Forget watchmaking, you could write the "A Tale of Two Cities" on a piece of tortellini with this triple magnifier visor. Magnifies from 1.8X to 4.8X. Has a permanent and flip-down 1.9X lenses, and a flip-down 4.5X loupe. Dual white LEDs in a pivoting mount, powered by (2) "AAA"s each which aren't included. The whole thing is in a black plastic visor, 7-3/4" wide x 5-1/4" deep with a flexible plastic strap with adjustable dial control. Opens to 9" max dia and has coated acrylic lenses. Now then: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..

This very good-optical-quality 3X magnifier has a 3” dia glass lens set in a 7-1/2” long traditional Sherlockian-looking rubberized handle. In black with French blue accents for stylish sleuthing. Plastic and rubber body is shock resistant.

This folding magnifier has (2) glass lenses that can be used solo or in tandem. Each is 1” dia and 7.5X magnification, and together they’re 15X (which you just did in your head). The hinged lenses slide into a black plastic teardrop case that measures 2-1/4” x 1-1/2”. Like a giant jeweler’s loupe. Super-handy, powerful and as portable as they come.

Flat plastic Fresnel lens. This flexible magnifier is 7-1/4" x 10-1/4" and only about a millimeter thick. It is great when you need to scan a list or to look for something in a directory. You can see most of the page without moving the magnifier. Only about 1.5 power, but that can make a huge visual difference. The quality is not high, but neither is the price.

A nice 3X loupe, 2-3/8" dia, that folds into its own 3-3/8" x 2-5/8" tear-drop-shaped plastic case, and it's only 5/8" thick, just right for sliding into your pocket. Pay no attention the "6X" markings on the package-if mistakes didn't happen, we wouldn't be in business.

How about three extra hands? This multi-purpose workstation tool has a large 3X, 3-1/2" dia LED-lighted magnifier on a 10" gooseneck (you add 4 "AA" batteries), a soldering-iron stand, cleaning sponge plus steel wool, a canister of flux paste, a pair of  alligator clips with ball-socket mounts on the ends of a 4" rod  plus an extra hand with a third alligator clip on a 10" gooseneck. It all weighs in at a stable 3+ lbs and has a 7-1/4" x 6-3/4" base so you won't need fourth hand to hold it upright.

Steampunk alert! Also…model and jewelry maker alert! This pair of 10X acrylic doublet loupes is mounted on black eyeglass frames and flanked by LED lights powered by (2) included CR1620 button cell batteries. These are for close work only, from 1" to 1-1/2", and can focus only one lens at a time (not both on the same object) so if you’re a steampunker looking for a new accessory, plan on perching this rig on your pate or chapeau.

Surpies rejoice! This might be our deal of the year. We recently acquired a bonanza of high-quality reading glasses (not cheapie five & dime store readers) in soooo many styles and colors, with magnification ranges of 1.00-1.75 and 2.00-3.00. Some are sunglasses, some have spring hinges, some have a case, and all originally sold for $10 to $30 each. So get this: we’ll send you (5) of them for less than $15. We promise you’ll get (5) different frame styles and at least (2) different magnifications. But remember: the styles vary wildly, from classic to eye-catching. With that in mind, remember: you get what you get, without throwing a fit. Isn’t surplus wonderful!

Why yes, it could be. Most jeweler’s loupes are too bulky to slide into a pocket, but this 5X version has a built-in tweezers and folds to a slim 2-1/4” long x 1” x 1/2” thick. Doublet lens is 15mm across in a plastic body. There’s some slight edge distortion, but for the magnifying power, size, and convenience, it’s hard to beat.

Or don't. Maybe you’re like us and you just like to take a closer gander at stuff. These magnifiers are called linen testers because they have a measuring grid so you can count threads. But the tester doesn't care if you actually count threads. Use it for anything you want to see up close in a grid—or just anything you want to see up close. You pick: the small one with a 2-1/2” dia 2X lens that opens to a 4” height and folds down to approx 4” x 3” x 3/4”; or the large one with a 4” dia 2X lens that opens to a 7” height and folds to 6-1/2” x 5-1/4” x 1-5/8”.