OPTICS

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.

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.

This XL magnifier measures 3-3/8" dia with a 5" long handle, all rubber coated. Glass lens is 1.5X and surrounded by (3) bright white energy efficient COB LED strips that run on (2) included "AA" batteries. Tap-on, tap-off switch. Good for everything from reading to looking at bugs and such.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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!

Work like a watchmaker with this extremely steampunkish clip-on triple loupe. In brass-plated steel, it clips on the temple of a pair of glasses with the three 15/16” dia lenses (2X, 2.5X and 3X) on 1-1/2” long arms that swing in and out and are adjustable via set screws. The spring clip for the glasses opens to 5/16”. Working distance is short like all loupes, but you’ll look extremely cool.

Excellent quality 1-3/4" dia magnifier on a gold- or silver-colored, thin 36" chain with clasp. Package calls it 5X but our magnification guru says less than that at optimum focal length. Perfect for wearing to formal antique shows.

This monster magnifier on a gooseneck stand doubles as a reading lamp. The 3-1/2” dia, 3.5X magnifying glass is surrounded by a bright 12W 1200 lumen LED ring of lights, all on a 12” gooseneck rising from a 6-1/4” x 5-1/4” x 1-1/2” thick base with a 4-foot power cord. The magnifying lens has a flip-down cover, which converts it to a reading lamp. Comes in mysterious black and inquisitive white; we'll choose the one that's best for your feng shui.

Low-profile reading glasses (AKA readers) with small 1-3/4" x 3/4" lenses. The frames are all the same delicate style and come in assorted colors to match the slim, plastic carrying case with the pocket clip. The plastic lenses are 1X, 1.25X, 1.5X, 1.75X, 2X, 2.5X, 3X. Our package of (3) pairs will be in assorted magnifications & colors (our choice). Note the incredible price -- these sell for up to $12.95 EACH at your local pharmacy!

This 10X folding loupe in black plastic and aluminum has a pair of very bright white LEDs next to the 25mm lens. Runs on (3) button-cell batteries, included, and has a tiny wrench to help you replace them. Loupe and wrench stow snuggly in a foam lined plastic case. When folded, it looks like a standard coach's whistle, or a really big apostrophe.

Our shiniest jeweler’s loupe is a 10X magnifier with a 3/4” dia glass lens in a chrome surround. Slides into a three-legged chrome stand that’s 2-1/2” wide x 1-3/4” tall. Loupe slides up and down in the tripod sleeve to focus, and slips out so you can carry it separately.

These 3-1/4" dia magnifying glasses on 5” handles are a big step up from the traditional Holmesean versions. Acrylic 1.5X lenses are surrounded by a trio of super-bright white COB LEDs for improved clue detection. (Holmes would have killed for COB lights.) They run on (2) “AA”s, thoughtfully included. We’ll pick one in a color that will complement your deerstalker.