Customer Reviews

SE Jewelers Loupe 20X18mm With LED Light in Plastic Box

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The loupe is definitely top notch quality, especially for under $6. I see absolutely no difference between this and other "Jeweler's Quality" loupes I've used.

Very solid construction, no flaws at all that I could find. The built-in LED lights are quite bright, and the optics are crystal clear.

There is a special two-pronged key included to unscrew the battery compartment, and the prongs had to be spread a tiny bit so that the they would fit. Other than that, this product exceeded my expectations.

After having purchased a BelOMO 10X loupe from Amazon back in December 2009 and loving it, I wanted to get a more powerful magnifier. I initially was looking at the BelOMO 20X, but then saw this one. I checked for any indication of this being made in China, and since the page was free of China and SE (a Chinese brand) references, I put aside my skepticism and purchased this loupe. The two glowing reviews didn't hurt, either. My thought was that, if it didn't live up to the promise of the reviews, then at least I wasn't out much money for the product.

Well, the light works nicely, is bright, and is oriented in such a way that the object you're examining is very well-lit. Though the switch is somewhat finicky, the light is a great feature for examining small objects at the short distances required to focus the loupe. Unfortunately, that's about the best thing I can say about this falsely-advertised loupe, which is in fact an SE loupe made in China.

This is NOT a 20X loupe, and it's a stretch to even call it 10X. For testing purposes, I compared a nymph tick (about the size of a pinhead) using each loupe; the nymph is larger and much more detailed with my 10X BelOMO than with this cheap made-in-China piece of junk advertised as 20X.

While the casing IS all metal, parents thinking of getting this for the kids should be aware that the cover (the part you hold when the loupe is being used) has edges that could easily cut little fingers.

Obviously, I'm rather disappointed with this purchase. While this loupe DOES have a clear view, and the light is nice, it's not even close to 20X; it's probably more like a 7X or 8X magnification. The good news is that it's cheap enough that I won't bother returning it, especially since shipping cost more than the dang loupe did.

So, it's back to BelOMO for me, and I'd suggest that prospective purchasers STAY AWAY FROM THE SE LINE OF LOUPES. Apply the $5 you'd spend on this toward a truly good loupe; you'll thank yourself later.

One star, but only because I had to put something down to get this review published. Otherwise, I'd rate this a 0 star item. Do yourself a favor and do not buy it.

This loupe, although fairly inexpensive, is a very high quality tool with unbelievable durability. The all metal housing is strong and durable and the LED lights + battery changing tool are wonderful bonuses. If you're in the market for a great loupe at an affordable price, this one's for you!