Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
#1
Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
A cautionary tale. Halfway through a flight to UK recently, I altered the time on my analogue watch, pulling out the winder slightly and moving the hands. Some moments later, the glass dome popped off, and it and a gasket landed on my lap.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
#2
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
A cautionary tale. Halfway through a flight to UK recently, I altered the time on my analogue watch, pulling out the winder slightly and moving the hands. Some moments later, the glass dome popped off, and it and a gasket landed on my lap.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
Great to see you back amongst us too.
Rosemary
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,625
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
A cautionary tale. Halfway through a flight to UK recently, I altered the time on my analogue watch, pulling out the winder slightly and moving the hands. Some moments later, the glass dome popped off, and it and a gasket landed on my lap.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
#4
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
I've only ever had this type of watch and I must have done it numerous times on the announcement approaching the destination without incident.
It must pay to buy cheap watches
It must pay to buy cheap watches
#5
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Posts: 5,625
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
All my other watches are this type and only one I have had this problem with is the Rotary, it wasn't a cheap watch either it was 25th anniversary gift from the wife. Not sure if it only happened when I adjusted it or not but definitely glass popped every time I wore it flying. My other watches are Pulsar (brilliant watches) and an Omega which is over 50 years old.
#6
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
All my other watches are this type and only one I have had this problem with is the Rotary, it wasn't a cheap watch either it was 25th anniversary gift from the wife. Not sure if it only happened when I adjusted it or not but definitely glass popped every time I wore it flying. My other watches are Pulsar (brilliant watches) and an Omega which is over 50 years old.
#7
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Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
No I got what you meant and you are certainly correct versus the Rotary watch. My old omega is automatic I can leave it for years and give it a shake and away it goes keeping perfect time. I have 2 pulsar watches one kinetic never missed a beat in 15 years the other is solar. When I want to wear it couple of minutes in the sun away it goes keeping perfect time.
#8
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Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
Does this apply to all analogue watches?
I recall hearing many announcements from the cockpit back in the day informing passengers of the local time at destination "for those of you would like to set your watches."
I recall hearing many announcements from the cockpit back in the day informing passengers of the local time at destination "for those of you would like to set your watches."
#9
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 654
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
So for all you flying /physics experts-does cabin pressure vary in flight ie from take off through the flight to landing and should analogue watches have a pressure relief mechanism....
#11
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Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,128
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
Upon climbing out the pressure inside the sealed watch will still be as at ground level while the cabin pressure will be less.
I don't think a relief mechanism is practical.
#12
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 513
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
Or alter your watch before take off or on landing. I don't have an analogue watch but I do alter it to the destination time as soon as I get on the plane.
I suppose if you did alter it whilst up high then pull the winder back out as you descend and leave it until you get down.
I suppose if you did alter it whilst up high then pull the winder back out as you descend and leave it until you get down.
#13
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,014
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
A cautionary tale. Halfway through a flight to UK recently, I altered the time on my analogue watch, pulling out the winder slightly and moving the hands. Some moments later, the glass dome popped off, and it and a gasket landed on my lap.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
Not knowing why it happed, I took it to a jeweller for repair. He said that by pulling out the winder, you allowed the air pressure to equalise with the aircraft. As the air pressure in the aircraft decreased during the flight the pressure beneath the dome was higher and popped off the glass.
So, only alter the time on your analogue watch when the aircraft is on the ground.
It's because these watches will have seals.
Your common or garden watch will allow air movement even when the crown is pushed in...
I had a rotary that would steam up every time I flew, due to a small amount of moisture that was inside it....
So anyone lucky enough to own a high end watch may have experienced this.
The simple solution is to pull the crown out to the first stop (if a date watch) or unlock it before the plane takes off.
#15
Re: Aircraft Passengers Wearing Analogue Watches
If there is some emergency that causes the plane to depressurize while at cruising altitude (usually around 33,000-35,000ft these days), such as a window breaking, then the plane will descend to 10,000ft, as the oxygen masks are no longer required at that altitude.
Re watches, I suspect that a very specific set of circumstances needs to occur for the air pressue to pop the face off - the case needs to be airtight, but whatever is holding the face on needs to be weak enough to allow it to pop off. I would assume that non-diving-rate watches are not airtight and therefore that airpressure inside and outside the watch casing will equalize almost instantly on an ongoing basis. Whereas I think that most watches rated for water submersion/ shallow diving (down to 10m/30ft/2 Atmospheres) have a face that is secured tightly enough to not pop off due to an air pressure diffence of a few PSI.
Atmospheric pressure is around 10.2psi at 10,000ft, and at 40,000 ft it's about 2.7psi, so the difference between the inside of the watch and the cabin would only be 7.5psi at the most, and that would only if the plane depressurized at 40,000ft.
Alternatively, if the watch was sealed at sea level, at around 14.7psi, and then the watch was taken on a plane which climbed to 10,000ft, where the airpressure is 10.2psi, the difference in pressure inside and outside would only be 4.5psi, which I am doubtful would be sufficient to pop the face of a diving watch ..... but then opening the case by pulling out the winder, would equalize the pressure, not cause a pressure diffence that would pop the face off. So I don't know why the face popped off, but I am sceptical that a pressure difference released by pulling out the winding knob, was the cause of it.
Last edited by Pulaski; Nov 20th 2023 at 8:23 pm.