As you may already know, a loupe is a special magnifier that managed to amplify even the slightest details on an object. While they are mostly used by gemmologists and jewellers, knowing how to use a gemmologist loupe is an essential skill that just about everyone around the world should try to master at one point in time. 

With this factor in mind, as gemmologist loupes can reveal a lot of hidden features in the stone which is being inspected, these are also fun to use at the same time, while also revealing interesting facts about the structure of certain stones. 

  1. To start things off, you will have to turn on the light and make sure to keep it at a comfortable height above the inspection area on your table. At the same time, it is also essential to make sure that the light doesn’t fall on your eyes, as that can be quite a nuisance. 
  2. The next step is to clean the stone about to be inspected. Make sure to do this with the help of a tint free cloth. Another cloth can also be used to clean the lens of the loupe as an effort to ensure that you’ll get the best viewing experience. 
  3. The third step is to pick up the loupe and hold it tight. If you pick it up with your right hand, then use your left eye to look at the stone and vice versa. Make sure to try both variants out to see which one suits you best. 
  4. After this is done, pick up the stone with the help of a pair of tweezers. Make sure to be gentle with everything, as applying too much pressure may cause scratches to appear on the stone. It is also important not to touch the stone with your hand, as this can leave marks which will be hard to remove. 
  5. Position the loupe near or left or right eye and hold the stone with the tweezers around 2.5 cm away from the loupe. Make sure to be steady during the process and rest your hands over on the examination table. 
  6. Once you have taken a look at the gem, gently put it back on its cloth and begin examining the next stone, or just pack everything up while being exra careful not to damage the precious gems, or the loupe itself. 

When it comes down to which loupe is best to use in such a scenario, it always depends on the stone which is being examined. For example, a diamond mostly requires the use of a 10x loupe, whereas other precious stones may need a stronger loupe to be examined. 

By following all of the tips that have been outlined above, not only will you be able to examine a gem very well, but you’ll also stay away from any unfortunate accidents that may end up causing damage to your loupe, or gems.