THE COLLECTORS LOUPE

The “collectors Loupe” was designed as an object for the adventurous at heart. Presenting itself in the form of an ancient temple or rotunda, the small building conceals a 10X triplet loupe as well as a timepiece in the roof top. At rest this small wonder begs further investigation drawing us in  as a curiosity. Once revealed, the temple becomes a beautiful tool with a wonderful 19C flavor and playfulness.

The loupe is entirely handmade in 18K gold and platinum with hardened and blued steel screws and springs. A cabochon sapphire is set in the crown and just to the right of it is a small diamond push piece to open the roof top, revealing the watch. The loupe measures approximately 45mm wide by 55mm high. steel embossing dies were made for the roof sections which emulate tiles.
   The exploded view shows the 45 components that make up this piece. With an average of two parts per component, that makes a total of roughly 90 parts to be made and assembled.

   The dial is engine turned silver with gold chapter markers. The threads on the barrel for the optics were thread milled, a process which I will discuss in a later posting. The hands are handmade, hardened and blued. All flat surfaces were hand lapped to a final polish, as the polishing wheel cannot impart a "mirror finish".


   This piece has been time well spent at the bench and the rewards were great, from the engineering aspects to the final assembly.
  The Collectors Loupe is yet unclaimed, and available for purchase.