DEGASSING

Degassing is the phenomenon by which certain Materials — glues, lacquers, sealants, adhesives or plastics — release volatile chemical compounds after being processed. In watchmaking, this insidious process can have unfortunate consequences when it occurs inside a cased watch: the emitted vapors settle on internal surfaces and can corrode metal components, tarnish a Movement, stain a Dial or fog up the Crystal (watch glass). The risk is even greater when the case is water-resistant, as volatile substances remain confined within it. To avoid this, stabilized products with a low degassing rate are preferred, and full drying and curing Time periods are observed before thecasing. The Testing of this parameter is part of the cleanliness and longevity requirements specific to watchmaking: controlling the materials that come into contact with the movement is just as important as controlling the components themselves.