Using a loupe

[IrishEyes]

Okay, this may seem like a silly question. I have a nice loupe that I purchased about 2 months ago. It''s an 18.0mm 10x triplet purchased through the GIA instruments. I use it all the time, as I am obsessed with looking at my diamonds and trying to find the inclusions on my VVS2 .75 ct. princess cut

Recently, I came across a thread here ( don''t remember who started it or what it was called), and someone was saying how hard it can be to accurately use a loupe, and that it takes alot of practice. Really??? I don''t think I am using it wrong, and I didn''t think it was all that hard. Sure, it took me a few tries when I first recieved it, but I caught on pretty quickly. Am I doing something wrong?

It''s kind of like when you''re in a class and you finish a problem real fast and think "boy, that was easy!", only to see the rest of the class struggling with it for 10 more minutes! You start to think "did I do something wrong? Did I miss a part?"

I guess that''s what I''m feeling now......

All of you experts, let me know any "techniques" or proper methods you know of to accurately using a loupe, so I may compare and see if I am actually using it right!!

 

[Antwerpman]

The ''proper'' way to use it is to hold your loupe between your thumb and forefinger. Then with your polished diamond in your tweezers you rest the tweezers on the middle finger of the hand holding the loupe. This will allow you to move the diamond forwards and backwards using the middle finger - thus bringing it in to focus. With practice you can then finely adjust the focal point and move it from the front to the back of the stone, and visa versa.

Also your loupe should be close to your eye - not quite touching your eyelashes but not too far away.

The same technique can be used when you are holding the stone between your thumb and forefinger (usual with rough stones and sometimes with polished). Then you simply rest your thumb holding the stone against the tip of your middle finger (on the hand holding the loupe) and again use the middle finger to adjust focus. With practice you can then make a small movement between your thumb and forefinger and make the stone spin around - very handy

Hope this helps

A

 

[rockupied]

IrishEyes

I''m having the same issue. I bought a 30x21mm loupe and have obsessively tried to find the inclusions in my VVS2 1.27 princess, plotted on my GIA report. I have looked in different lighting, different angles, different focuses and I can''t find it. You would think that is a good thing, but it''s driving me nuts.

 

[IrishEyes]

Antwerpman - Thanks, that was really informative!! The diamond I look at is mounted, however your "demo" still gives me good insight! Thank you

Rockupied - hahaha, at least you have a GIA plot for your stone!! lol, under 1 carat they don''t do plots ( unless upon request), so I have no plot to go off of, just my own sight! I have found what looks to be a pinpoint inclusion, although it is white, so it''s pretty hard to see. This was after MONTHS of scrutinizing it!

But yeah, like you said, that''s a good thing!

Although one noticeable inclusion can be good, to identify your stone at least......

 

[rockupied]

There''s a pinpoint almost smack in the middle of the table. Can''t find it with the loupe.

 

[IrishEyes]

wow, that is one pretty clean stone!! I can see why you are having a hard time finding it!!

 

[ame]

I have a 10x and a 30x and As long as I can see clearly I always thought I was doing it right.

I use them to check for chips, cracks, bad prongs and dirt missed when I clean them. My name is Ame and I am insane.

 

[rockupied]

I''ve been experimenting with my archaic digital camera and my 30x loupe if anyone is interested in seeing the photos...

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Get fluoro flood light coming from the top side of the pavilion. Spot lighting will not do.
Be 6 inches to a foot from the light.

Move in and out so you raise your feild of focus from culet to table - and do this through each crown facet.

VVS1 - Flawless takes 1-3 hours with a microscope

 

[valeria101]

Date: 5/2/2005 1:44:35 PM
Author: rockupied
I''ve been experimenting with my archaic digital camera and my 30x loupe if anyone is interested in seeing the photos...

This is a joke, right ?

Please show them

 

[belle]

Date: 5/2/2005 1:44:35 PM
Author: rockupied
I''ve been experimenting with my archaic digital camera and my 30x loupe if anyone is interested in seeing the photos...

well, of course!!

 

[rockupied]

The first ones were taken in the (unprofessional) conditions that Gary recommended...

 

[rockupied]

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[rockupied]

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[rockupied]

Here''s some other lighting shots...

 

[rockupied]

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[rockupied]

Last one for now...