All about jewelry loupes

A magnifier is a popular magnifying device with a long history. It is an indispensable tool for some professionals. Jewelry is one of the professions where the role of this optical system can hardly be overestimated. About what a jewelry loupe is, what types of it exist and how to choose the right device - further in the article.

Jewelry loupe is an optical device that allows the master to enlarge the product many times for convenience during work. It is used not only by jewelers and watchmakers, but also by antique dealers, philatelists, numismatists and other people whose profession or hobby is related to the manufacture or study of small objects, mechanisms, fonts, drawings, and so on.

A distinctive feature of jewelry loupes is the multiple magnification of the object under consideration - up to 10-20 times. Thanks to this, the masters get the opportunity to examine in detail the subject of interest to them. But there is an important remark regarding this parameter - the more the device enlarges the object, the more it distorts it.

Another important feature of jewelry loupes is the presence of models that allow you to leave the hands of the master free.

Another undoubted advantage when working with small details is the illumination built into the optical device. The work of a jeweler and watchmaker requires a lot of stress on the visual system, so bright lighting, including additional ones, is a must for them. Among the many models of jewelry loupes, one can find such optical systems that fully ensure this condition.

A common man in the street, hearing the phrase "jewelry loupe", is likely to imagine a round lens in a frame with a handle or a primitive eyepiece, fixed to the watchmaker's eye.

In fact, a jewelry loupe is a rather complicated and interesting device. For many centuries of the existence of the jewelry business, it has been improved and modified.

Today, a jewelry loupe is a group of high-power professional optical instruments that come in many varieties. They differ from each other in form, design, and also in the type of how the optical system itself is arranged. There are devices with and without illumination. For the manufacture of frames, only light materials are usually used: plastic or aluminum. Such devices are highly durable, so they will last for many years.

Depending on the shape and design, the following varieties are distinguished:

• with mount;
• desktop;
• portable;
• special forms.

Magnifiers with mounts are equipped with a tripod or a special mechanism that allows you to install or fix an optical device near the workplace. This is very convenient as it allows you to keep your hands free. A significant drawback of mountable magnifiers is their rather large size. Such devices can only be used stationary - it is not very convenient to carry them or take them with you.

Table magnifiers are smaller in comparison with the representatives of the previous group. They are installed directly on the wizard's desktop. Quite comfortable, but again - within the same room. Magnifiers of both groups can have built-in backlighting with LED bulbs, which is also their indisputable advantage.

Portable magnifiers are a lens that has a frame and a case. Usually these small magnifiers are pocket magnifiers. They are very convenient to carry. A significant drawback of the device is its primitiveness - it has an insufficiently powerful ability to increase small details.

Special shaped devices are the most popular type of jewelry optical systems. These include a monocular watch magnifier. Modern models are quite miniature, with low weight. This allows the master to easily hold such a device in the eye socket.

This group includes forehead binocular loupes as well as eyeglass magnifiers. The first ones are distinguished by their functionality and expand the view, they can be adjusted in height. The latter are easily attached to any frame of glasses.

All devices of a special shape are convenient for their ergonomics, as well as the fact that they completely free the hands of the master, allowing them to perform precise and painstaking work without any extra effort. Hands free is one of the key factors when choosing jewelry loupes.

When choosing professional devices for jewelers, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• construction;
• lens shape;
• material;
• magnification ratio (3x, 4.25x, 7.75 x, 10x);
• optical power (2.5 diopters).

Desktop, head-mounted binocular and monocular loupes, as well as magnifying glasses with magnifications of up to 10-15 times are perfect for repairing watches and jewelry.

It is recommended to work with sufficient lighting. It is necessary to install the device in such a way that the process of manufacturing or repairing a part is as comfortable as possible for the master. For this, you can use additional accessories: holders, swivel tripods. In free time, the instrument should be protected from direct sunlight, dust, moisture, damage with a case.