loupe

[ loop ]

noun

1. any of several varieties of magnifying glasses, used by jewelers and watchmakers, of from 2 to 20 power and intended to fit in the eye socket, to be attached to spectacles, or to be held in the hand.

loupe

/ luːp /

noun

1. a magnifying glass used by jewellers, horologists, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of loupe¹

1905–10; < French, originally an imperfect gem, a mass of hot metal ≪ Germanic; loop ³, lob ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of loupe¹

C20: from French (formerly an imperfect precious stone), from Old French, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

My favorite thing to do was to look through the loupe at slides on the light box.

From New York Times

After one softball game, he pulled three blueberry-sized precious stones out of a bag and handed them to Mr. Takemoto, who inspected them with a jeweler’s loupe.

From New York Times

Buckley typically sports a T-shirt and a red lanyard holding his keys and a jeweler’s loupe; he collects impossibly rare Rolexes, but usually wears an Apple Watch.

From New York Times

Too often, though, it’s fussed over, as if every syllable were held up with a jeweler’s loupe and assessed for shine and heft.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t see anything that would be considered as a technological add-on to it,” Barrios said after a few moments of examining the rock with a silver loupe magnifier.

From Los Angeles Times