10x Loupe for diamond

[harshit143]

Hello,
I am a trainee under my dad for being a diamond seller/merchant.
I need a personal 10x loupe as the one i am using is some local eyeglass which is not clear.
Please suggest me the best 10x loupe company and from where i can purchase it. Price is not a boundation.
Thanks.

 

[harshit143]

I have shortlisted Nikon, Carl Zeiss, Belomo and Rubin & Son.

Nikon and Rubin are available locally. Please suggest me the best one i should go for as it will be a one time purchase for me.

 

[kenny]

Here are 3 that I've seen discussed by pros here on PS.

http://www.kassoy.com/authentic-black-casing-10x-schneider-loupe.html

http://www.kassoy.com/swiss-axe-hawk-10x-21mm-loupe.html

http://www.kassoy.com/authentic-schneider-loupe.html

 

[OoohShiny]

Wow, those loupes aren't exactly cheap...

 

[harshit143]

The one provided in links are too high for my budget. I will prefer to buy locally so i am left with rubin & son and nikon. Please tell me the better between the two.

 

[marymm]

What does your dad use; what did your dad recommend?

 

[harshit143]

What does your dad use; what did your dad recommend?

My dad uses some german 8x folding eyeglass and its about 35-40yrs old. So all its details has been cleared over time. I am thinking of getting nikon. Though one of my business client suggested rubin. What do u suggest? Do 13mm dia of nikon lens is a drawback?

 

[Dancing Fire]

I bought this one from Amazon last month..
http://www.amazon.com/Loupe-Magnifier-Triplet-Folding-Imported/dp/B0002OVC9W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1405834757&sr=8-5&keywords=loupe+10x

 

[cflutist]

I used this to get through GIA Diamond Grading Class:

http://store.gia.edu/Hand_Loupe_10x_18_mm_p/309000.htm

I also have a 14x B&L Hastings triplet and a 20x noname brand used to read AGS/GIA serial numbers on girdle or star facets for Tiffany diamonds.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I used this to get through GIA Diamond Grading Class:

http://store.gia.edu/Hand_Loupe_10x_18_mm_p/309000.htm

I also have a 14x B&L Hastings triplet and a 20x noname brand used to read AGS/GIA serial numbers on girdle or star facets for Tiffany diamonds.

I can't make out the #s with a 20X loupe , so I use the 40x on my microscope.

 

[drk14]

I'm totally not qualified to respond to this post , but I thought I'd point you to this link that I came across recently:

http://datlas.com/ideal-scope-store/super-gem-loupe-10x/

This is for sale in David Atlas's web store, and he has the following to say about it (the emphasis is mine):

This 20mm large loupe is the one I use every day. I wouldn’t buy any diamond without it because it helps me see into diamonds so much better than any other I have ever owned. I think it is equal to the world’s most costly loupes which sell for hundreds of dollars yet this loupe is a true bargain at $35. It has a glass triplet lens which is aplanatic and achromatic. This is a totally professional loupe.

If you don't know who David Atlas is you can search his name on this forum.

 

[harshit143]

Will it make any difference if the lens is 13mm diameter? Will it create some problem?
And do the Nikon one is a triplet?

 

[cflutist]

Take that back, the one I have from GIA GEM Instruments is 20.5 mm and not 18 mm that they sell today.

I also have a cheap 18 mm one.
From a website I saw: You can buy hand-held Loupes in various mm sizes as well like, 18, 20, 21mm, but the smaller the mm, the smaller the lens is which makes it harder to see through. I always advise buying a bigger lens (21mm) so you can see more of the Diamond at once.

I just tested this out on my pear, and the 20.5 mm one is easier to use. 13mm I would be is rather small for a 10x triplet.