Bausch & Lomb Watchmaker Loupe, 10x

Poor quality. Full of aberrations. Not happy. Not with for the price paid.

Some of the negative comments about this product have nothing whatsoever to do with the manufacturing quality or the design of the product. Rather, they seem to come from a misunderstanding of how it’s designed to be used. Hopefully, my comments will help you understand what you’re buying before you place an order.1. What does 10X mean? It means that the object being viewed is magnified ten (10) times. This eye loupe is best used when you want to see really close detail on things like jewelry, watches, insects, stamps, or finding a splinter in your finger.2. Field of View: When viewing a dime with this loupe, you can’t quite see 100% of the entire dime in sharp focus all at once. In other words, only sections of the dime will be in focus at any one time. If you want to be able to see the entire dime in focus all at once, you should look for an eye loupe with a lower magnification power (example, 7X). But of course, with lower magnification you won’t be able to see as much detail.3. Outer edge distortion: When viewing something with this eye loupe, it’s normal for the outer edges of the lens to appear distorted or out of focus. This is not a defect. Only the center area will appear sharp when held at the correct distance.4. What does a 1” focusing distance mean? It means that when the object being viewed is in focus, the distance from the lens to the object is approximately one (1) inch.Think about that for a moment. To use this loupe properly, you’ll need to hold it only one (1) inch away from what you’re trying to see. At such a close viewing distance, it’s normal that your hand or your head may create a shadow that blocks your light. If so, you may need to change the direction of the light or stand in a different position.5. How do I use this product? This product is an eye loupe, not a magnifying glass. It wasn’t designed to be used while holding it several inches from your face. To use it, use one hand to hold the open end of the eye loupe against the bone of your eye socket. Now position yourself or the object to be viewed approximately one (1) inch from the lens. Finally, move yourself (or the object being viewed) slightly forward or backward until the center area of the lens is in sharp focus.Some people are able to successfully hold an eye loupe in place without using their hands. In such instances, the eye loupe is positioned between the cheekbone and the brow bone (like when using and old-fashioned monocle). The natural tension of your skin will hold the eye loupe in place.However, many people (including myself), are unable to do this, or can only do so for a few seconds before the eye loupe falls to the floor. Note: Be careful. If the loupe drops onto a hard surface, the lens may break or pop out.Another method of holding an eye loupe in position is to use a headband. These items use frequently by watchmakers, and work by using a spring wire that fits around your head to keep the eye loupe in position. Sorry, but I don’t use a headband with my loupe, so I can’t recommend a specific model.PROS:1. Excellent image quality. I’ve used Bausch & Lomb eye loupes for many years and have never been disappointed.2. The lens is made of glass, not plastic. A glass lens offers a clear image that is much more scratch-resistant than plastic.3. Made in the USA. Does it matter? You bet it does! When you purchase something made in America, you’re supporting the US economy and providing jobs for American workers.4. It comes with a draw-string velvet pouch for storage.5. It’s a good value. When you consider the quality of this product and that it’s American made, the pricing is quite reasonable. Sure, you can always buy something cheaper. But before doing so, ask yourself: Were any American jobs created to manufacture the product? Am I getting a cheap plastic lens, or a glass lens?CONS:1. I really can’t think of any.FINAL THOUGHTS:Rather than just being a useful tool, don’t underestimate the entertainment value of this product for you and your kids. You may not think of an eye loupe as a source of entertainment, but seeing ordinary things in close-up detail is truly fascinating. There are many intricate details in flowers, butterfly wings, paper currency, rocks, coins, stamps, insects, and many other objects that can only be seen under magnification.

This is the handiest tool you can use. It works great and magnifies like there is no tomorrow.

I use this all the time doing jewelry inspections and work.

The glass has to be almost touching the object. It casts a dark shadow so you can't see the item.

Quality is acceptable and the price was fair. I use the magnifying lens for inspecting PC board components for damage.