Jeweler''s Loupe

[limey]

I want to get my own loupe. Are all loupes created equal? I don''t want to spend an arm and a leg but I also don''t want a cheapo...


Any advice on good brands, are these any good:

http://www.google.com/froogle?q=10X+loupe&btnG=Search+Froogle

 

[verticalhorizon]

I bought the one from Dave Atlas' web site gemappraisers.com. It's terrific! All metal and glass, comes in it's own little geeky case, $25!

There's also another one, plastic, higher grade optics from IdealScope for $35 or in a combo kit for $70 (inc. idealscope, tweesers, practice CZ).

I use it for magified photos and will intend on using it to checkout the diamond before and after maintenence.

VH

 

[verticalhorizon]

Tools of the trade. (I'm a geek!)

 

[limey]

VH, you and me both! In retrospect I wish I got the kit. I already got the I-Scope from Mr. Holloway, and Rhino sent me the H&A viewer with my Jubilee. Higher grade optics?

I want one to loupe pre/post maintenance and to have with me when I visit Florida next to visit my wife's grandparents. The pawn shops are something else down there so my own loupe will come in handy.

 

[noobie]

I bought one from e-bay for $3.50. Don't bother. It's only marginally adequate. The one I got free from DCD works better.




I believe NiceIce sells some nice ones on their site. In hindsite, I too wish I would have just bought the kit to play around with.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Check out your local coin and stamp shops. Coin/currency and stamp people use loupes also. That's where we got our first 10X. Looks just like the ones jewelers use and works very well. Not real expensive either.

 

[oldminer]

The loupe we sell along with a locking tweezer on our website for $25 can be bought alone for $15. We find most people need a stone holder as well as a loupe, but we accomodate folks who only want the loupe.....It is as good a loupe as many jewelers use every day. Any less would be a waste of money. There are some very cheap loupes available, but those I have checked out were not right for diamond grading.

 

[pqcollectibles]

Good point about the tweezers, OldMiner. Tweezers are very helpful when looking at loose diamonds!!

 

[hoorray]

True, it's just hard to justify keeping those diamonds loose for very long, so the tweezers can have a limited life

. Not a bad use of $25 tho for the geeky types....

 

[zircon46]

I am new to this site. I read the posting about loops. I use a magnifying piece that sits on my head and has an optical lens, rather than a hand held device. I have referred to these as loops, but I may have done so wrongly. anyway, if you wanted something like this I have found VERY reasonably priced ones at Joann's Fabric and Craft store and at a local bead shop. With all the interest in beading people want items to help their vision. I got my loops 20 years ago at a jewelers for about $25. I bought my girlfriend a pair for her birthday at the same jewelers about five years ago for $32 and bought my sister a pair at a bead store that had more options than mine for $7.50. The ones at the bead store have a fixed magnification and then one that flips over for more and then yet another that is just for one eye that comes down over the other two. You can use them in a variety of combinations for differing focal lengths and mag. powers. Hope this helps.