Hand lenses are available with adjustable magnification.
A hand lens, or loupe, is a magnifying lens that is available in a durable, portable design. Choices in design are in the area of magnification, materials and size. Some hand lenses come in plastic cases and frames making them lighter weight and easier to handle. Metal framed lenses are less prone to damage and distortion.
Geology
For a geologist, no field kit should be without a hand lens. A small hand lens is useful for on-the-spot identification. Field geologists frequently need a hand lens to examine rocks, soil, sediment, and other small-grained materials. Standard geology lenses are doublets that feature a cemented pair of lenses that enhance color correction of the focused object.
Jewelry Work
Jewelers most often use a monocular, hand-held loupe to leave their hands free for fine jewelry work. A magnification of 10x or higher is recommended. Hand lenses are useful in assessing the clarity of a diamond, inspecting jewelry and to identify hallmarks -- official marks on pieces. Watchmakers also use hand lenses for repairing watches. Triplet lenses are often used to appraise a gem for better assessment of color and clarity. Hand lenses are for installing gems onto a watch face.
Gardening
Hand lenses are used in biology for gardening purposes, for detecting and identifying pests and diseases, as well as identifying beneficial organisms in nature. A gardener's technique is to hold the lens close to his eye and move his head toward and away from the object in focus to get the best view. A lens of moderate magnification -- about 10x -- is sufficient. It's also beneficial to have a lens that folds up and is attached to a lanyard around the neck at all times.
Stamp Collecting
The most critical tool for a stamp collector is a hand lens or other form of magnifier. Loupes are used to examine the condition of a stamp, to assess a stamp's authenticity and aesthetic value. A stamp collector's lens should be at magnification levels of 5x or 10x. A magnification level of at least 8x is necessary for inspecting the security features and micro-printing on stamps.
Reading
For those who don't want the hassle of carrying around bulky and fragile reading glasses, a compact foldable hand lens is the ideal choice. A high quality, optical-grade acrylic lens is easily carried and durable.
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