Find the perfect microscope to achieve unparalleled precision, productivity, and versatility in your workshop.
Whether you’re purchasing a microscope for the first time or considering an upgrade to your current equipment, our jeweler’s buying guide simplifies the decision-making process. Investing in a microscope is undoubtedly worthwhile and makes life easier all around. By improving visual capabilities, microscopes allow jewelers to produce high-quality work, uphold craftsmanship standards, and ensure the integrity of their materials.
Why Buy a Microscope?
Jewelers rely on microscopes for stone setting, engraving, and inspecting gemstones due to the precision and meticulous attention to detail required in each of these tasks.
- When setting stones, a bench microscope allows jewelers to see the fine details of prongs and bezels, ensuring that each gemstone is securely and symmetrically placed without damaging the stone.
- During engraving, magnification provides the detailed visibility needed to create intricate designs and lettering on tiny jewelry surfaces with exceptional accuracy and artistry.
- For inspecting gemstones, gemological microscopes are indispensable in identifying imperfections, inclusions, or signs of treatment within the stones.
Bench Models Vs. Gemological Models
In the jewelry industry, bench microscopes and gemological microscopes serve distinct purposes and have different features tailored to their specific tasks.
Bench Microscopes
These microscopes are generally used for high magnification viewing and detailed examination of small objects. Bench microscopes can be equipped with a variety of objective lenses for different magnifications. These microscopes are used for tasks that require examining small components or for performing repairs, such as inspecting the intricacies of jewelry settings, engraving, or examining tiny components that require high precision. Bench microscopes are designed with ergonomics in mind, allowing jewelers to be comfortable and maintain good posture, thereby reducing head/body aches and exhaustion.
Gemological Microscopes
These microscopes are essential in grading and appraising gemstones. They often come with darkfield illumination, brightfield illumination, and sometimes polarized lighting to allow gemologists to observe inclusions, growth structures, and other internal characteristics of gemstones effectively. Gemological microscopes are primarily used for the detailed analysis of gemstones, including identifying inclusions, detecting synthetic or treated stones, examining clarity and cut, confirming faceting details, and for identifying inscriptions on the girdle of stones.
Bench Models
Leica® Bench Microscope
Key Features:
- Overall Height: 23"
- Viewing Angle: 38°
- Object Field: 46 mm
- Working Distance: 122 mm
About this item: Ergonomically designed workstations have been proven to increase performance and the quality of work results. Leica® Microsystems’ many years of experience in ergonomics is evident in the Leica® A60. The zoom and focus knobs could not be more accessible; the rheostat of the focus drive can be adjusted to the preferences of a specific user. The operating elements of the ring illuminator are also intuitive and easily accessible by left and right-handed users. The A60 provides a wide viewing area with significantly increased depth of field compared to other microscopes.
GRS® Acrobat® Versa Stand & Leica® A60 Bench Microscope
Key Features:
- Magnification: 5X–30X
- Power: 110/120 volts; 50/60Hz; 0.15 amps
- Optics: 6.125" (156mm)
- Used For: Enhanced Viewing Capabilities for Finer Detailed Jobs
Gemological Models
Leica StereoZoom® S9i Gemological Microscope
Key Features:
- Magnification Power: up to 55x
- Working Distance: 122 mm
- Depth of Field: 12 mm
- Zoom Ratio: 9:1
- Camera Megapixels: 10
- Image Frames: 35
- Used For: Finding Tiny Details Quickly & Clearly
About this item: FusionOptics technology includes easy sample manipulations under the microscope. The integrated network-camera allows for easy image sharing through your PC, HD-monitor, or mobile device.
Gemological Microscope
Key Features:
- Dimensions (LxH): 6" x 7"
- Magnification: 20x–40x
- Used For: Viewing Set & Unset Stones
About this item: This microscope features built-in light, darkfield illumination and a versatile stone holder.
Gemax Pro-II Digital Microscope
Key Features:
- Ideal for taking high-resolution pictures of rings, earrings & smaller jewelry pieces as well as diamonds & gemstones
- The professional microscopic lens and 3-1/2" LCD panel provides a crystal-clear image, which can be captured and saved in an SD memory card.
- Improved and bigger screen (5 inches) with a new microchip to get true colors and crisp image of stones and jewelry
- Easily connect with a USB to computer screens and TV monitors.
- Ability to turn the base into Darkfield/Brightfield function
Accu-Scope 3075-Gs-St Microscope
Key Features:
- Binocular viewing head, inclined 45-degrees and rotatable 360-degrees
- WF15x/16mm focusing eye guards
- 0.67x to 4.5x zoom (10x - 67.5x zoom range)
- Gem stand with tilt back
- 325-degree rotatable base, darkfield halogen illuminator with sliding baffle and iris diaphragm, overhead fluorescent illuminator, stage mounted variable LED light guide
- Wire stone holder, ring holder, and dust cover
- Hold base with one hand and use the other to loosen the screw, then tilt the base to desired angle and tighten the screw.
Accu-Scope 14110-ST Microscope
Key Features:
- Unitron trinocular zoom stereo microscope
- 0.8x to 3.5x (8x to 35x total magnification)
- WF10x/20mm eyepieces, variable LED stand with reflected and transmitted illumination, 0.30x c-mount adapter
- Excelis HDS camera with monitor and cables, centrable darkfield condenser, ring holder and wire stone holder with mounting posts, and dust cover
Flexible Payment Options with StullerPay®
Enhance your workshop affordably with StullerPay — buy now, pay later through flexible monthly installment plans for essential equipment like microscopes, casting machines, welders, and more. With monthly payments tailored to your needs, StullerPay functions like a flexible line of credit, enabling you to improve production and profitability while gradually covering the cost of the equipment that propels your business forward.
When viewing a product, look for the StullerPay display on the right for eligible items. Pre-approved customers can instantly see their payment options by clicking the box. If you’re not pre-approved, a form is available to learn more.
Tools Tech Team
Need Support From an Industry Leader?
Whether you are researching to find the right tool, troubleshooting an existing issue, or need full servicing for your equipment, Stuller’s team of experts can guide you in making the best choices for your business. Contact the Tools Tech Team at 800-877-7777, ext. 4300.
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In summary, gemological microscopes are specifically designed for the accurate appraisal and study of gemstones, whereas bench microscopes are more general-purpose tools used for a range of detailed inspection tasks in jewelry fabrication and repair.
We hope our microscope buying guide assists you in making a wise investment for your business and boosts your confidence at the bench and in your shop, enabling you to deliver outstanding results to your customers.