In the case of the diaphragm vacuum gauge which is capable of absolute pressure measurements, a sealed and evacuated vacuum chamber is separated by a diaphragm from the vacuum pressure to be measured. This serves as the reference quantity. With increasing evacuation, the difference between the pressure which is to be measured and the pressure within the reference chamber becomes less, causing the diaphragm flex. This flexure may be transferred by mechanical means like a lever, for example, to a pointer and scale, or electrically by means of a strain gauge or a bending bar for conversion into an electrical measurement signal. The measurement range of such diaphragm vacuum gauges extends from 1 mbar (0.75 Torr) to over 2000 mbar (1500 Torr).