Jeweler's Loupe

[grumpyolman]

Don't know exactly the correct place to put this post but I am a ML person and ET, SE, Excal, owner, & I trust the folks I have seen post here. How much should I spend to get a good loupe and any recommendations on manufacturer? I am getting too old to see the dates on the coins really well and never could do to well with the grading marks on the inside of the rings. Thanks...Jim.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

and says it works great . . . tucks it in his pocket along with a 35mm film canister with cotton balls to put his finds in.

30X Loop . . . . $8 shipped!

Hope this gives you an option

Andy

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hi - you should have asked me when we spoke on the phone - I work right near the diamond district - I use a jewelers loupe all the time on my finds. The cheapies are ok in the field, but have no distortion correct. There's a couple I highly recommend made in Europe or Japan. Will post some names later....a good one'll cost about $60 and they can go up to $200 or more. The good ones have triplet lenses to correct the distortion. Regards, Erik

 

[Erik in NJ]

My favorite is the Rubin & Son 10x Triplet handheld loupe, but I had a tough time locating one recently - I think it can be ordered direct from the GIA and its made in western Europe, Antwerp if my memory serves me, but I'll check on this.

I bought another by Nikon which is made in Japan also a triplet loupe of very high quality like the Rubin. Kruss is OK - made in Germany, but not as good as the other two. I think it goes for about $35 or so. The Rubin is probably around $65 - $75 now and the Nikon is a little over $100 from what I recall. I find that my loupe is one of my most commonly used tools for MD as well as a multitude of other applications. Would hate to be without one. The cheap $8 Chinese units are OK to have in the field or for simple applications if you do not want to invest in a quality tool. They will probably not be triplets and so will have some distortion. My local coin dealer carries these as does www.kassoy.com - their house brand.

Me, I love my Rubin!

 

[Andy Sabisch]

. . . not becoming a jeweler. A basic imported loop works fine for this application . . . . not sure I would want to take a $70 loop in the field and hope it does not get scratched or lost. I'm sure the high priced ones are of better quality . . . . not sure that is what is needed for a field tool

 

[Erik in NJ]

As I said the cheap $10 loupes are good for the field etc., but I think 30X is too much magnification for many applications (though I'm sure it can be helpful sometimes - I might buy one of those $8 units just for the occaisional use - not sure how they make them so darn cheap), 10X is the standard and what I recommend. I know Jim likes high quality tools as do I and so I have a couple of the good ones around the house as well as a cheapie or two lying around that I can take in the field. The Rubin is a finely crafted tool that will make you smile every time you pick it up. I'm just trying to put all the options on the table. If he also want to use it in a machine shop he'll want one that corrects the distortion. Regards, Erik

 

[Erik in NJ]

Rubin & Son
Triplet
10X 20.5mm (Greek character phi)
Antwerp

This is what it says on my favorite loupe - I bought it years ago in the diamond district in NYC as it was the same one that a dealer I know uses. I think the GIA sells it on-line, but I will try to find the source. I obviously don't take it out in the field much, but use it all over my home and shop as well for checking out my MD finds all the time. An invaluable tool to say the least.

 

[Ray-Mo.]

10x Hastings Triplet Magnifier

Sale: $37.56

Truly the finest magnifiers Bausch & Lomb has to offer, Hastings Triplet Magnifiers incorporate three separate lenses, bonded together to form a compound lens to provide sharp, very distinct magnified image without distortion. A swing-away, nickel-plated case protects the lens and serves as a handle. 10x power has a focal distance of 1"/2.5 cm, 40 diopters and a 15.8 mm lens diameter.

 

[grumpyolman]

Read all I could about them online and wanted one on the way. Erik hit the nail on the head. I do seem to collect good equipment. So many times in my younger years I tried to get by with the least expensive I could buy. Ended up disappointed and frustrated too many times and the net result was wasted $$. I have 2 Nikon camers and they always served me well. So I went with the previous experience and have a Nikon on the way. I probaby won't take it out in the field much, but if I need to I will. They're meant to be used. Might be smarter to get one of the less expensive ones to put in my field kit, though. Jim

 

[Erik in NJ]

I've got 3 Nikon SLRs myself and the Nikon optics are top shelf. Love the fact that I can use all my AF lenses on my D200! I'll pick up a cheapie loupe for you in NYC and send it out with the TargetBuddy! You'll be very happy with the Nikon loupe and will find all sorts of uses for it including detecting finds! BTW, it's rare that I need a loupe in the field....99.9% of the time I use it at home.

 

[McNickle]

If you are a little blind like me (reading glasses). You can get an oversized 4-5-8,or 10x power Loupe for the field .
Here is an inexpensive one I use. Sold on Ebay.....http://cgi.ebay.com/POCKET-MAGNIFYING-GLASSES-LENS-MAGNIFIER-GLASS-10X_W0QQitemZ330282013048QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330282013048&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

 

[thedeserttortoise]

If you are a little blind like me (reading glasses). You can get an oversized 4-5-8,or 10x power Loupe for the field .
Here is an inexpensive one I use. Sold on Ebay.....http://cgi.ebay.com/POCKET-MAGNIFYING-GLASSES-LENS-MAGNIFIER-GLASS-10X_W0QQitemZ330282013048QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330282013048&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Just used a friends today. Just like the one from your link..same box, etc. It works great and I love the aprox 2" lense. I just ordered 4 of them. Thanks for the link.

 

[king-ghidorah]

I definitely need one of these. I have been thinking about getting one for some time now.