Reddit mentions: The best jewelry loupes
We found 230 Reddit comments discussing the best jewelry loupes. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 46 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. BelOMO 10x Triplet. Jewelers Loupe Magnifier 21mm (.85"). Optical Glass with Anti-Reflection Coating for a Bright, Clear and Color Correct View. Foldable Loupe for Gems, Jewelry, Coins and Trichomes
- 10x Magnification Power - classic 3 lenses schema with the most useful magnification
- Large 21mm(0.85'') Achromatic Triplet Lens Gathers Light for a Bright, Clear and Color Correct View
- Large 0.65'' (17mm) Viewing Area - convenient in use for any subjects including diamonds, gems, knife's edge, coins, jewelry, trihomes
- Optical Quality Glass Lenses, each BelOMO loupe is certified just like a camera lens.
- Great for rocks, minerals, jewelery, coins, stamps, part inspection and other intents and purposes
Features:
Specs:
Color | Original Version |
Height | 1.25 Inches |
Length | 1.5 Inches |
Weight | 0.0875 Pounds |
Width | 1.38 Inches |
Size | Loupe |
2. DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos
- ★【 MINI POCKET MAGNIFYING GLASSES】 For Jewelry Authentication. Dual LED Jewelry Magnifier made of high quality optical glass in a chrome plated surround. Good for industrial purpose, Circuit board and Printing, Medicine,Coins and Stamps, Jewelry appraisal, Education, Geography, House living and Office. Our jeweler's loop makes it possible for you to distinguish and see objects clearly.
- ★【 SUPER BRIGHT LED LIGHT】★ Switch On/ Off for Bright White Led Light Convenient For See the Objects Clearly Under Insufficient Sunlight or Dark Environment. The lens should be really close to the object to see the details clearly. If the lens is far away from the object being viewed, it will be blurred or an inverted image.
- ★【2 LENS MAGNIFIER】★ Primary lens: 30x22mm, Supplementary lens: 60x12mm. You can choose different lens freely, The light switches sides for whichever lens you want to use. You can observe more clearly through this magnifying glass.
- ★【PORTABLE LIGHT WEIGHT LOUPE】★ Durable aluminum and Plastic Housing, Easy to Carry, With a Small Case to Protect It. Come with a DREAME Glasses cloth in the package to keep the loupe magnifiers dust-free.
- ★【EASY TO USE AND FOLDABLE DESIGN】★ loop jeweler is easily folded in your pocket or cloth bag when not needed. The package contains 1xscrew, 3xLR1130 button batteries, 1xJewelry loupe, 1xproduct manual, 1xglasses cloth.
Features:
Specs:
Color | White |
Height | 1.1 Inches |
Length | 1.8 Inches |
Weight | 0.07 Pounds |
Width | 1.4 Inches |
Size | Original |
Number of items | 1 |
3. JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc
- PRECISION INSTRUMENT: Designed for gems, jewelry, coins, stamps, rocks, watches, hobbies, antiques, models, photos industry, etc. JARLINK jeweler's loop makes it possible for you to distinguish and see objects clearly.
- 2 LENS LOUPES: Primary lens: 30x22mm, Supplementary lens: 60x12mm. The light switches sides for whichever lens you want to use. The lens should be really close to the object to see the details clearly. If the lens is far away from the object being viewed, it will be blurred or an inverted image.
- BRIGHT LED LIGHT: Our LED loupe is perfect for shining the right amount and angle of light for your use. LED lights provide good illumination for clarity.
- DURABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT: Made from durable aluminum and plastic housing, small and lightweight. Come with a handy little fabric bag in the package to keep the loupe magnifier safe and dust-free.
- PORTABLE DESIGN: JARLINK loop jeweler is easily folded in your pocket or cloth bag when not needed. The package contains 1*screw, 3*LR1130 button batteries, 1*loupe, 1*product manual, 1*bag. If not, please contact us in time.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Black |
Height | 1.6 Inches |
Length | 3.1 Inches |
Width | 2.6 Inches |
Size | 1-pack |
Number of items | 1 |
4. NYKKOLA 40X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Rocks, Stamps, Coins, Watches, Hobbies, Etc
- Bright LED light: you can see objects clearly in dark or insufficient light conditions with this dual LED light source.
- Pocket size: it is very convenient to carry and you can use it anywhere. It requires 3 LR927 batteries (batteries are included).
- Function: eye loupe is great for rock collectors, coin collectors, jewelers, hobbyists, and also makes a great gift for the kids to explore the fabulous tiny world.
- Foldable design: just pull out the jewelry magnifier to use, and put it back when not in use.
- This 40X magnifying glass illuminated jeweler loupe is built from durable metal with an optical glass that is 25 mm in length and has a dual bright LED light.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 1.3 Inches |
Length | 2.6 Inches |
Width | 1.89 Inches |
Release date | October 2019 |
Size | One Size |
5. Beemoon Jewelry Magnifier, 30 X 60X Illuminated Jewelry Loupe for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Antiques Models Photos
- PREMIUM QUALITY. Ideal for gems, jewelry, rocks, stamps, coins, watches, hobbies, antiques, models, photos industry.
- Dual LENS. Primary lens: 30x22mm, Supplementary lens: 60x12mm. You can choose different lens freely.
- SUPER BRIGHT LED LIGHTING. Switch on/ off for bright white led light convenient for see the objects clearly under insufficient sunlight or dark environment.
- PORTABLE & LIGHT WEIGHT. Durable aluminum and plastic housing, easy to carry, with a small case to protect it.
- EASY TO USE & FOLDABLE DESIGN. Just pull out the magnifier to use, and put it back when not in use. It requires 3 LR1130 batteries (Batteries are Included).
Features:
Specs:
Height | 1.4 Inches |
Length | 1.8 Inches |
Width | 1.1 Inches |
Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
Number of items | 1 |
6. SE 12x, 16x Illuminated Dual Lens Jeweler's Loupe - MJ362242L
Power 12X and 16XDia 20mm and 11mm1 LED Per LensRequires 3AG10 Batteries (Batteries are Included)
Specs:
Height | 1.5 inches |
Length | 3.9 inches |
Weight | 1 Pounds |
Width | 2.8 inches |
Number of items | 1 |
7. Happy Hydro - LED Loupe - 30x & 60x Magnifying Lens - Includes Batteries & Carrying Case
MAKE PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENTS of gemstones and collectibles, or inspect plants for signs of bugs, molds or mildews. See what the naked eye cannot with two LED-illuminated lensesSUPERIOR OPTICAL GLASS provides amazing clarity of details on jewelry, electronic micro-parts, paper currency and resin gla...
Specs:
Color | White |
Weight | 0.1875 Pounds |
Size | 1 |
8. KINGMAS 2 Lens 30x 60x Illuminated Jewelry Eye Loupe Jewelers Magnifier Magnifying with LED Lighting
- FOLDABLE POCKET MAGNIFIER GLASSES: for Jewelry Authentication, Jewelry, Rocks, Stamps, Coins, Watches, Hobbies, Antiques, Models, Photos Industry
- DUAL LENS: Primary Lens: 30x 22mm, Supplementary Lens: 60x 12mm. You Can Choose Different Lens Freely, Random switchover, Meet your different needs.
- LED LIGHTING ILLUMINATED - Switch On/ Off for Bright White Led Light Convenient For See the Objects Clearly Under Insufficient Sunlight or Dark Environment
- PORTABLE LIGHT WEIGHT - Foldable and tiny, great to have one in your pocket all the time. Optical glass lens provides clear view field, Folding metal cover protects lens
- PREMIUM DESIGN - EASY TO USE - Just Pull Out the Jewelry Magnifier to Use, and Put It Back When Not In Use. It Requires 3 LR1130 Batteries (Batteries is Included)
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver White |
Height | 1.181102361 Inches |
Length | 3.543307083 Inches |
Weight | 0.02 Pounds |
Width | 2.5196850368 Inches |
9. SE - Loupe - LED Illuminated, 30x, 25mm - MJ362530L
- eye loupe
- jewelry loupes
- 362530L
- 30x Magnification
Features:
Specs:
Weight | 0.11 Pounds |
10. 40X Illuminated Jeweler LED UV Lens Loupe Magnifier with Metal Construction and Optical Glass, with Kare and Kind Retail Package (40X x 25 mm, Silver)
- This 40X maginfication Illuminated Jeweler Loupe is built from durable metal with an optical glass that is 25 mm in length and has a dual bright LED light.
- The eye loupe is great for rock collectors, coin collectors, jewelers, hobbyists, and also makes a great gift for the kids to explore the fabulous tiny world.
- Bright LED and UV Light: You can see objects clearly in dark or insufficient light conditions with this dual LED light source. The UV light works as a counterfeit detector for things such as the paper currency, passports, Credit cards, and traveler's checks etc.
- Pocket size: it is very convenient to carry and you can use it anywhere. It requires 3 LR1130 batteries (Batteries are Included).
- With kare and kind Retail package.
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 1.181102361 Inches |
Length | 3.93700787 Inches |
Weight | 0.12345886672 Pounds |
Width | 2.362204722 Inches |
Size | 40X 25 mm |
11. Bluedot Trading jewelers-loupe-30x-60x 2 in 1 30 x 60x Magnified Jewellers Loupe, 2 in 1 30 x 60x Magnification
- This very practical 2 in 1 Jewelers Loupe/Magnifying Glass offers both 30x and 60x magnification.
- Bright LED light illumination, one (1) each for each lens.
- Lightweight and compact ~ easy to carry in pant or shirt pocket, or handbag.
- Comes with a hard plastic clamshell case.
- In addition to jewelry and watch repair, it provides convenient magnification for reading fine print, maps, and any number of other items requiring close examination. A great tool for coin and stamp collectors.
Features:
Specs:
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 1 Inches |
Weight | 0.5 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
Size | 2 in 1 30 x 60x Magnification |
12. Loupe Set - Dual 10x+20x, 10x, 30x, 3 Pc
Specs:
Height | 0.6 Inches |
Length | 7.5 Inches |
Width | 5.2 Inches |
13. Magnifying Glasses For Close Work With Light LED Headlight With Magnifier Interchangeable Glasses - Jeweler's Loupe Magnifier For Close Work Reading Eyelash Electronics Hobby Craft 1.0x-6.0x
- MAKE DESSERT PRESENTATION BEAUTIFUL: Serving desserts, especially those with layers is a chore. Your cake almost always winds up on its side with the layers coming apart. Now you can keep the cake upright and intact with this perfect cake server. It holds the piece together while moving it to the plate so that gravity can’t ruin your evening.
- PERFECTLY UNIFORM CUTS: No more kids complaining that someone got a bigger piece than them and no more people eyeballing each other’s slice at the table. Now everyone gets the same size and shape cut of dessert. Not only does it keep everyone happy at the table, but it makes you look like a professional hostess and server.
- EASY TO USE: The Magisso is easier to use than traditional cake servers. It does the cutting and the serving all at once so you cut your hosting time in half. All you need to do is press the cake server through your dessert, squeeze it gently for lifting the piece onto the place. Place it on the plate and release slightly on the server to remove. It’s super simple!
- PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: Package contains (1) Magisso Cake Server. Suitable for all cakes, and most pastries and other desserts. Dishwasher safe. Finnish designed. Designed for Magisso by Maria Kivijärvi. Available in five different colors.
Features:
Specs:
Height | 2 Inches |
Length | 12 Inches |
Weight | 0.1875 Pounds |
Width | 1 Inches |
14. Jewelry Loupe,2 Pack 30X 60X Illuminated Jeweler’s Loupe Jewelry Magnifier Jeweler's Eye Loupe Magnifier Magnifying with LED Lighting, 2 Lens Design
PREMIUM QUALITY & PORTABLE: Made of aluminum alloy shell cover, ABS environmental plastic and acrylic glass lenses. Easy to Carry, With a Small Case to Protect and store It. It Requires 3 LR1130 Batteries (Batteries Are Included), and the batteries are easy to replace.DUAL LENS LOUPES: Primary Lens:...
Specs:
Color | White |
15. Etopstech Jewelry Loupe - LED Illuminated, 30x, 21mm - MG21007(Silver)
- This 30X Illuminated Jeweler Loupe magnification is built from durable metal, optical glass with 21mm in length and dual bright LED light.
- This eye loupe is great for rock collectors, coin collectors, jewelers, hobbyists, and also makes a great gift for the kids to explore the fabulous tiny world.
- Bright LED: You can see objects clearly in dark or insufficient light conditions with this dual LED light source.
- Pocket size: it is very convenient to carry and you can use it anywhere. It requires 3 AG7(LR927) batteries (Batteries are Included).
- Only placing your order from ETOPSTECH Amazon store could get our perfect customer service and product quality warranty
Features:
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 1.299999999 Inches |
Length | 2.799999997 Inches |
Weight | 0.203125 Pounds |
Width | 2.099999998 Inches |
Size | 1 pcs |
16. LuckyStone Mini Microscope Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier Magnifying Glass Powerful Doublet, Chrome Plated, Round Body Jewelry Loupe, 21 mm, Silver
100% new and high quality eye magnifying glassThis extremely powerful jeweler's loupe is 3 times more powerful than the average (10x) loupleIt comes with its own hard plastic felt lined storage case, include a small loop to attach to a neck chain or key chainGreat product for the watch making indust...
Specs:
Color | Silver |
Height | 0.9 Inches |
Length | 1.4 Inches |
Weight | 0.18125 Pounds |
Width | 0.7 Inches |
Size | 30x 21mm |
17. KINGMAS Pocket Jewelry Loupe 30x 21mm Jewelers Eye Magnifying Glass Magnifier
POCKET MAGNIFYING for Gems, Jewelry, Rocks, Stamps, Coins, Watches, Hobbies, Antiques, Models, Photos IndustryTHE JEWELRY LOUPE with its Own Hard Plastic Felt Lined Storage Case, include a Small Loop to Attach to a Neck Chain or Key ChainPACKAGE CONTENT: 1pcs 30 x 21mm Jeweler's Loupe, 1x Original p...
Specs:
Color | 1pcs Silver |
Height | 1 Inches |
Length | 2.3 Inches |
Weight | 0.05 Pounds |
Width | 1.8 Inches |
18. BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe Magnifier with Attached Deluxe BelOMO Logo Lanyard, Optical Glass with Anti-Reflection Coating for a Bright, Clear and Color Correct View
- Triplet Loupe (3 lenses bonded into one). Fully coated anti-reflective optics so the light doesn't bounce off the lens and instead gets directed to your eye.
- Deluxe double layer nylon lanyard with the BelOMO logo and convenient buckle.
- Ten times (10x) magnification which is the best general magnification.
- The loupe frame and lens barrel are all flat matte black to prevent interference from reflected light.
- Swing out loupe design protects the loupes lens when it is carried and acts as a handle when you use the loupe.
- Great for rocks, minerals, jewelery, coins, stamps, part inspection and other intents and purposes
- Optical Quality Glass Lenses, each BelOMO loupe is certified just like a camera lens.
Features:
19. Leegoal Lighted High-Power Eye Loupe 30 & 60X LED
- Jeweler Loupe
- Lighted Loupe
- High-Power Loupe
- 60X LED Loupe
- Loupe
Features:
Specs:
Color | Style-10 |
Weight | 0.220462262 Pounds |
Size | Magnifier |
20. Gift2U Jewelers Loupe Eye Loupe,2pcs 30X 60X White Illuminated Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems Jewelry
- Jewelers Eye Loupe Use:The jeweler's eye loupe is perfect for industrial purpose, circuit board and printing, medicine, horticulture, coins, jewelry appraisal, education, geography, house living and office.
- Foldable Design:Just Pull Out the Jewelry Magnifier to Use, and Put It Back When Not In Use.Easy to Carry, Fit in any Purse, Shirt and Pants Pocket.
- Led Light:Coming with a free protective case, the whole package weight is just 90g (35g for the magnifier). Pocket size to carry easily.)Uses 3 LR1130 batteries, which included in the package.
- Eye loupe is great for rock collectors, coin collectors, jewelers, hobbyists, and also makes a great gift for the kids to explore the fabulous tiny world.
- Quality to reach 100% is our pursuit of the direction of efforts. If you are dissatisfied with any of the goods received after purchase, we accept the full refund unconditionally within one months.
Features:
Specs:
Color | 2pcs |
🎓 Reddit experts on jewelry loupes
The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where jewelry loupes are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
I think you should pick up another straight that has been honed to shave ready. Larry at Whipped Dog has some very affordable blades that are supposed to be shave ready. You can use this as a measure to getting your blade up to snuff.
Also, technique may be an issue. But you've been shaving a while....
If you can't get it keen on a 4K, you may need to set that bevel again... There is no formula for bevel setting, just a feeling. I'd blunt the blade on a thumbnail, then hone until you can easily pop hair with the edge. Then, move up a measured progression like pyramid honing.
Here's a copy past I did you might find useful:
Equipment Essentials
Honing Supplies for Restoring a Few Straights
To hone:
First, you need to flatten your stone, making sure you've removed the top 1/64th or so of stone material to reach the true grits (the top is a bit rough on Nortons especially).Make sure your stone is perfectly flat. Use the DMT or the sandpaper I described above for this.
Next, clean your SR in soap/warm water. Dry it, and put a piece of electrical tape along the spine and fold it over (like a book binding) if you'd like (not necessary, and I don't do this, but some prefer the look of the end product).
I like to clear the edge of possible errand burs before I hone, so I drag the shaving edge against my thumbnail or a glass bottle. These burs can cause issues, and may make for a rough feeling edge. I've found that this is a good way to remove them. It may be unnecessary for some/most blades, but it's part of my bevel setting routine, and by doing this, I've notice good things and increased consistency when I hone.
Now, to hone. You're going to get your razor sharp in these stages:
Setting the bevel:
While all steps are important, this step is foundational. Place your razor on your bevel setting stone, keeping the razor spine and edge completely flat on the surface togehter. Do tiny circle strokes (circular motion down the hone) so you do about 30-40 tiny circles as you move own the bottom hone. Repeat on the other side of the razor, moving up the hone in the opposite direction (and counter-wise circle direction). Now do 15 x strokes. This is a set.
Repeat doing these sets until you can shave hair on your arm or leg by very slowly grazing over the tops of the hair - it should catch and cut with a bit of a tug.
It will take many many of these sets with a 4k stone, and less with a 1K.
Once you can shave hair on your arm or leg all along the bevel (toe to heel) with uniform sharpness and cutting, you may be set. Do another 10 or so x-strokes, very lightly, very perfectly as a final sharpening for your bevel. See if this helps your edge.
Once you're happy with your bevel, strop it and shave. If it's painful, it's likely your bevel isn't set. If it's decent, you're ready to move on.
Polishing the bevel
Now move up to polishing. On the 4K and do 35 light x strokes. Go to the 8K and do 35 light x-strokes. Repeat this back and forth going 4K 30, 8K 30. Now keep this up, decreasing the stroke number by 5. When you're at 10 strokes, just do 25 on the 8K.
Always check for sharpness along the edge by trimming a bit of arm hair. You'll learn a lot from an edge by doing this.
Following the grits up in this fashion should give you a fairly polished bevel. It's best to go higher than 8K with a high grit chinese hone from a woodworking store, or a naninwa 12k, but 8K will do for now.
Truing the edge:
Strop about 30 passes on your chromium oxide, clean the blade, and the perform 200 passes on leather - all spine leading, done very lightly.
The Shave
After all this, you should have a great edge. Give it a test shave and compare it to your pro honed blade.
While honing, you'll likely get frustrated, but keep at it! If you're getting aggressive with the razor, just give it a break, and come back later. If the shave is no good, post back here and we'll help you diagnose.
Some thoughts:
I tired to present information that's very searchable. Straight razor place has archived many of the ideas that I just presented. I highly recommend researching on your own and reaching a personal conclusion. What follows are my personal opinions.
This equipment I suggest is not necessarily the best, nor is it bad at all. It's great way to get started and find out what you like in a stone/routine. Some ideas to consider if you upgrade your set:
The back and forth honing I recommend is a honing series called pyramid honing, where you go between two different grit hones to ensure you don't form a wire edge or a bur. I like to recommend this for folks getting into honing since this is one of the most documented methods for get a razor to shave ready from a bevel set. A quick google search on pyramid honing will give you plenty of reading. I don't hone this way any more.
I highly recommend honing your razor as sharp as possible on one stone, strop as I've outlined, and give it a shave. For example, sharpen as much as you can at the 4K stage, and strop it 200 times. If it shaves ok, you're on the right track. If not, you've got more work to do at that level of stone. You'll be amazed that such a low grit can shave so well. If it's painful to shave after your lowest stone.... you're not done, and moving up the stones will not benefit your edge. Repeating this process of shaving up all the stone grits (4K, 8K, 12K) will help you get a feel for what honing at the different levels provide. Shaving off my 1K bevel provided me the biggest leap in edge quality while learning.
Don't limit your techniques. Once you can confidently bring a restored razor to shave with consistency, I'd recommend playing around and experimenting. Though this, I've developed some strokes that are critical to my routine, and used effectively with every blade I sharpen.
Books: This is what I said when replying to another thread for book recommendations. I love the CherryPicker's Guide - these will pay for themselves over and over. I don't personally recommend Striking it Rich, but to each their own. I'd rather see you "creep" a coin forum where die varieties and mint errors are discussed and new finds shared than spend a ton on books right out of the gate. I might also recommend learning about the entire minting process (I think a book called From Mine to Mint?) - this will help you understand how die varieties and mint errors are created in the first place and eliminate the confusion between a true doubled die and something like strike doubling.
​
Bookmarks: John Wexler has a very useful site called doubleddie.com with lots of images and descriptions of die varieties. CONECA has a Master Listing of all known die varieties for US Coins and a forum (that, honestly, I rarely visit because no one ever replies to my posts there.) These are just a couple examples; there are tons of great websites out there for you to reference (even PCGS and NGC have some nice high-quality images of varieties they attribute, which also can be very helpful when determining value.) Start building your set of web bookmarks and it will make things easier for you in the long run. PCGS Photograde is a free online reference to help you learn how to grade US Coins, for example.
​
Loupe: I'm always happy to recommend the BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe - it's the loupe I've been using for about a decade now. IMO 10x is large enough to see even tiny varieties, and you'll mostly be concerned with the quality of the glass and metal. Lots of those cheap plastic loupes say they are higher magnifications, but aren't, or the "glass" isn't even glass (let alone high-quality glass.) I like the shape of the loupe and the texture of it - if your hands get sweaty, it won't slip out (like the cheaper chrome-plated examples you find at every coin shop.) You really, really want good quality glass here - save your eyes - and the better quality glass and larger field of vision (wider glass) the easier it will be on you. Cheap loupes make it hard to focus properly.
​
Magnet: Get yourself a decently strong magnet - this will help diagnose some bad counterfeits out there. I think I got mine at a local hardware store. I'm always amazed when a coin shop doesn't USE the magnet and buys a bunch of fakes...like, did we forget how to deal coins today or something?
​
Scale: I have been using an AWS SC-2kg scale for a few years now with decent results. My older version doesn't have an AC Adapter (just battery operated.) This will also help you diagnose counterfeits and other various mint errors.
​
Lamps: IKEA sells their Jansjo gooseneck LED lamps for less than ten bucks. They have a few different styles of these including some with clamps. They will be bright enough for variety hunting and if you get a few of them can be useful in coin imaging.
​
I tried to use gloves, I really did. But when you drop half the coins because the cotton is too slippery, it's best to learn how to properly hold a coin in your hand. I bought a really nice set of coin tongs in person at a coin shop somewhere - can't remember where - but they are sold on Amazon and eBay now. The problem with them, though, is that the company is in Germany and the shipping is more than the cost of the item.
​
I'd start learning how to image your coins as you look for varieties and errors. If you can take a good image of a die variety, chances are someone will be able to help you attribute it. I've never had good luck with the cheapo LED USB microscopes that are available, they all take crappy images, don't work with my computer, etc. I've returned every one. This could be an entire other discussion, honestly.
​
I love using my tablet (I maxed out with an iPad Pro a couple years ago) for reference books and cherrypicking on eBay. It's wonderful to have a ton of reference books/manuals/coin images handy and portable.
​
Other than that - best of luck to you, and we'll do our best to help. Just remember at the beginning to take a breath before you get all amped up and start thinking you've found a valuable variety on every coin you see. I've seen it so many times - new person shows up, posts thirty threads about thirty different coins, none of which have usable images (all out of focus for example) and then gets butt hurt when people tell them their coins are worth face value.
​
Don't take it personally.
​
It takes time and persistence to learn how to find real varieties. THEY ARE OUT THERE, though...I just found a nice 1934 DDO Quarter in a bag someone told me fifty times had been searched and searched (he's just that kind of a person, though, so I just ignored him.)
​
I'd check out a TWSBI Eco. Very nice pens for about 30 euros. Order it in a fine or extra fine nib.
And yeah, you can have some problems. Bleedthrough is an issue that can be solved by using a well behaved ink. Noodler's Black or X-Feather are good inks for preventing this. Using better paper is a good solution, too, but that's more expensive. Black n Red notebooks are pretty cheap and work well. In my experience, TOPS notebooks work super well with fountain pens and are dirt cheap.
A finer nib will be slightly more feedbacky (but it shouldn't be scratchy - it shouldn't feel like it's digging into the paper). If it feels like it's digging into the paper while writing, something's wrong. Try writing figure eights, and if it feels more scratchy in one direction than another, then the tines are probably out of alignment. This is a very very easy fix. All you need to fix it is some sort of magnifier (I find that a 30x/60x jeweler's loupe from Amazon is the best tool to get a good look at the tip of your nib. If you can't afford the ten buck to get one, that's fine, use a magnifying glass or whatever you can get your hands on. Even zoom on a camera would work. If you don't have ANY of that, you can even just do trial and error.
Basically, see if the two metal tines (the two sides of the nib) are misaligned at the tip, and if one is longer than the other. A head-on view and an above view work well for this. If they're misaligned, it's an easy fix and I'll tell you how to do it. If one is too long.... that's more complicated and if that's the case, I'll tell you how to fix it then.
So: To fix misaligned tines, basically just press the one that's too low up with your thumbnail. Don't push hard, just until you feel what feels like a little bit more resistance than you'd use while writing, and then let go. Keep doing this, and check through the magnifier to see if it's aligned yet. If it is, then go ahead and try writing with it and see if it's better. If it's not aligned or not better, keep trying.
Hope this helps, ask me any questions you want! Have a great day!
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/e1sa0/my_kids_asked_santa_for_a_microscope_for/ Some not bad advice in that thread. Let me second a stereo-microscope. The stereomicroscope in my lab is easily my favorite to play with. I'd start by reading this
I think something like this or something like this which are, as far as I can tell, modified dermatologist scopes, might be good for a 5th grader. (Reviews are pretty good indicators on this, though don't trust zoom numbers most zoom 20-30x and the rest is all digital.) I spent a summer volunteering at a place with something like these, they are fun. Also if you want something that doesn't take pictures but is a pretty neat field scope you should check out, this, this, or this (note, jeweler loupes do not have lights built in). If you want something kind of medium range, most sites recommend Celestron scopes as pretty good. If you really want a compound microscope (and you know how to operate a microscope, I can't emphasize this enough, otherwise it will not work!) this is recommended by the microscope buying guide. (Also as someone else said, you will run out of stuff to look at pretty fast with a compound scope.) Though that site has a number of nice compound microscopes.
I thought I'd share my experience for the community, and hopefully my experiences help or encourage others to give this a shot on their own. I had absolutely no experience growing anything when I started, so if I can do it, so can anyone else!
I've got an equipment list of the stuff I'm using since it took me a long time to figure out what to buy. This doesn't include the $1.50/week for RO water from the local grocery store, the electricity, or the other stuff I ended up buying afterward for my clones.
No grow tent or ventiliation is needed for my scenario since I have full access to a basement. It's perfect since there is a water heater and a boiler in the same room so the temp is always pretty constant, there is plenty of CO2 from the gas that the appliances burn, and the humidity is also pretty constant.
A few of the mistakes I made that I'd fix next time:
The images have some details about my grow, but I'll be happy to answer any other questions folks might have.
Item | Cost | Product Link
---|---|----
Seeds (OG Kush Feminized, 20ct) | $80 | Marijuana Seeds NL
Coco Coir | $17 | Kempf Coco
300W LED Lighting | $80 | GalaxyHydro
Plastic Pot | $0 | Craigslist - Free
Light Timers | $12 | Light Timers
pH Tester | $18 | pH Pen
pH Up and Down | $16 | General Hydro
Jeweler's Loupe | $6 | Magnify Me
Nutes | $35 | Canna Coco 1 & 2
Perlite | $13 | Black Gold
CalMag | $17 | Botanicare Supplement
TOTAL | $294
Also, THANK YOU to everyone in this sub. There is a ton of info out there about growing, but this place is the best location I found for timely info related to my new hobby.
I can totally relate to the frustration of a poorly performing pen. I'd answer that you need to invest a little effort to enjoy an effortless writing experience -- kinda the theme with fountain pens.
Fountain pens are often, if not usually, imperfect out of the box. Maybe there are machining oils still left in the cartridge or feed. Maybe in transit the pen got bumped around and the nib became misaligned. Sometimes you get a bum nib that's just not quite up to snuff. These kinds of problems can result in scratchy nibs and/or inconsistent flow.
The good news is that fountain pens can be tuned -- not only to resolve issues like the above but also to meet your personal preferences (e.g. heavy vs light flow; feedback vs glassy). And in even better news, many of the most common problems can be solved by yourself without needing to send a pen to a nibmeister.
To start, you should buy a loupe, which will help you inspect your nib up close and diagnose what's causing your issues. I like this one. (They also come in single packs, but the two pack is like 50 cents more.)
Next, you should have a look at some of the guides available online that will get you started with tuning your pens. Here are a couple good ones from two of America's best known nibmeisters: (1) John Mottishaw; (2) Richard Binder.
I'd bet that if you get a loupe and use it to inspect the pens that aren't to your liking, you'll see why and figure out how to fix it. It's probably little more than a matter of aligning the tines and flushing with some soapy water.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
So I've seen a lot of " is this ready" posts and wanted to share my experience.
I bought one of these back in July when I had an auto finishing up and it was great.
Blue Dot Trading 2 in 1 Jewelers Loupe, 30x/60x Magnified Jewlers loupe (jewelers-loupe-30x-60x) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00MMP6VRW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2epFDb8Y7Z4EW
They are super cheap and with the led on you can see the trichs perfectly. I'm still not sure if the trichome colour is the most scientific way to do it, but at 50/50 milky / amber, mine turned out well.
With the loupe you can almost nail it down to the day when to harvest.
Just wanted to share how cheaply and easily you can time your harvest as we approach the end of the season.
Also great for checking out weird growth, diseases and pests if you are unfortunate enough to have them.
Good luck and good growing everyone.
The three finger test is a great test, but only once you have properly calibrated your fingertips against a knife that is truly sharp. If you don't know what a sharp knife feels like on your fingertips, it isn't going to be a whole lot of help here.
Until you get to that point, here is a much better guide:
http://knifegrinders.com.au/Manuals/Sharpness_Chart.pdf
Also, while a 8x - 10x jewelers loupe is certainly helpful, one of these is much more helpful:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N34WZR
And one of these is much more helpful still:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XNYXQHE
Learn in stages. Right now you need to figure out how big you want to go, and pick out your three fundamental pieces of equipment. Tent, light and blower/filter. First you pick out a tent. Common tent sizes are 2x2, 2x4, 3x3 or 4x4. They will get you around 4oz, 8oz, 8oz, or 16 oz per grow. They will require around 150w, 300w, 300w, or 600w of quality light. Quantum board lights from alibaba.com are an excellent affordable option, but you need to be comfortable ordering from China and putting it together. 315w or 630w CMH lighting is a very good option if you want plug-and-play. CMH runs a little warmer than quantum boards, and fits best in a tall tent. This Active Air 6" is a great blower/filter for a medium-large tent. You can use the 4" version for a small-medium tent.
20x?!! Are you sure she's using a true 20x loupe? If you picked up a cheap loupe online, chances are, it's not a 20x. For instance: http://www.amazon.com/SE-Loupe-LED-Illuminated-21mm/dp/B0013E3DAG => advertised to be 20x, but turns out to be ~5.5x.
I would recommend first figuring out the minimum magnification power your wife needs to read small text. Reason: There is an inverse relationship between magnification power, and depth of field and field of view. Meaning, there is no 20x magnifier that can give you a huge field of view (I have a true 20x, and dear god, it is useless to me since it can only view about 1 character at a time).
Here's an example of the tradeoff: I own several Donegan OptiVISOR headband magnifiers. At first, I ordered their most powerful model, the 3.5x. The 3.5x has a focal length of 4", and a depth of field of about 1". This means, in order for me to have a clear image of what I'm observing, I need to make sure I maintain a 3" to 5" distance between the lens and the item under observation; it was just exhausting.
After trial and error, I ended up with the the 1.75x. It has a focal length of 14", and a depth of field of about 4". Which means, I can keep the item under observation at a distance of 10" - 18", which is much more forgiving.
In case you're interested in the headband magnifier: http://www.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVisor-Headband-Magnifier-Magnification/dp/B0068OSIIS/
Pistils have nothing to do with time frame. You need a loupe. To check the tiny little “diamonds” on the buds. (Not on the sugar leaves)
Some people like to look at pistils, but really the best way to judge is by looking at trichomes. You’re going to want more cloudy, less amber(I wouldn’t do no amber. It’s better to have some amber rather than more clear.)
If you don’t have a loupe I would recommend buying one. It’s like 10-15$ on amazon. one I use, nothing fancy
Edit: from the photo you recently posted, you look like you have a ways to go!
Free Products for Amazon Reviews. We need Reviews on some of our new products.
We have headbands, Mascara, and a new Makeup Brush Organizer, Magnifier Glasses. Great if you also do you tube videos.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070YFUV8 - Eyelash Extension Mascara
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BTC0O44 - Circle Makeup Brush Organizer
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BN1OMO4 -- Square Makeup Brush Organizer
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4P1NTU - -Magnifier Glasses Headband
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BYOKMS0 -- Headband Purple
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BZ907Z2 -- Headband Blue
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BYMQKCO --Headband- Blue Diamond
The headbands we will have to choose which one and they ae so much fun because you can wear them over 50 different styles in under 1 min. They are so easy to put in and do a style great for moms on the go students or that messy hair day now gone in just 1 min. Just twist your hair here is the You tube link to show you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akZNaDFw8i4
If you are interested and can leave a photo in your review for Amazon then please write me at:
katieristing@gmail.com
I got mine on amazon too for around $2.5 with free shipping
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007GJJRZC/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's probably not really 40x, but it definitely is better than when I was trying to details with my eyes alone. I got lasik, but it didn't make my vision THAT good haha
amazon has a great selection of loupes
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one has a stronger 60x magnification. I use this to confirm the laser inscription on my diamond as well as to really look at small details on the diamond
Man I wish! Just found out I should have been wearing glasses my whole life. I'm 21 and I play baseball in college 😂 I have both the usb microscope and a loupe and let me be honest, i prefer the loupe.
Happy Hydro LED Loupe 30x & 60x Magnifying Lens - Includes Batteries & Carrying Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8MDTAN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_b0DKzb5F4GHBA
I bought a Jewelers Loupe from Amazon and held it up in front of my Google Pixel phone. It took a few pictures to get a good one, but my phone has a pretty good camera to work with. I think next time I would get something with 100x, the 60x is decent (what I used for the closer ones), but the 30x is pretty hard to tell what color the trichs are.
I'm gonna copy a comment I made over on trees... Short answer is a container of steel screens in the top left and a jewelers loupe in the bottom right.
Everything is all labeled out here
I bought my grinder on [amazon for $7] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023X32MA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KRYRub1MSFKSW). It works awesome.
I also got the screens (100) on [amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007BQTC5U/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_tTYRub0BVP71J) for $4.
The empty green travel container is what I put a bit in if I'm heading over to a friends for the night. That and the two clear ones are from my recreational shop (WAent).
I don't use the normal sized lighters much, usually I choose the mini lighters.
I bought both the [zig zag roller] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Q7WRDI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_xUYRub0X73KSK) and the [blackberry juicy jay's] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESM6AMI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_bXYRub1X7WAV1) at my smoke shop for $5 and $2 respectively.
My friend gave me the big old nug the other day so I just stashed it in here so I didn't mix strains.
The tweezers is for "handling" the nugs to put them in the grinder. I don't want to lose ANY crystals.
Burn gel (lidocane) because I'm clumsy as FUCK when I'm at a [6+].
Eye drops for dry eyes.
Hand sanitizer because I get stamped ash all over my hands from the way I hold my lighter.
Doob toob for obvious reasons. It's from a disposable e-cig from before I quit smoking.
I got the rainbow storage tube from the dollar store. I keep stems and glass screens in it. Sometimes I keep a few grams in it too if I have more than one strain.
Watermelon gum because it is my favorite taste when I'm high. Tic-tacs to take a minty toke. Emergency kit Kat for reasons.
A 30x21mm jeweler's loupe to look [closely] (http://imgur.com/f2knddq) at my [weed] (http://imgur.com/QRjZVc8)...and maybe [doritos] (http://imgur.com/BOS4v4t).
Edit: here is the link for the [jeweler's loupe] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BXQVO2/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_BxZRub1S2EF44).
Purchase a jeweler's loupe.
Use it to look at the individual trichomes (crystals) on the buds. They will initially be glassy clear and will look like small mushrooms. Then will begin to turn cloudy/milky as the buds mature. Then amber. When about 30-40% of the trichomes are amber, she's ready. This will give you the most potent buds and the most accurate expression of the plant.
Looking great though!
I use a jeweler's loupe for magnification, specifically I bought this one:
https://smile.amazon.com/DBPOWER-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1486750468&sr=8-5&keywords=jewelers+loop
I just put my phone camera lens on the eyepiece to take pictures, and it works pretty well. The one I linked to is nice as well since it comes with LED lights to high illuminate it, which can be really useful considering how close you have to get.
I usually would recommend a 30x or 60x. Can get both in a Jewelers loupe
https://www.amazon.com/Gift2U-Jewelers-Illuminated-Jewelry-Magnifier/dp/B07VB23MBW/
This style isn't the greatest of quality it tends to fall apart but fairly easy to fix if you don't lose the parts. I recommend just getting a two pack. They are still worth it. Cheap, has both magnifications that are plenty to see trichomes and tiny bugs and it is illuminated which is necessary.
These are by and large my favorites. Totally worth the cost. My only complaint is that the screw needs pretty frequent tightening, but overall it's really sturdy. Honestly, I've never found anything over 10x to be particularly useful.
I have this one now to check my final work: 12X,16X Illuminated Dual Lens Jeweler"s Loupe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MCHXT4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_P4yDwbKCJ23HD It's pretty cheap but it gets the job done. The depth of field on the smaller magnification is decent. The larger magnification has a very small depth of field but wow, you can really see small details with it.
I generally wear a headset mounted loupe while working, then check it with that. Again, I'm not a professional or anything... Just learning a dying art.
Just got this one in the mail, has 30x and 60x. Comes with two of them, so maybe buy with a buddy? Has bright LEDs on each magnifier. Pretty solid overall, definitely recommend.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074SJJM32/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Best $5 trade insurance ever.
I got this one. Construction is a bit shitty and the battery sometimes need a bit of jiggling, but having a LED is very nice and it works perfectly:
http://www.amazon.com/SE-MJ362242L-Power-Illuminated-Jewelers/dp/B003MCHXT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368053581&sr=8-2&keywords=loupe
A 10X triplet loupe is a great place to start. I use one of these though it's probably a little pricey.
Also, there's a lot of cheap USB microscopes around these days, and I've found them to be pretty useful for trace/solder inspection on fine pitch SMDs.
heh, diving right in then?
DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
That’s the one I use. Works perfectly, is super affordable, and has saved me twice already.
Im using this one: https://www.amazon.com/DREAME-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480381794&sr=8-1&keywords=jewelers+loupe
has x30 and x60 and im pretty Happy with it, might want to give it a try. :)
I'd get a jeweler's loupe over a microscope, I've tried both and vastly preferred the loupe. The microscope (at least the one I tried) was really finicky to get properly in focus, with the loupe you just whip it out and you're ready to go with little to no adjustment.
Here's the loupe I use:
[Jarlink 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eLzMBbB47M9SY)
Edit: as a bonus, it's way easier to take pictures through the loupe than the microscope.
Hey I just read a comment the other day about how a quality 10x loupe is better than anything else and all you'll ever need, so I gave it a shot.
At first I was using this and it was OK. The 30x lens was easiest to use but still sucked so much.
I just got this one today and I am blown away. The quality of the optics and construction is unbelievable. I can't wait to look at trichs with it. Definitely invest in a good lens.
In my experience those two finger turning adjustable types are garbage. They never last for very long and are dificult to manage.
I purchased these two years ago and it's all I've eve used.
[1] (https://www.amazon.com/KINGMAS-Pocket-Microscope-Jeweler-Magnifier/dp/B00AQAANDS/ref=pd_sim_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KEDEDRG711YM9A2DM25Y) 60x LED and adjustable. Is great for looking at trichomes.
2 40x fixed. Is great for everything else when you don't need to get as up close and personal.
I have a loop and one of these:
Phone Camera Lens 3 In 1 Kit, 180 Degree Fisheyes Lens, 10X Macro Lens, 0.4X Wide Angle Lens High Definition, Clip-on Smart Cell Phone Lenses Universal For Iphone, Samsung, LG, Android Phones (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072525MR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8.Iyzb1WQAD0J
The macro helps with taking pictures but the loop has better mag for looking at the trichromes.
My loop has an led light built in and works really well when I remember to turn it off when I'm done:
DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0bJyzbPP25G5H
Here's what's in my toolkit...
Polishing cloth
Fine Mesh Pads
20x Loupe
10x Loupe
! Canned Air
Cotton Tipped Applicators
Goulet Mylar Paper
Goulet Brass Sheets
Goulet Grip
Goulet Silicone Grease
! Careful with the canned air. It can be the cause of some funny and not so funny accidents.
A bright desk light with a magnifier comes in handy.
DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_n4KFyb8GRG988
I use a similar one. It's good enough to verify rosette pattern, clean black ink lines, blue paper layer, and the LEDs are strong enough for light tests.
I use a 30x/60x loupe with LED lighting. Super cheap and does a fine job. Loupe $11 now, same as when I bought it.
For coins or anything I need a finer, more stable look at, I use a 60x-120x LED-lit microscope. Microscope $13 now, bought it for $6.60 a couple years ago.
From Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_taOSjJI7Urjft
This picture was taken with the 30x magnification lens on the loupe with a Pixel 3. More importantly, my OtterBox Commuter case was still on, which provides a small gap between the lens and the loupe, which takes clearer pictures.
So Pixel 3 in the case, and the lens held directly to the case, if that makes sense. Hope this helps!
Sorry I didn't see your reply, I use a loupe I got from amazon and I'm pretty happy with it.
DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Jewelry Magnifier for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Hobbies Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_jzAkWlzFE5QCn
Those pics are taken with my iPhone 7 though the 60x magnifier.
Poppy seeds
A jeweler's loupe for admiring your dank weed
There are some videos on r/lsd, I think, of someone who combined these two trip toys. It ends up looking pretty cool. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Motion-12665-1-Laser-Sphere/dp/B003150CFO // https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009S3IBI8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_jq4xwbNWTAEY9
1500 lady bugs
Edit: here's a video of those two projectors together https://youtu.be/1LSuhEAC3u0
Number 1: What is a "Crafle"?
Number 2: Make sure it is a real Crafle. There are a lot of fake Crafle's running around. It is one of the more commonly made fakes and there are numberous versions. Take the Crafle out of the sleeve and ensure that it feels like a normal card (compare it to another rare from the same set, preferably a known real Crafle, or another land). Also, use the light test, it is the easiest one to do. A jeweler's loupe or a small microscope would be good too.
Number 3: Seriously? I would trade in some goyfs for a Crafle any day of the week. Crafles are on the reserved list and will likely only go up. Goyf is practically on the "print 'til you can't cash in anymore" list.
i can easily see the blue line with one of these, which fit on a keychain
http://www.amazon.com/SE-Loupe-Set-Dual-10x/dp/B001C9LG60/ref=pd_sim_op_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0P8J0B8YSF68S4GM553V
loupes also effective in seeing the blue line in a stack of 100 or so cards very quickly
I purchased a Jeweler's Loupe after reading about identifying legit vs. counterfeit cards. There was an image and link in r/MagicTCG a while ago showing what a legit Mythic symbol looked like through one of these Loupes. It was pretty cool. I'll see if I can find the link.
This loupe is super affordable and honestly I’m a huge fan, don’t have any issues seeing tric’s with her. I’ve heard this slightly higher priced loupe ($16 usd) is a bit better but I really don’t mind my cheaper loupe one bit!
I generally do too, I just dont paying premium price or not getting exactly what I want because its out of stock or they dont carry that exact model. The loupes I could find locally were either way less power than they were stated for, or the lense was so small it was difficult to see as much as I wanted too, more the size of the 60x lense on the one I linked.
This is the Loupe I picked up, was there in under 24 hrs, its not amazing but it does what I need it too well and the price is amazing.
https://www.amazon.ca/KINGMAS-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying/dp/B00KMSE100/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=jewelers+loupe&qid=1564073738&s=gateway&sprefix=jewelers+&sr=8-3
I've used this one for three years and really like it. It's small, cheap, and has good magnification. It also comes with batteries for the built-in light.
I've been thinking about picking THIS one up. It is really well received in the watch collecting community. I love the little leather pouch on yours.
This 40x Loupe from Amazon does a fine job. I chose it because it had a really big lens (25mm), two bright white LED lights, and enough magnification (40x) to really see the tricones. I hold it up to my iphone camera lens and easily get enough detail to tell me everything I need to know. Oh yea, it's dirt cheap too - about two fiddy. Here is a sample image taken today.
You might consider a folding hand lens.. Very cheap and useful for looking at little details (e.g. head scales) in all sorts of critters and other nature nuggets.
This looks right to me. The corners look more real than most of the fakes i see imo. For more information on some fakes check out my post here. It needs some damn upvotes though for awareness ha
http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/30a4xa/what_are_all_of_the_different_fakes_you_all_are/
but ya, definitely get a loupe like this one which also works well for the light test
http://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Loupe-40x-25mm-Lighting/dp/B007GJJRZC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427465874&sr=8-3&keywords=jewelers+loupe+led
It's hard to tell through a picture since we don't know the strain..If you know the strain, look it up and see what it generally flowers for.
To be certain of when your plant is finishing, I highly suggest getting a Jewelers Loupe, Kinda like a magnifying glass, will allow you to see the trichomes go from clear to cloudy to amber.
https://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying-Lighting/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1510069533&sr=1-3&keywords=jewelers+loupe+100x
It's obvious once you've seen it. I have a Carson 7x loupe. Grab a flashlight and point it at the coin. Look through the loupe. If there are tons of tiny scratches in one direction, it's cleaned. If you rotate the coin and see tons of tiny scratches in the same direction while the coin is rotating, it's cleaned. Basically, if there are any micro scratches in a little cluster, clusters, or on the whole coin, is cleaned.
If you don't have a loupe, I recommend you get one. They're also good for familiarizing yourself with real coins so that you can spot fakes. I'm surprised how easy it's gotten.
I have these and really like them.
Carson LumiLoupe 7X Power Stand Magnifier With Dual Lens (LL-77) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010PCL5Q
BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe Folding Magnifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPWU8S
In my noob grower's opinion, looks like it could possibly fill out a bit more... maybe keep feeding over the next week and then flush to completion?
Most importantly invest in a loupe to take out a lot of the guess work. Here is the cheapest I could find, that still has both 30 and 60x magnification! KINGMAS Jewelry Loupe 2-Lens 30x 60x Jewelers Eye Loupes Magnifier LED Illuminated Magnifying https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KMSE100/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_DsN1MbbVvz3T8
I personally use: https://www.amazon.com/DREAME-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539801468&sr=8-3&keywords=loupe
The bigger lens is mostly useless but the smaller one lets me tell if the tines are even even slightly misaligned and if there is a sharp edge somewhere which is great. You can also watch a comparison vid here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzfHkJggT7A
This is the one I got, and it's served me well so far. There's probably better ones, but it should show that you definitely won't break the bank.
Like Mr fluffy said, 4-5 more weeks.
Those buds look like they aren't even done growing. They'll chunk up quite a bit more and then the calyxs will finally swell.
Invest in a loupe and check your trichs, it's the only accurate means of checking, and a vital part of your grow.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0052G7EX8/ref=pd_aw_sim_60_of_20?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KZYZZSDXCM64DS342HYP
The cheaper ones I've used seem to distort more near the edges of the lens and just feel cheap. I've done my fair share of core logging and the Belomo is my go to and is popular with loggers I've worked with (who use their lenses ALOT). It has a bigger lens than the Bausch and Lomb and is reasonably cheap. I also have a Bausch and Lomb and it's a fine handlens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etY_v7A3P2k
​
Please, for your sanity, watch this video. It gives multiple tests that will help you better distinguish between real and fake cards.
​
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
​
Buy this or an equivalent. For ~$10 you'll save yourself a lot of grief and heartache.
This looks like the one I've been using, I already had them for electronics work.
I find it easier to use one with a wider lens for checking trichomes, even if that means slightly less magnification.
The hair method is pretty unreliable, it varies from strain to strain. Just get one of these 30x jewelers loupes and look at the heads of the trichomes. When they seem at least 50% amber, 50% cloudy is a good time to harvest.
Get a Belomo 10x from Amazon for $32. I’ve got a 10x and a 20x, the 10x is more than perfect.
It is hard for me to tell from this picture. But I can see your plant is very healthy at this late stage, so you have little to lose by erring on the side of waiting another week or more. Of course I agree with those who said to use the trichomes as your guide as soon as you are able.
This little guy works really well and is only $8.99:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N34WZR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's best to check the trichomes with a loupe.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DWG89KQ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.growweedeasy.com/harvest#trichome-method
Nutes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006XTQGLO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Few packages of these to hang lights and filter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010DD743O?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Extension cords
Plenty of options
Lights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01B4GQ6MO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Fabric pots:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TF9E6XE?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Air control
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01H1R0K68?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Fans
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001R1RXUG/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Outlet timer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XC7GTCN/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Tent https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01731MNJE/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Carbon filter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CJ5D4AG/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4 inch duct
Can find anywhere
Jewelers loop (super important)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K0BGNNC?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
To dry your buds
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GXHQIKO?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Surge protectors and ext cords
Find anywhere
Inline fans
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M7S46YZ?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
Soil probe
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017GQ9VVY/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
A few other things I got locally from grow shops. Quality seeds are important. Greenpointseeds.com is always having bomb sales, ship from Colorado, and are top quality. Soil from local grow shops but can also buy from online. I went cheaper on light, but I wouldn't do that again. Get good quality lights.
Like this?
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OG5JDbP0GQC6W
Need pic without the blurple on...
Looks like about a month based on your last post.
https://www.growweedeasy.com/harvest#trichome-method
Check this out at Amazon.com
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_5YxWCb03A89GS
I got this one for about $10 https://www.amazon.com/Lighted-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504493035&sr=8-3&keywords=loupe and it works great, I prefer it to the Goulet type, which doesn't enlarge enough for me. I haven't tried one that fits on your head. The loupe enlarges the view so much and has such a small, shallow focal area that it would be hard to keep anything in focus while you were actually working on it. That really isn't a problem though - you make a tiny adjustment, check it, make another tiny adjustment, etc.
I have this one https://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Folding-Magnifier-Anti-Reflection/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=mp_s_a_1_35?keywords=jewlers+lupe&qid=1568929940&sprefix=jewler&sr=8-35. Works like a charm.
I would love to test out and review the Magnifier Glasses Headban
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4P1NTU
You could answer so many of your own questions by picking up a loupe and having a look
See heads? Good job. Don't see heads? Bad job, go back and try again.
I've been very happy with this. I'd steer you away from cheaper loupes.
I dealt with spider mites not too long ago.
Buy Diatomaceous Earth and sprinkle it around the base of your plant. Buy Neem Oil, insecticidal soap, and an insecticide like Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew that uses Spinosad. Every 3 days, spray the tops AND bottoms of every leaf with one of these, using a different spray each time. Continue this for 5 weeks after you don't see anymore mites.
I might be an idiot for this, but I sprinkled some DE into a fan and blasted it all over my tent. Stupid or not, I didn't see a single mite for the rest of the grow after that combined with releasing predatory mites.
This might cost you 50 bucks or so, but it's worth it to knock them out now and not risk them returning or wiping out your plants.
If you wanna get a better look at the mites, you can buy a macro lens for your phone here. You could also buy a jeweler's loupe here.
I've got one of these guys. I primarily use the 12x lens but if I really want to get into the nitty gritty I also have the 16x. The LED lights work quite well for illumination.
Get something between 5x and 10x. Triplets are going to be some of the nicer ones.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bausch+%26+lomb+triplet+loupe&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
https://www.amazon.com/BelOMO-Triplet-Loupe-Folding-Magnifier/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=triplet+loupe&qid=1555943740&s=gateway&sr=8-3
I bought the BelOMO most recently and like it a little more because it's bigger. I had owned and lost two of the bausch & lombs before getting this one.
This is the one i got in case you did get one that doesnt work 😔
Happy Hydro - LED Loupe - 30x & 60x Magnifying Lens - Includes Batteries & Carrying Case https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M8MDTAN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_otQDDbTHKYA0R
I got a two pack on amazon for under $10.
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TqlKDbP81PPA4
Don't use micromesh--your nib tipping is probably just fine, but the tines are out of alignment. I just bought this loupe (with Amazon Prime). Use that to look at the tines and use light finger pressure to adjust them until they are even. It's a good tool to have around anyway for general fountain pen maintenance, especially when you buy vintage pens that need some work.
Solid choice. Cheap too. I have this one and am blown away how good it works for the price.
Here is the loupe I use, it has a built in light and blacklight too: https://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Magnifier-Construction-Kare-Kind/dp/B00YBHQ7X2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1521233001&sr=8-6&keywords=jewelers+loupe&dpID=41kfrmUFCkL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
The cover started getting wobbly after ~2 years of use, but other than that works really well!
My vote: Nib tuning supplies. Some micromesh, and a decent loupe. Then grab one of your Jinhao nibs or a goulet steel nib and learn how to make a nib buttery smooth. Then, whatever pen you end up buying in the future, you can fix and modify to your liking.
Or, a shit ton of ink samples. Get a bunch of colors, and throw in a few "Random" ones, too. Breathe new life into pens you already love.
already have uv light, is this a good enough loupe?
I use this one. I haven't experimented with different magnifications, but 30x seemed fine. As another use pointed out above, you might want a cheap USB microscope instead
I don't think a lot of people here use loupes, and there's no one brand that they use. I happen to use this 10X one. There may be cheaper/better ones, though. Also, note that this is a 10X loupe. I have a 7X one (same brand) that I like better, as it has a wider field-of-view (less magnification). However, it doesn't seem to be available any more.
Most of them come in a 30x and 60x combo for like $8 on amazon.
This is the one I have
Beemoon Jewelry Magnifier, 30 X 60X Illuminated Jewelry Loupe for Gems Jewelry Rocks Stamps Coins Watches Antiques Models Photos https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0BGNNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_y-VRCbC1F1RKM
Got the same one. Then got this DREAME 30X 60X LED Lighted Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWG89KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jo8uzb28VTH2J makes looking at trichomes very easy.
You can also just take a pinch from your bud and put it on a dish or table then use the one you have.
I got this one
Would have been more helpful providing a pic of in use...oh wait, try these.
I see 60x loupes with LED light mentioned in this thread as well as a few others very recently. Awhile back someone linked to a Belomo on Amazon, which I bought. The Belomo is a 10x
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EXPWU8S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Was this purchase made in error and I should make it a point to get the higher magnification loupe with LED? Or can I make things work with this loupe and my own separate LED?
yea i went from this handheld loupe to the USB scope. Glad I did, it really is more convenient imo to snap photos and record video. Even has a button on the butt of it that you tap and it snaps photos. And can be hooked up to android phones if you get an OTG adapter too
I will second the 10x Belomo, although the price is closer to $30-35. The loupe feels very sturdy and has a much larger lens than the Bausch and Lomb. Belomo recommends you purchase through an authorized dealer but the page seems outdated. It appears the authorized Amazon seller ToysNGames (who I purchased mine from) is now called River Colony Trading.
I see above you are considering 30-60x magnification... Depending on what you want to use it for that may be overkill. A 10x is entirely sufficient for grading, determining varieties and counterfeit detection for most collectors.
I’m using this loupe
JARLINK 30X 60X Illuminated Jewelers Eye Loupe Magnifier, Foldable Jewelry Magnifier with Bright LED Light for Gems, Jewelry, Coins, Stamps, etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a9GIDbYZTHBZE
Best quality for the money and it comes with a lanyard. Buy nice or buy twice.
FWIW, I bought this one below and it works pretty well - it has a LED that really helps illuminate the trichs. I tried one that clips onto the phone lens but couldnt' get a good pic and returned it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Loupe-40x-25mm-Lighting/dp/B007GJJRZC for those interested.
https://www.amazon.com/Leegoal-Lighted-High-Power-Eye-Loupe/dp/B0052G7EX8/ref=sr_1_8?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1517503882&sr=1-8&keywords=loupe
I have a loupe like this. has an LED light which help's see maker's marks etc. It's $6
Just for ease of access.
$10 amazon$10 amazon
Don't waste your money on those expensive magnifiers. This is really all you need. Maybe 40 or 50x but any higher will be too hard to keep stable and at this level you will be able to see all you need to.
I bought one of the USB ones with a stand that does photos and videos and I think it's worthless for trying to look at the live plant. Trying to hold the camera still, the plant still, adjust the focus and look at your laptop screen and capture a photo... a lot to do at once. Plus the photos are potato quality.
I got this loupe and it works great.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K0BGNNC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
the one i got from amazon works well.
I use the same one - it's also very easy to hold against your phone's camera and take pictures with.
Same one but a couple bucks more because Prime: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00MMP6VRW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
Like Supremecowboy said, perhaps some nutrient issues, and probably a couple weeks left (2 at most, based on pic, but we need more info).
Got a nice fade going on with the leaves, but the buds look as if they have stalled - they tend to get fatter/taller during flower, but this could be related to the strain itself.
Hard to tell with this kind of picture. One glaring "issue" is that we see no trichs/crystals on the base of the leaves close to the bud..
What're the specs? Days flowering, nutes, light, etc
The only way to tell if she's ready is by looking closely (get a loupe ) at the trichs.
Looks tasty no matter what, tho!
I bought a 30x jeweler's loupe off of Amazon for less than $6.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BXQVO2/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use this to check to see if the nib is out of whack.
I use a magnifying loupe. No batteries required. A good one is the BelOMO. Get it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPWU8S
Look through a jeweler's loupe or equivalent and look at the trichomes to look at when to harvest for your desired effect :-) check /r/microgrowery for more tips if google fails.
I like this one. Compact and easy to use. No problem looking at watches, dials, movements, jewelry, or anything else up close.
I've had this one for about two years and it works fine. It's just a cheap Chinese loupe that probably doesn't magnify anywhere near the extent that it claims, but it does what I need.
Here is the link to the Canadian Amazon, same thing but skips the duty and import fees.
Just spend $3 on a jewelers loupe and keep it with your stuff. It costs less than a booster pack, and will actually show you if a card is fake, vs all the guesswork methods out there
http://www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Jewelers-Loupe-40x-25mm-Lighting/dp/B007GJJRZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427823510&sr=8-1&keywords=jewelers+loupe
40x illuminated loupe for $3 with free shipping.
SE - Loupe Set - Dual 10x+20x, 10x, 30x, 3 Pc - MJ361830C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C9LG60/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_7l-IwbFE08DGC
Exodus has color fluctuations between cards. Buy a loupe, it's $2.
You need to watch the crystals turn amber.
Buy one of these jewelry loups, https://www.amazon.com/LuckyStone-Microscope-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying/dp/B00DH5N2LO/ref=zg_bs_8090802011_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DAJBJKDMZ139D30S83Y0
[Estwing Leather Hammer] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Estwing-Rock-Pointed-Leather-Grip-/dp/B0002YWWVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=Estwing+leather+rock)
and
[Belomo Triplet Loupe] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belomo-Diamond-Loupe-Triplet-Magnifying/dp/B00EXPWU8S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409975334&sr=8-2&keywords=belomo+10x+triplet+loupe)
This one. To take these photos, i align the 30x with my camera lens and use one of these chip clip things to hold it in place
KINGMAS Illuminated Jeweler's Eye... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00KMSE100?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
https://www.amazon.ca/KINGMAS-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Magnifying/dp/B00KMSE100/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=jewlers+loop&qid=1562034529&s=gateway&sprefix=jewler&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/KINGMAS-Jewelers-Magnifying-Illuminated-Magnifier/dp/B00KMSE100/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_229_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=S6NBKEQSYY08C79NE766
https://www.amazon.com/KINGMAS-Jewelers-Magnifying-Illuminated-Magnifier/dp/B00KMSE100/ref=asc_df_B00KMSE100/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167150790864&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=934295075176505510&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027632&hvtargid=pla-308555913491&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XPQVVLZ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Most coin collectors I know use a loupe. Here is a very affordable one that lights up and is 40x magnification. It's the same type and specifics that I use, just a different brand.
You should get one...
https://www.amazon.com/DREAME-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Antiques/dp/B01DWG89KQ?keywords=loup&qid=1536167268&sr=8-6&ref=mp_s_a_1_6
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DWG89KQ
This one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DWG89KQ
loupe
Use this with my iPhone
https://www.amazon.ca/Happy-Hydro-Loupe-Magnifying-Lens/dp/B01M8MDTAN/ref=asc_df_B01M8MDTAN/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292998552471&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1569126630693903932&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1002305&hvtargid=pla-316100924577&psc=1 **buy this
I just bought this one today that a fellow redditor from this sub recommended me
I bought this loupe and use my phone’s camera:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N34WZR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7hFRDbT12N633
Also if you can purchase this for nine bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/JARLINK-Illuminated-Jewelers-Magnifier-Foldable/dp/B078N34WZR
This will tell you for sure if you have a mite problem.
I was looking at the photo more and Some of the white specs look like you dropped some kind of white dust or something on them so in the picture I can have no way of telling whether this is mites or not but if you purchase this microscope and look on under the leaves you will see them
A jeweler's loupe works just fine, too. I utilize this one from Amazon and cross-reference cards of the same color/set to check for fakes.
I use this one, specifically the 30x part to see closer up and have to use my cell phone to take 60x pictures because my hands are just too shaky. I'm probably going to end up ordering the USB microscope I saw somewhere else on this thread haha
Do you have a proper jeweler's loupe? As far as I know, most fake don't even pass the light test let alone pass the loupe check on the green dot on the back of the card.
EDIT: Good, inexpensive loupe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N34WZR
When i was in the market for one, and not willing to spend a shit ton on it, most forums/people told me to got for this
IMO the trick is to find a felt where the fibers arent too tight, but not open weave either.
Now this story will probably reveal me for the geek I am but whatever - I spent some time at a Michaels with one of these looking at the architecture of different felt and foam sheets. There was a typical Michaels sales person (if you have ever been to the store, you know the type) who spent about 5 minutes staring at me with increasing curiosity and concern until she could no longer control herself - she came up to me and in an agitated whisper said "WTF are you doing?"
I tried to explain but it was no use, it was obvious that she thought I was a complete asshat :-)