Magnification needed to see laser inscribed girdle?

[Schrute]

I am thinking of buying a loupe to see the laser inscription on my diamond''s girdle.

This seems to be a popular and very high quality loupe:

http://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Loupe-Folding-Magnifier/dp/B0002OVC9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1247224775&sr=8-1

Is 10x enough to see the inscription? Or do I need more? I have good eyes.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/10/2009 7:20:13 AM
Author:Schrute
I am thinking of buying a loupe to see the laser inscription on my diamond's girdle.

This seems to be a popular and very high quality loupe:

http://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Loupe-Folding-Magnifier/dp/B0002OVC9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1247224775&sr=8-1

Is 10x enough to see the inscription? Or do I need more? I have good eyes.

Some can see at 10X but I believe more need higher mag such as 20X

 

[ILoveDiamondsToo]

I have that loupe and it is great! However, I can''t see the girdle inscription with it. I have the same brand but the 20x that I can see the inscription with but it''s hard. The higher up in magnification the harder the loupe is to use because you need to get much more light in. They are the best loupes I''ve ever used.

 

[treefrog]

At 10x, you *may* be able to see that there is an inscription but you won''t be reading it. It will look like a tiny gray blob.

 

[Todd Gray]

Most inscriptions look like hieroglyphics at 10x magnification, some are more visible at 20x, personally I keep a 30x loupe on my desk just to make it easy. Keep in mind that inscriptions vary in size depending on the thickness of the girdle edge and how much writable space was available along the girdle edge for the particular phrase being inscribed, so an inscription that is visible on one diamond at 10x magnification might not be visible on another diamond at 10x magnification.

 

[oldminer]

Here is the cure for the problem. 20x works most of the time for me, but once in a great while or with very small engraving I need 30x.

https://products.gemappraisers.com/pc-33-1-professional-gem-loupes-10x-20x-30x.aspx

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I can''t see mine with my 10x loupe, but can see it pretty easily with my 20x loupe. However, I try not to look because it just makes me want to clean my diamond.

 

[stone-cold11]

I think you will need steady hands for the task even with good eyes and loupe.

Maybe something like this is easier?

http://www.nationaljewelerssupplies.com/p/SK0516.html

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/10/2009 2:12:56 PM
Author: oldminer

Here is the cure for the problem. 20x works most of the time for me, but once in a great while or with very small engraving I need 30x.

https://products.gemappraisers.com/pc-33-1-professional-gem-loupes-10x-20x-30x.aspx

Those are great David!

 

[ficklefaye]

i can see mine with the 10x loupe strangely enough, maybe i''m squinting too hard

 

[Moh 10]

I can see mine fine, and even read the numbers, with a high-quality 10x but I have to keep moving it and move myself till the light reflects just right to make it stand out.

Don't forget, besides magnification there is also a wide range of optical quality.
You can pay from $2 to $485 for a 10x loupe.

http://www.kassoy.com/ec/1/product.asp?idDept=332&idProduct=3763

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 7/10/2009 2:31:46 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
I think you will need steady hands for the task even with good eyes and loupe.

Maybe something like this is easier?

http://www.nationaljewelerssupplies.com/p/SK0516.html

This one really is fab. It''s a single purpose utility, but it was shown to me, is 20X (I believe) and works great.

 

[Dancing Fire]

i use a 30X.

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:09:39 PM
Author: ficklefaye
i can see mine with the 10x loupe strangely enough, maybe i''m squinting too hard

How BIG is your stone? Bigger stone = bigger girdle = bigger inscription?

 

[MrsChil]

Date: 7/10/2009 6:14:50 PM
Author: Moh 10
I can see mine fine, and even read the numbers, with a high-quality 10x but I have to keep moving it and move myself till the light reflects just right to make it stand out.

Don''t forget, besides magnification there is also a wide range of optical quality.
You can pay from $2 to $485 for a 10x loupe.

http://www.kassoy.com/ec/1/product.asp?idDept=332&idProduct=3763

This is what I have to do to see mine with the 10x loupe too! I can make it out little by little in good lighting. My stone is 1.72 cushion for reference.