Lighted loupe - Is it an improvement?

I need a new loupe (I seem to lose them) but all the ones I see
advertised seem to be lighted ones. I’ve never used one of those,
and never felt deprived, but it has me wondering. Is this an
improvement? If you have actually used one of these, what do you
think of it?

Thanks!
Noel

Noel you didn’t say what use you would put the loupe to. It makes a
big difference.

KPK

For general work I use an old fashioned eye loupe hung on my eyeglass
frame, and for real close work the Mejii/Acrobat set up, but
yesterday needed a bit more hand space and both eyes so I used an
optivisor that I had just set up last week with the light feature for
my employer.

Very very nice! Will not be using it all the time, but I can see how
this could be useful, and will be setting one up for my own bench.

Noel you didn't say what use you would put the loupe to. It makes
a big difference. 

Good point!!

I use a loupe when I set faceted stones, which not real frequently. I
don’t feel the need for a microscope-type set-up. I just use a loupe
held up to my eye to see the girdle, check the cut, see how it is
sitting in the setting (usually tube or flush) and the like. Also on
those rare occasions when I shop for faceted stones at the gem show.

Noel

I have been enjoying mine but I’m not sure it is any kind of
necessity.

John
Indiana

I just got a 10x loupe from Stuller that has a built in led light, it
is pretty sweet.

I have a Lumi-loupe that I bought about 25 years ago that I do not
think is still produced. It is a pen light with a loupe on the end
that swivels 45 degrees when you use it.

Having light right were you need it regardless of what the lighting
is like in the environment you are in is absolutely beneficial to
being able to see clearly. Mine is similar to :

http://www.nationaljewelerssupplies.com/p/SK0501.html

Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co. 80210

Depends on what type loupe you mean.

I bought a 10X lighted loupe for gem work. It has 6 LEDs and that is
the problem. For diamond work especially, dark field illumination is
what you want. The LEDs give a wholly unnatural color and the
reflections are distracting to say the least. I wouldn’t grade a
diamond with it but it is OK for close inspection of prongs etc.

For ‘working’, although I haven’t tried one, my reservation would be
weight. Anything that gets heavy by noon gives me a headache by tea
time. I get enough headaches just from business, don’t need to add to
it.

I have a lighted loupe that I have attached to my bench and use it
for general work. I find that I can see the work clearer…Teddy

Then, the lumiloupe, a maglight with attached loupe of good quality,
might serve you well. The triple lens is intended for the inspection
of diamonds originally. The quality necessary comes at a price.

But now plastic lens are of good quality. It’s a special order to get
glass lens for glasses; they are usually plastic. Radio Shack sells a
set of three plastic loupes of varying powers which are very good.
And the diameter is about 25 mm; giving a broader field of view.

Another suggestion might be a monocle loupe attached to a hand band
which would leave a hand free for a light. Of course if you set
stones more frequently there’s nothing like a microscope.

KPk

I just purchased a lighted loupe it has both 6 led lights and uv
lights. I was wondering what the uv is used forl

George in Green Bay

UV light causes some stones to fluoresce (as in some diamonds) making
it a diagnostic tool.

KPK