Taking A Closer Look At The Loupe System, A Serious Loupe Created By And For Watch Lovers

June 26, 2013

The Loupe System HODINKEE obtained a review sample of the Loupe System C anall-new, high-end loupe created by a long-time watch collector.The worlds first loupe designed from the ground up specifically for watchenthusiasts, the Loupe System promises to be the best hand-held loupe you haveever looked through. Does it live up to its promise? Ill answer that for sure,but first, some background on why watch collectors should have a good handheldloupe and the characteristics that make a loupe good for collectors. The Importance of a Loupe Perhaps the most important tool for a watch collector is agood loupe. Whether one collects vintage or modern watches, a loupe isessential for magnifying important and subtle details that allow a collectorto:-Accurately assess the condition of a prospectivewatch-Scrutinize dial, case, and movement details todetect counterfeit, modified, or incorrect parts-Show friends and family the beauty of finefinishing details, helping to explain the things that make watches so great tocollectAttempting to purchase a vintage or pre-owned watch withoutone is basically begging for financial disaster. The Loupe System Characteristics of a Good Watch Collector's Loupe There are many different types of loupes available on themarket. Watchmakers, like surgeons, require hands-free loupes to free up bothhands to allow them to perform their jobs. For watch collectors, a small,handheld loupe that is both portable and lightweight is most desirable. A smallform factor allows it to be easily transported to places like auction previews,watch fairs, and collector dinners.?Besides portability, certain optical characteristics aremore desirable than others.Performance in low-light conditions, as is often the case atdinners and watch shows, is enhanced by lenses providing a wide field-of-view. Thispermits more light to enter through the lens, resulting in a brighter view. Next,a loupe with a sufficiently long depth-of-field C the distance between theclosest and furthest items that are in focus C greatly simplifies the processof getting various areas of interest in focus.?Surprisingly, higher magnification is undesirable for awatch collectors loupe. Loupe System, Brand Loupe, Hastings Triplet Expressed as a power multiplier such as 10X, 12X, or 15Xrelative to the original object size, higher magnification levels reduce boththe depth-of-field and the field-of-view, resulting in a darker image with anarrow focus region. High power loupes are more appropriate for jewelers; highmagnification gives them the ability to view tiny inclusions inside gemstonesto assess their clarity.Finally, a loupe that minimizes distortions is important sinceaccurate optical representation is crucial when, for example, assessing thequality - and authenticity - of the tiny serifs at the edges of printed text ona vintage Rolex dial. The use of better quality, coated lenses improvesresolution, corrects for spatial distortions, and displays accurate colors. Loupe System's Massive Aperture Handheld loupes range in price from a couple of dollars tohundreds of dollars. At the cheaper end of the spectrum are simple, single-elementlens loupes. They magnify the subject, but suffer from significant opticaldistortions, narrow depths of field, and show unwanted halo effects of incidentlight. Single-element lenses are found in the branded loupes often given awayby watch companies. Perfectly fine as free gifts, these low optical quality,branded loupes are quite collectible, and sell for hundreds of dollars on thesecondary market. Hastings Triplet Loupe Stepping up in cost, doublets and triplets combinemultiple lens elements to correct the aberrations found in a single lens.Doublets, combining two lenses, correct for spatial and chromatic (color)inaccuracies, but have poor optical performance along the outer circumferenceof their field of view. Triplets add a third lens to correct this outer edgedistortion. For years, my go-to loupe has been a Bausch & Lomb Hastings 10XTriplet.For a watch collector, the right loupe is one that balancessufficient magnification with a wide depth-of-field and field-of-view while minimizingoptical aberrations.Enter the Loupe System Loupe System Loupe System A long-time, passionate watch collector wasunsatisfied with all portable hand-held loupes available on the market. He setout to create his own, designed specifically to meet his demanding standards.His research led him to a camera lens design from the 1980s employing five multi-coatedlenses arranged in three groups. The lenses are arranged as two doublets thatsandwich a single lens in the center. The central lens magnifies the image, andthe two doublets serve to correct distortions.He was impressed by the wide field of view, high-resolution,and very low distortion performance of this design when used as a handheldloupe. After a small batch of hand-made prototypes sold out immediately to someof the worlds best watchmakers, he knew hed achieved the optical performancelevel many had been seeking, and the Loupe System was born. A small, cylindrical-shaped loupe that fits easily withinthe palm of ones hand, the Loupe System provides 6X magnification and a widefield-of-view of up to 50 mm. Compared with my old standby, the Bausch & Lomb Triplet,the Loupe System provides a field-of-view thats nearly three times as wide. Inaddition, the optical system delivers a long and expansive depth-of-field fordetailed three-dimensional visualization. The Full Loupe System Kit Measuring 45 mm high with a diameter of 48 mm, and weighingin at 125 grams (just under 4.5 ounces), the Loupe Systems high qualityconstruction is consistent with its superior optics. The five lenses are housedin a black anodized aluminum case. Supple, food-grade, black silicon surroundsthe lens housing, fully protecting it against shocks. ?The silicon housing will not scratch awatchs case if contact is accidentally made while looking through the loupe.Its a little too large to fit in a pants pocket comfortably, though it issmall enough to easily fit in a briefcase or purse. Loupe System Soft Case Two replaceable top elements are included with the LoupeSystem. The first positions the users eye at a distance that yields the bestoverall optical performance of the lens, providing a field-of-view of 40 mm.The second top element increases the field of view to 50 mm, with a small lossof acuity over the outer region of the field-of-view. The Loupe System In Soft Case A modular system, future accessories in development willinclude a mounting case for iPhones to allow macro photography using theiPhones camera, a rechargeable circular illuminator bottom element, and a USBvideo camera.The Loupe System is thoughtfully packaged, shipping with atough, waterproof ABS plastic case that transforms into a four-watch paddedtravel case via included foam inserts. This is clearly made by a watchenthusiast, for watch enthusiasts.?The entry level Loupe System is fitted with a rubber-coatedcenterpiece, priced at $375. Carbon fiber and alligator are also available,costing $450 and $575, respectively. Brown Alligator, Black Alligator, and Rubber Loupe System Using the LoupeSystem The Loupe System I received for review was fitted with acarbon fiber centerpiece. I had the pleasure of using it recently to examine a GreubelForsey watch. Since the Loupe System is not currently capable of providing itsown illumination, I was stuck with the less-than-optimal lighting conditions ofthe retailers counter space.? The performance of the Loupe System was put to the test whenI used it to view a Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique.? The watchs multi-level,three-dimensional movement is visible through the dial side, and is among themost spectacular movement architectures Ive ever seen. Examining A Mil Sub With Loupe System Centering the Loupe System over the central axis of thewatchs hour and minute hands provided a full view of its 38.4 mm movementthanks to the loupes 40 mm field-of-view. ?In comparison, my Bausch & Lomb 10X Hastings Tripletallowed me to view only small sections of the movement for a given loupeposition with its 17 mm field-of-view. ?In spite of the dark lighting conditions, the visualization throughthe Loupe System was plenty bright and very accurate. Check out a Vacheron Constantin Movement With Loupe System With the Loupe Systems deep depth-of-field, all levels ofthe movement were in focus simultaneously. From the surface of the timekeepinghands at the top, to the movements main plate at the bottom, I was able toadmire the superb finishing throughout the entire movement without having toreposition the lens in any way. With the Hastings Triplet, the magnificationlevel was noticeably higher, but the depth-of-field was quite narrow, requiringme to reposition the loupe to allow a particular level of the movement to comeinto focus. Straight lines found within the movement and its printedtext and engravings appeared undistorted and crisp throughout the LoupeSystems entire field-of-view, illustrating the accuracy of the 5-element lenssystem. ? Looking Through Loupe System Conclusion During this years Basel Fair, the Loupe System was found inthe booths of such high-end brands as Urwerk and MB&F - a testament to theLoupe Systems high quality. So, was it the best loupe Ive ever lookedthrough? Without a doubt, yes. The Loupe System provides breathtaking views ofany watch falling under its lenses. Were talking ear-to-ear smiles whenlooking through it. I was so pleased with its performance, that I purchased thereview sample to replace my Hastings Triplet.Yes, the Loupe System is expensive relative to otherhandheld loupes available on the market. But since watch collecting is sovisual, investment in a high quality loupe like the Loupe System is well worthconsidering. For less than the retail price of some luxury watch straps, its highlyrecommended. Loupe System Pros:- Expansive field-of-view C 40 mm or 50 mmdepending on top element used C allowing an entire dial, movement, or watchcase to be seen at one time- Long depth-of-field permits multiple levels of awatch to be in focus simultaneously- Stunning optical performance C no spatialdistortions detected throughout entire field-of-view- Modular system allows future upgrades such as aniPhone housing to turn it into a macro lens for the iPhone- Soft silicon exterior case makes it verycomfortable to useCons:- Not small enough to fit comfortably into a pantspocket - Large, lower lens element sits close to thebottom edge of the loupe making it prone to fingerprints- Currently not self-illuminating (a futureupgrade is in development); sufficient light is required for use.