Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Buying a Loupe?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
P

Paragon97

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
14
Does anyone know where you can buy a loupe locally. Like what stores would most likely caring loupes? I''m looking for one but not sure where to start looking at. Anyone have any suggestions, would a B&M have them or no?
 
If you are in NYC, try 46th street, several places up that street. If not, try Kassoy at http://www.kassoy.com/loupes01.htm

I have a Swiss Axe I got from Antwerp. I can get used to nothing else. Not sure where they sell that locally. I recommend the Kassoy brand it''s fine for the average use. If you want to invest for gemological use, I would say Zeiss has the best optics and Krüss as well.

Recently I was told that the Swarowski is great for melee and fine detail work.

Make sure the loupe is aplanic, achromatic, and a 10X loupe. People want to get the 20X as they think it''s better to see closer, but really it''s only useful for inscriptions and if you are a cutter.
 
You can get them for a couple of dollars each on ebay. They serve the purpose just fine!
 
Date: 6/28/2007 1:28:52 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
You can get them for a couple of dollars each on ebay. They serve the purpose just fine!
Click to expand...
I would but I need it tomorrow lol.
 
Date: 6/28/2007 1:11:28 PM
Author: Nicrez
If you are in NYC, try 46th street, several places up that street. If not, try Kassoy at http://www.kassoy.com/loupes01.htm

I have a Swiss Axe I got from Antwerp. I can get used to nothing else. Not sure where they sell that locally. I recommend the Kassoy brand it''s fine for the average use. If you want to invest for gemological use, I would say Zeiss has the best optics and Krüss as well.

Recently I was told that the Swarowski is great for melee and fine detail work.

Make sure the loupe is aplanic, achromatic, and a 10X loupe. People want to get the 20X as they think it''s better to see closer, but really it''s only useful for inscriptions and if you are a cutter.
Click to expand...
Nicrez--I just bought a 30X online because I could never see the inclusions in my VS2 stone and wanted a way to verify it was, indeed, my stone. Now, right now I don''t have the stone so I haven''t had a chance to test it out, but do you think I just wasted my money? It was a cheap one, too. I could never see the darn inclusions which drove me nuts. I appreciate your opinion.
 
coin and stamp shop usualy will have them
 

A triplet-type loupe is the right choice because it is made specifically to correct two problems. The presence of traces of color (chromatic aberration) found at the edge of the lens; & visual distortion (spherical aberration), also found at the edge of the lens. The triplet loupe has three lenses joined together to make one compound lens. It should be achromatic (corrected so that all lenses focus at the same place) and aplanatic (corrected so that there is no distortion of the images).


A black case is recommended because it will eliminate glare. Gold or chrome-plated loupes can be the cause of additional yellow or white color in the gemstone being examined, this can cause up to a two color grade shift from a black case.


10X magnification is recommended not 20X. A 10X loupe has a one inch focal length. Inclusions in a gemstone at a distance of up to one inch from the end of the loupe will be in focus. A 20X loupe has a one half inch focal distance, these are much more difficult to use.


Try Kassoy, or GIA.


http://www.kassoy.com/kruss/kruss05.html


http://www.gia.edu/geminstrument/mySearchResults1.cfm
 
Date: 7/1/2007 1:08:35 PM
Author: norman_in_L.A.

A triplet-type loupe is the right choice because it is made specifically to correct two problems. The presence of traces of color (chromatic aberration) found at the edge of the lens; & visual distortion (spherical aberration), also found at the edge of the lens. The triplet loupe has three lenses joined together to make one compound lens. It should be achromatic (corrected so that all lenses focus at the same place) and aplanatic (corrected so that there is no distortion of the images).



A black case is recommended because it will eliminate glare. Gold or chrome-plated loupes can be the cause of additional yellow or white color in the gemstone being examined, this can cause up to a two color grade shift from a black case.



10X magnification is recommended not 20X. A 10X loupe has a one inch focal length. Inclusions in a gemstone at a distance of up to one inch from the end of the loupe will be in focus. A 20X loupe has a one half inch focal distance, these are much more difficult to use.



Try Kassoy, or GIA.



http://www.kassoy.com/kruss/kruss05.html



http://www.gia.edu/geminstrument/mySearchResults1.cfm
Click to expand...
I hate to ruin everybody''s day,but really, the industry standard is a Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet 10X . And since you don''t buy these every day then a Schneider Achromatic is the Rolls.
 
I have the Hastings Triplet Bausch and Lomb however I have always felt I should be able to see better into the depths of the stone to look at the inclusions however I am now looking for another after reading what Oldminer wrote in another post. (Oldminer is an appraiser and gemologist who posts on this forum).

Date: 3/11/2007 8:35:58 AM
Author: oldminer
There are many loupes which just don't work for diamonds or gemstones. When you see an ad for a Hastings Triplet, you do NOT have a gem loupe. It is better for coins or stamps. Even less costly ones are also available all over the place which are okay for a quick look at a stone, but are really poor for gemstone work. They have very short depth of field, disperse light and only work in the center of their lens. With a loupe, as with many other things, you get what you are willing to pay for.


Link to that post
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/buy-cheap-loupe-on-e-bay.57930/
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top