 | Loupes (Jewellers folding magnifiers)
I call these 'jewellers loupes' because I sell mostly to antiques and jewellery traders for looking at hallmarks, gemstones etc.
There are many other uses: for geologists and biologists in the field (and for gardeners); for doctors checking skin lesions; electronics engineers checking PCBs; laboratory technicians checking slides; photographers checking negatives.
The price of each loupe reflects the quality of the lens. For professional traders a loupe is THE most important item of 'test equipment' so go for the best you can afford.
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| Watchmakers' Eyeglasses
Hold the open end in the eye (it takes practice) - this leaves the hands free to work. Please remember that the higher the magnification the closer to the object you must hold the lens, so stick to low magnification (2X to 6X) if you need space to handle tools. If, however, you want one of these instead of a jewellers loupe, then a higher magnification is OK.
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| Reading Magnifiers
Traditional lenses with handles, or 'Fresnel' magnifying sheets, or 'domes' that rest on the page, there's even a large magnifier that hangs around the neck.
These are mainly used for reading text (books, magazines, maps) and there are sizes for everyone, from those who need 'just a little help' to those who are very nearly blind.
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| General purpose folding magnifiers
Some fold into hard cases, some into soft cases; some swing closed, some click closed. These are what most people call, 'general purpose magnifiers' - for reading the small print on forms, labels in the supermarket, marks on furniture and porcelain. The advantage over a 'reader' is that they fit neatly into a pocket or small handbag. |
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| Large magnifiers with stands or clamps (including illuminated)
These are large enough to work under, using both hands. Please remember: the larger the lens the lower the power, that's how lenses work! But a nice quality large lens of low power is MUCH easier to work with than a high power lens that is too small. |
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| Small magnifiers on stands (including linen provers / linen testers)
These rest on the page magnifiers ("stand magnifiers") are larger than jewellers / watchmakers magnifiers but smaller than reading magnifiers. The 'Linen Provers' are, traditionally, used for 'proving' (testing) linen by counting the number of threads per inch. Each has a scale on the base. These have a hinged mechanism and fold flat for easy carrying. |
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| Head-worn Magnifiers, binocular - surgeon's type
Binocular (for both eyes) magnifiers that either clip to spectacles or are worn around the head. These have an elaborate set of lenses built into a tiny monocular (like a miniature telescope), of the type used by dentists and surgeons.
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| Lens
Just one at the moment: a very large lens with a high-power inset. |
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| Clearance Magnifiers
Some of these are samples from importers and manufacturers that I've decided not to add to my range, some are end-of-lines which I have now withdrawn from my paper mail order catalogue (because I only have a few remaining). |
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| Microscopes
Microscopes
(We also have secondhand full-size microscopes, scroll to the bottom to SECONDHAND items) |
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| Do not buy
I am forever buying samples of magnifiers that look good - often they are advertised in huge adverts in magazines, but when I get the sample I consider them to be...awful.
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