (probably because they see right through it and realize its just a gimmick, while men...... well are just men...:-d) then why keep it on the watch? It just costs more to produce....

lets face it. the He Valve Cap is a boys toy. its a great piece of marketing. and most people will never know if it's any use. to that end, anyone ever used one in anger???

by the way, i saw a seiko 1000m (yes, meter) dive watch on eBay last night. not a He Valve Cap in sight if i recall correctly.

[AAP]

I guess its that time of the year again to have the He valve discussion ;-)

1. The valve is intended for use in saturation dives. When doing commercial dives at considerable depth the divers will use a pressure chamber with an air mixture containing helium.

2. Helium is a small molecule. With the extended pressure in the chamber, over time, helium enter a waterproof watch through the seals.

3. Upon decompression, the pressure in the chamber drops at a faster rate then the helium can escape from the watch. This will result in increased internal pressure - leading the crystal to pop out. By opening the He valve at this point, the helium can escape without damaging the watch.

So - how many people in the world do these types of dives?? Not many. You can almost be certain that the number of people who actually need the valve is minuscule when compared to the market. Then why have it ? Simple - MARKETING gimmick. So if you do your marketing analysis and figure out that this feature does not work with women (probably because they see right through it and realize its just a gimmick, while men...... well are just men...:-d) then why keep it on the watch? It just costs more to produce....

Somebody get Joe a glass of Kool-Aid, quick. He must be running low . . .:-d

[beamon]

See Fergie, just like the other board where you posted this, the majority of the respondents aren't addressing your point. But, I'll leave the clarification and further call for topical comments in your capable hands. ;-)

[no_self_control]

See Fergie, just like the other board where you posted this, the majority of the respondents aren't addressing your point. But, I'll leave the clarification and further call for topical comments in your capable hands. ;-)

do you know more than you're letting on, like where the HEV is on a rolex seadweller?