The darkfield loupe is a small instrument that provides 10x magnification as in a standard loupe, with an important added feature: it is combined with a specially constructed area that enables
you to view a gem against a black background with strong lateral lighting. This is called darkfield
illumination, the reason why this instrument is called a darkfield loupe.
This type of lighting environment makes it easier to see certain types more precisely what they
are. Especially valuable for colored gemstone buyers because seeing inclusions clearly plays an
important role in separating one colored stone from another.
The darkfield loupe is an important and essential tool in examining colored gemstones, for
anyone buying diamonds or diamond jewelry and in viewing many fracture-filled diamonds that
are currently circulated worldwide. A fracture-filled diamond also known as clarity enhanced
diamond, is a diamond which contains a crack or cracks that have been filled with a glass-like
substance to improve the overall appearance of the stone. Using the darkfield loupe is the
easiest way for most people to spot fracture-filled diamonds.