Anyone carry a loupe with them?

[Tuckins1]

I have recently been in many jewelry stores/pawn shops looking at possible gifts, and so I brought my loupe with me. (Of course, all of the sales people asked my why I happen to have a loupe on me... Who wouldn''t bring it with them to shop for jewels?) Anyways, I just left it in my purse, cuz I figure ya'' never know when I might want to whip it out to gaze at my sparkly, or when I might need it! Recently, at work, someone was asking about a ring they found, and I said they could borrow my loupe if they wanted to look at it closer. They looked at me like I was a weirdo or something!! Anyone else had similar experiences?

 

[EricaR]

Yep!!! Mine has a dual purpose - I use it in my volunteer job leading hikes (its great to look at leaves, flowers, etc) AND for gazing at sparklies.

 

[gemgirl]

I leave my expensive one at home and I have a less expensive one in my handbag all the time. I never leave home without it.

 

[Circe]

Yep. I figure this is better than what an ex of mine did, which is to try inserting the jewelry-store loupe into his socket backwards (as I wasn''t with him on that day, I am hoping he was kidding, as, a) OW, and b) unhygenic!). I''d always rather be the expert than the alternative ....

 

[Skippy123]

I got 6 loupes from my hubby for my birthday so I think I will start carrying one. LOL

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 12/18/2008 6:34:09 PM
Author: Skippy123
I got 6 loupes from my hubby for my birthday so I think I will start carrying one. LOL

I always carry a loupe.

 

[Kaleigh]

I have a loupe that was given to me as an award, it''s engraved. The store I worked for gave it as an award once you sold a certain amount. It''s still my favorite although I have others. If I pull it out in a store, the sales people seem intimidated. Cracks me up!!!

 

[somethingshiny]

I don''t carry a loupe, but I was reminded of a funny story. I was in a jewelry store (well, that''s what THEY called it..) and I noticed the lady helping me had a loupe near her. I was looking at a pendant so I asked to borrow it. As I held it up to my eye and was bringing the pendant in for inspection, the lady said "um, you''re using that wrong. You should hold the loupe out in front of your eyse a few inches." OKAY THEN! Maybe if you hold the loupe out a few inches this crap looks like something better?!?

 

[~*Alexis*~]

yeah I carry mine with me in its case....especially when we go to estate sales and auctions...that thing comes in handy for more things than just jewelry!!

FFi uses it to look at the coins....

 

[Tuckins1]

I don''t feel like such a weirdo! Glad to know I''m in like company!

 

[Sizzle]

I have one on my keychain, along with one of those big fake engagement ring keychains. It''s kind of my "signature" ha ha ha ha

 

[katpaw]

I carry mine in my purse. It is alway with me.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I always have a loupe.

It has my name engraved on it.

 

[pinkstars]

I used to keep one on me, but my friends think it''s funny and weird that I even have one. I really enjoy looking at my diamonds!

 

[btrflygrl23]

Yup ALL the time I keep mine in its little case in my purse and if I switch purses I put it in the one I am using and I keep my engraved nicer one at home b/c I''d be really upset if I lost that one.
Don''t laugh but I keep a diamond tester in my purse too not sure why just coz...

 

[~*Alexis*~]

where did you get the diamond tester from?? I would like to get one...

 

[strmrdr]

have one in my car all the time.

 

[btrflygrl23]

Alexis
not sure where you are I''m in Canada got it at a small maul jewelry store that was going out of business for $75 CAD.
Looked it up after decent one not top of the line for experts kind of thing but good enough of what I need which is to make sure when I send things out that I get a real diamonds back not to be paranoid but you never know right?
It is smaller and quite portable unless I have a teeny tiny purse but I usually don''t so it works I LOVE it
glad no one thinks I''m all weird now...

 

[Matata]

I am always louped.

 

[rainydaze]

yes, i always carry mine on me. prior to getting one, i asked a jewelry salesman if he had one and could i borrow it, and he asked if i was in the business (i''m not). he said in 20+ years selling jewelry i was the first customer to ever ask him to use a loupe!

 

[Pandora II]

Always.

I''m very fussy about my loupe, so I have two in my bag:

- A cheapy from Gem-A that I don''t mind other people using

- My loupe - black cased Belomo that is strictly paws off unless you are a professional and know not to stick paw-prints on the lenses!

I like the weight and size of mine and I prefer to use that than to use a jewellers own. I also carry a pair of stone tweezers in my bag (I like the ones that have a grove for the girdle and don''t have the slider thing to hold the stones) as I feel kack-handed with ones I''m not used to.

I really recommend Belomo as a brand - they are a very reasonable price and the optics are exceptional (lenses are made by Zeiss for a start).

I''ve looked at lots of the more expensive makes and not found anything I prefer.

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 12/19/2008 10:53:46 AM
Author: Pandora II
Always.

I''m very fussy about my loupe, so I have two in my bag:

- A cheapy from Gem-A that I don''t mind other people using

- My loupe - black cased Belomo that is strictly paws off unless you are a professional and know not to stick paw-prints on the lenses!

I like the weight and size of mine and I prefer to use that than to use a jewellers own. I also carry a pair of stone tweezers in my bag (I like the ones that have a grove for the girdle and don''t have the slider thing to hold the stones) as I feel kack-handed with ones I''m not used to.

I really recommend Belomo as a brand - they are a very reasonable price and the optics are exceptional (lenses are made by Zeiss for a start).

I''ve looked at lots of the more expensive makes and not found anything I prefer.

I have carried a loupe in my pocket since 1984.NEVER leave home without it...very well used...time to get a new one...a friend of mine had a 14 karat loupe lapel pin made for me to wear to work...the lens is a carat size cz and the cover moves back and forth...fun stuff...ive used my loupe in stores,hospitals,libraries and at church helping people with gem questions about inclusions and prongs.

 

[Harriet]

Yes, but I use an optivisor at home. I also need a gauge and a flashlight.

 

[fatafelice]

I keep a cheap loupe in my purse for various purposes. It definitely comes in handy.

 

[carabella]

Yes, I carry it in my purse...you never know when you''re going to see something you think you need. Many times, I''ve whipped it out and taken a look at a pendant or other smaller piece and decided I didn''t need it afterall because the quality was poor close up. I think its good to carry one for that reason alone.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 12/21/2008 11:53:48 PM
Author: Harriet
Yes, but I use an optivisor at home. I also need a gauge and a flashlight.

Interesting - I can''t get on with those at all - which brand do you have?

I confess to the mini-maglite as well at this point!

 

[Mediterranean]

What''s funny is that my fiance is the one with the loupe (he is a photographer and cameraman by trade)!!

Generally he uses it to look at contact sheets, but it amuses his gal with the jewelry obsession

 

[MissGotRocks]

I have a cheapie H&A viewer that I carry all the time. I check people''s stones at work for loose or bent prongs so there is some magnification to it!

Everyone makes fun of me for having it but if they think something is wrong with their jewelry, they run right to me!

 

[snlee]

Yes, I carry a loupe in my purse.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 12/22/2008 8:44:54 AM
Author: Pandora II
Interesting - I can''t get on with those at all - which brand do you have?

I confess to the mini-maglite as well at this point!

It took me quite a while to get used to it. It didn''t help that I bought a cheap one from Donegan.