How To Use a Jeweler’s Loupe
First establish which eye is the best one for you to use. Normaly you can do this by holding up a finger about 2 feet in front of you, noticeing what is directly behind you finger. Then close one eye at a time, the eye open when your finger appears to be in the same place relitive to the background is the eye to use with your Jeweler’s Loupe.
Pick up the loupe with the same hand as the eye your useing, ie: right or left.
Hold the loupe firmily between your thumb and middle finger, if your index finger will fit through the open end of the loupe it is good to place it their, or just rest it against the loupe.
Hold the loupe about 1 to 2 inches form your eye, and the object your inspecting in front of the loupe lense, this distance varies with the loupe you have. Normaly from 1/8 inch to 1 inch.
It some times helps to rest your thumb on your cheek to steady the loupes lense.
If your loupe is to far from your eye the object your viewing will be upside down.
If your inspecting small objects, place some soft fabric under the area it may fall, to keep it from being lost if droped. It is a good idea to use some type of locking tool to hold it securely.
For larger objects just hold it securly with your other hand, it is helpful to rest one hand against the other in some manner to avoid shaking.
Light is critical, florescent light generaly is lacking blue, and regular light bulbs most often are lacking some colors as well. Sunlight is the safest, or use some lights desinged to simulate the the natural light to see the true colors, this is most critical when judging the color of a diamond.