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nkc

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
364
Any recommendations?
 
I have the Belomo one from amazon above. It works really well.
 
I'm interested in getting one of these too, in order to check the GIA inscription on our diamond when we get it. Has anyone had experience reading the laser inscription with one of these? I've read that it can be somewhat challenging reading it with a 10x loupe, but I guess further magnification would be hard to keep steady?
 
I love my zeiss
 
HDer said:
I'm interested in getting one of these too, in order to check the GIA inscription on our diamond when we get it. Has anyone had experience reading the laser inscription with one of these? I've read that it can be somewhat challenging reading it with a 10x loupe, but I guess further magnification would be hard to keep steady?
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I can read my inscriptions with my loupe. I find that its easiest to do outside on a clear day under some shade to block direct light. A steady hand helps too.
 
The letter size varies by the girdle thickness. I've found that I can read some inscriptions with a a hand-held loupe at 10x with bright light, but on some...you need 40x . At that magnification, you really need a scope or 3rd hand to hold the loupe and really good light.
 
rockysalamander said:
The letter size varies by the girdle thickness.
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That's a good point. The inscriptions on my AVRs are easier to see than on my EC. I can still see both, but the girdle thickness differs.
 
I love my belomo x10. It's a great loupe. I agree that certain inscriptions are tough to read. Can't go wrong with a belomo though and they have a x30.
 
I use my Gemoro 10x triplex which does the job fine for me. Though I'm cpnsidering getting a 20x from my local jewellery supplies shop for inscription viewing.
 
I do not own one, but I had the opportunity to use a Triplet Hawk 10x Diamond Loupe by Swiss Axe once, and it was beautiful. :-o :shock: Unfortunately, I haven't tried the other loupes mentioned here, so I cannot compare them. :cry2:
 
Zeiss is really good, but Triplet Hawk by Swiss Axe is the best!
Diamond clarity standard is 10x, so buy 10x loupe.
 
HDer said:
I'm considering getting this: https://www.amazon.com/Triplet-Magnifier-High-Quality-Optical-Anti-Reflection/dp/B007JIGEEW

Hopefully the slightly larger magnification will make reading the inscription easier, while not avoiding most of the problems of the even higher powered ones.
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I will offer the comment that most inexperienced users of loupes will have a very hard time to see and read an inscription only at 10X. I do not think that 12 X will make that big of a difference. It has been my experience that most will need at least 20X and 30X is better for reading an inscription. If the dark coloration has been steamed or ultrasoniced out of the inscription, it can be extremely hard to find with a loupe, let alone to read.

As for holding the loupe steady with a 3rd hand, I loved that comment by the way, the trick is to use your thumb knuckle against your cheek to hold the loupe steady, and then make a finger bridge between the hand with the loupe and the hand holding the diamond to keep the diamond steady in the loupe for viewing.

I made a short video on how to use a loupe some years ago. I believe that I am allowed to link to it in answering a question, but if not, I would ask the moderator to kindly remove the link. This video should make it clear on how to properly hold and use the loupe to its best effect.


Wink
 
That's how I was taught to use a loupe Wink!
 
And probably why you are able to read the inscription at 10X. I am interested to hear how much better you like it with the 20X.

Wink
 
Wink said:
I will offer the comment that most inexperienced users of loupes will have a very hard time to see and read an inscription only at 10X. I do not think that 12 X will make that big of a difference. It has been my experience that most will need at least 20X and 30X is better for reading an inscription. If the dark coloration has been steamed or ultrasoniced out of the inscription, it can be extremely hard to find with a loupe, let alone to read.

As for holding the loupe steady with a 3rd hand, I loved that comment by the way, the trick is to use your thumb knuckle against your cheek to hold the loupe steady, and then make a finger bridge between the hand with the loupe and the hand holding the diamond to keep the diamond steady in the loupe for viewing.

I made a short video on how to use a loupe some years ago. I believe that I am allowed to link to it in answering a question, but if not, I would ask the moderator to kindly remove the link. This video should make it clear on how to properly hold and use the loupe to its best effect.


Wink
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Great video and exactly what I do with 10x and 15x.

I've not actually used a third-hand for diamonds, but it is what I used to do when I ran field labs and need to show others how to identify plants (tiny frigging seeds) or insects (tiny frigging mouthparts and legs) and I need to point to the 3rd spine on the 4th leg with a pointer tool and aim the flashlight too. Way easier in a lab with a scope, but 'needs must' in the field. {oddly, loupe's are called 'hand lens' among field scientists}

Maybe there are folks out there that can do the bridge with a 40x, but I just can't keep my hands/face/breathing steady enough see anything. Its hard enough with 20x binoculars when you can brace your whole body. I bow to anyone that can manage that with 40x skill.
 
Wink said:
I will offer the comment that most inexperienced users of loupes will have a very hard time to see and read an inscription only at 10X. I do not think that 12 X will make that big of a difference. It has been my experience that most will need at least 20X and 30X is better for reading an inscription. If the dark coloration has been steamed or ultrasoniced out of the inscription, it can be extremely hard to find with a loupe, let alone to read.

As for holding the loupe steady with a 3rd hand, I loved that comment by the way, the trick is to use your thumb knuckle against your cheek to hold the loupe steady, and then make a finger bridge between the hand with the loupe and the hand holding the diamond to keep the diamond steady in the loupe for viewing.

I made a short video on how to use a loupe some years ago. I believe that I am allowed to link to it in answering a question, but if not, I would ask the moderator to kindly remove the link. This video should make it clear on how to properly hold and use the loupe to its best effect.


Wink
Click to expand...


Thanks Wink. The reason I'm wary of higher magnifications is that I read that the shallow field of view and the need for more light can be a challenge.

Does anyone know of any apparatuses that would hold the ring and loupe in place to alleviate this issue?

Also has anyone used a microscope instead?
 
HDer,

I have been using loupes since 1971. Let me tell you, I ALWAYS use a scope for looking for and at inscriptions. ALWAYS.

When my staff checks in a newly arriving diamond, the first thing they do is sit at the microscope and verify the inscription on the diamond, then take it to the scale to verify the weight as well. It is also the last two things that they do to a diamond that is being shipped out to a client if it has been purchased as a loose diamond. If we are making the mounting, it is the last thing done before we give the diamond to our Workshop foreman.

I do know a very few who I would trust to read an inscription with a 10X loupe, Paul Slegers and Lieve Peeters being two of them.

Of course, a really great loupe is fairly inexpensive. A moderately good microscope is expensive, and a really great one, is worth every extra thousand paid for it, but far out of reach for the average private who wants to look at inscriptions.

Still, if you have access, you will be much happier and confident with it than most will ever be with a loupe.

Wink
 
btw the lighted loupe above is awesome for finding and removing splinters for which I use it a lot.
 
I use the 40X on my microscope for inscriptions. I can see crystal
clear numbers...:cool2:
DSCN0827.JPG
 
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HDer said:
Not to totally hijack this thread, but what about something like this?
http://www.amscope.com/40x-1000x-biological-science-student-compound-microscope.html
Also, besides portability, is there any reason to get a loupe over a microscope?
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HDer said:
Thanks Wink. The reason I'm wary of higher magnifications is that I read that the shallow field of view and the need for more light can be a challenge.
Does anyone know of any apparatuses that would hold the ring and loupe in place to alleviate this issue?
Also has anyone used a microscope instead?
Click to expand...

I use a compound microscope on a dissection base at work, a Leica Wild M3Z with fiberoptic lights so you don't get burned every 10 seconds. With a compound head on a traditional base, like the one you linked, you have a very shallow area of focus between the subject and the lens (which is why so many slide covers get cracked by students). After you use such a scope enough, you get used to it and many expensive models have a stop that you can set to avoid contact between the objective and the subject. With a setup like my work scope, you can use a third hand setup to hold the gem (as this does not have a gem arm attachment point).

This is a better choice with gem work, it is only missing the gem holder. Optics are ok (not great), but probaby a much better starter scope. You still need an external light source to make it easiest to use. Others may have additional recommendations.
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-SE305R-PZ-Microscope-Magnification-Objectives/dp/B004SQQCHC

Why are loupes popular? IDK. They are small, compact, easy to carry and can be used more subtly than a scope. They also can be moved into better light without carrying a huge scope around.
 

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Thanks for the suggestion @rockysalamander.

I do remember breaking my fair share of slides so you're right that setup might not be so ideal.

My dilemma is $140 is a bit steep for something I'm probably going to use seriously one time (to read the inscription) and then just keep around the house to play around with from time to time or have kids play around with.

So if a loupe is too hard to use for this purpose and a microscope is too expensive, then maybe I should just take it to a jeweler? Was thinking I wanted to go to the SF Crafted By Infinity dealer to see what kind of difference CBI makes, so maybe I can have them check it out there? That should cost what? 20/40 dollars? Kind of backwards I guess since normally people recommend checking the inscription after getting the ring FROM a dealer.
 
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