Andrey Serbinenko wrote:
A question to the group. When I was going through my high-altitude
physiological training, they instructed us to remove wrist watches
before going for the baro-flight to FL250 (unpressurized). Has
anyone experienced any anomalies with wrist watches at low pressure?
I just can't think of why they'd require that. Even diver's watches
will hold the pressure up to a point and then the seals will leak
-- before any damage to the body of the watch or the crystal occurs.
Does the battery have any air inside that will blow it up?


Andrey

I bought a cheap divers watch from a "large discount chain" to wear on
a trip to Equador. It did fine until we got to Quito. The altitude
there is 10,000 ft. After about 2 hours on the ground (during lunch,
in fact) the crystal popped out of the watch, flew across the table and
went rolling across the floor. I got it back and stuck it into the
watch face. It did fine after that. As noted, divers watches are
constructed to keep things from leaking in, not the other way around.
My guess is a good one wouldn't matter, but I wouldn't take the chance
unless I really needed a watch.

John Stevens
PP-ASEL