QuestionHi,
I wrote you a while back and you were extremely helpful! (re.: stamping the inside of bands).
I am a lay person. However, I'd love to get hold of one of those gemologist loupes (I just now found out that's what their called). I was in a jewelry store the other night and the jeweler let me use his to look at a diamond. I was really impressed with the way those things work! Can you please tell me what power, or whatever, I could get? I found 2 new loupes, (on ebay - $13.99 total), which are 10x 18mm crome round - one is crome, the other is black. Can you also please let me know if this is the same power that professional jewelers use? I know absolutely nothing at all about these things, except (I think), how to use them! I was just so impressed with the clarity at the jewelers that I'd love one of my own, but I'd like to get the same kind the professionals use - same power. They may all use 10x, I don't know! :-)
Thank you so much, and I appreciate your time.
Beth Pearce
AnswerDear Beth,
Believe it or not, the loupe I use is a cheapie one. I use this to examine prongs, check rings and jewelry for breaks, etc. Now, to get a good look at stones, you need a better than the $10 variety. The difference is the correction of the lens. A corrrected lens loupe will be clear to the edges of the field of view and will show corrrect colors. The cheapies will be a bit fuzzy at the edges or make the image curve, plus colors might be off at the edges of the view.
Here is just one site with loupes. You will the the standard type of loupe in the upper left. These are the loupe which will fold back into its built-in metal case.
http://alpha-supply.com/138.htm
RioGrande at www.riogrande.com has loupes as do most suppliers of jewelry parts and supplies. The Alpha site gives you an idea of what to look for.
Yes, 10X is the standard for diamond and gemstone grading. Be sure to hold the loupe to the eye, not to the object. Hold the loupe to the eye and bring the item in to the loup to focus. I ususually put out the pinky finger of the hand holding the loupe to rest the item on for control of focus. This is easier than trying to keep two moving hands in sync. Hold it, bring it in and rest on the pinky of the hand holding the loupe...that will make you look like a pro!
And, you will get a good view that way, too.
This is not the same as "extended pinky while drinking tea" but the finger does serve a wonderful purpose in stabalizing the item you are viewing.
Beth, this is one answer I was able to do directly on the site and not go to MS Word first.(forgive any messup from lack of spellcheck) Let me know if you need more. Look for corrected lenses. This correction is for abberation and color. You certainly do not need to spend more than about $30 for a pretty good one for general purposes. You might get by for even less, if the eBay ones are said to have corrected lenses.
There you go! Good veiwing.
God Bless. Thoamas. 12-14-04 about 10 pm
