Loupe
Also called jeweler's loupe
A loupe is a small magnifying glass used by watchmakers and dealers to examine a watch's dial, printing, engravings, and finishing in detail.
Many of the signs that separate a genuine, original watch from a fake, a redial, or a watch with replaced parts are only visible under magnification, such as printing quality, the edges of applied markers, and engraving depth.
A good loupe is one of the cheapest and most useful tools a dealer can own. Use it on every intake.
Related terms
Where this comes up
Pages on this site that use the term.
- Cartier Panthere de Cartier, mini model, steel, quartzWatch reference
- Cartier Santos de Cartier, large model, steelWatch reference
- Inspecting a watch at a viewingArticle
- The tools and equipment a watch dealer needsArticle
- Tissot Le Locle 39.3mm, Roman indexes, blue dialWatch reference
- Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36, mother-of-pearl dial, steel braceletWatch reference
Learn the trade, not just the word
Plain-English guides to buying, pricing and selling watches as a business. Free, and written to be used at the counter.