Loupe?

[LoganFlame]

Trying to figure a good loupe, and a decent value, my eyes aren't what they were years ago, any help!

 

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[Chadeaux]

Books-A-Million had a pretty decent loupe for $10 a couple years back ...

Wally's world has a double 20X loupe (one for each eye - with their own LED Light) for less than $10 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Insten-2...tch-Repair-Jeweler-Jewelry-Appraisal/34531079

I bought one and mine works quite well.

 

[boogeyman]

Harbor Freights got some. I bought the visor one with the light. Like it! has different lenses that plug in and you can combine for more magnification. Also bought a couple of the 10x that folds up in it's own case. Was like $2 with the 20% coupon. The one I've been carrying in my pocket for two or three years ( a minor miracle in my pockets) is still in good shape. Now that I think about it, I really can't see any difference in clarity etc. than the $20 something one I got as a gift.

 

[Mzjavert]

I've gotten a decent loupe at coin shops.

https://www.silvertowne.com/p-16369-16x-he-harris-jewelers-loupe.aspx

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

10x with the largest diameter you care to fool with(talking loupes, not handhelds on a stick), brand doesn't matter for initial looksee. Larger diameter is especially good on old eyes. Anything beyond 20x is pretty worthless imo and I've used the same 10x in the field for 40+ years.

I recently got one of the Celestron Digital Microscope Pros for home use and LOVE it. Well under $100; check it out if you think you may have a regular use (and its fantastic for magnified pics and video).


Tip: the best way to use a loupe is to put it close to your eye and move the object to it, not loupe away from the eye. Use your glasses or not at your personal preference.

 

[dsdigger]

I have both 10X and 15X handhelds that came from coin shops some years ago when I started coin collecting. I agree that above 20X is a bit more than you may ever need. Larger diameter is good to have to let more light in (just like the mirror on an old microscope). Having the type that fold into a cover to keep with you and something to use at home is also good. I bought one from Book-a-Million to carry so the good ones are at home and not lost. Good Luck

 

[LoganFlame]

Thanks everyone, the last one I had which I cannot find I bought at Silvertown, lived in Richmond for a little over a decade and did great there, now near Salem, Indiana and getting back into it!

 

[ChampFerguson/TN]

There's a ton of them on the bay if you don't want to actually go hunting for one. + its nice to be able to compare prices from a large selection(just looked and theres 6000+ returns on 'loupe' in north America alone). I actually bought a hi quality 20x from Germany a few years back on that site; it sits in my truck, hardly used except for trying to see if a ring stone is natural or artificial. Like I mentioned before, 20x is just too much magnification to be very useful in everyday use.