Very often it’s in the very fine details where you discover whether or not your find is an antique treasure or a modern reproduction. Hallmarks and makers marks are often worn or quite small on fine, delicate pieces of silver, pottery or jewelry. This is when a good magnifying glass or, most often even better, a quality jeweler’s loupe (pronounced loop) comes in handy.
A loupe, with its special lenses, allows your eyes to focus on an object at a much closer distance than would usually be possible, making the item look to be larger and allowing tiny details to be revealed that otherwise would be hidden to the naked eye.
A One-Lens or a Three-Lens Loupe?
Frequently you’ll find inexpensive (cheap!) magnifying lens jeweler’s loupes with a single lens. Although they do allow for magnification, a problem that is frequently associated with them is that they tend to be of poorer quality, resulting in distortion of the object that you’re magnifying and the addition of color flashes to the object. The latter, in particular, can be a problem if you’re examining jewelry with stones such as diamonds.
A three-lens loupe, or a triplet, contains three lenses that are placed in such a manner as to correct the distortion and color problems that are associated with a single lens loupe.
How Much Power Do I Need in a Loupe?
Each loupe is labeled with a number that is followed by an “X,” denoting “times.” As such, a 5X loupe will make an object appear 5 times larger than its actual size and a 10X loupe makes an object appear to be 10 times greater in size.
Keep in mind that the greater the magnification, the more light that will be required in order to view an object.
My wife’s preference is a 30X jeweler’s loupe with three lenses, a triplet, which has black framing around it in order to minimize reflections that may alter the color of the object being viewed. It has a small light built in to it.
I generally carry with me a 10X or 20X loupe to examine hallmarks and maker’s marks on silver as well as to look at the joints to see if there has been any damage or repairs.
Lighting
Good lighting will make a difference, giving you a better chance at reading the hallmarks and maker’s mark or in seeing if there are any imperfections in the stone that you are viewing. We have a few loupes, mainly because my wife, whom I love dearly, has a tendency to misplace them and once again find them months later – “Darling! I found that loupe in the glove compartment, wrapped in tissue!” I won’t stop teasing her about misplacing things, the same as I just have to accept that it will happen (we keep 4 sets of keys to her car!) But, I digress. The stronger the magnification, the stronger lighting you will require. At home, try to have a good desk lamp. When out on your treasure hunts, a good loupe with a built-in light can be advantageous.
I’ve Got a Loupe Now – Will I Become an Expert?
In a word, “No.”
Becoming an expert takes countless hours and years of study, examination of pieces and hard work.
But …
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A loupe can help, even a novice, to:
- Get a close up view to determine the quality of the piece that he or she is looking at;
- Find cracks, chips in gemstones;
- Have a better chance at reading worn makers’ marks and hallmarks;
- See if the piece has been repaired; and,
- Find larger blemishes and inclusions in gemstones, if one examines them closely.
If you can, find a jeweler or experienced antique collector or dealer who can assist you in determining the characteristics of a piece that you should be looking for, and what to watch out for. Ask questions. Ask lots and lots of questions. We always go back to your key tool in your question for quality antiques, collectibles and jewelry: Knowledge.
Experts can help you to use your jeweler’s loupe to identify inclusions in a gemstone; repairs or alterations to silver pieces; and cracks or other imperfections to pottery pieces. Be patient and hopefully you’ll reduce the number of mistakes that you make on your hunt for antique treasures.
As Always: Good Luck and Have Fun!
