As most of the inclusions are small insects from

0.5mm upwards, we need a method of viewing them

whilst cleaning, as well as when the amber reaches

the polished stage. Depending on how much you want

to spend, there are various items which can be used.

All the items can be purchased at online stores or

sites such as Ebay.

Loupe

Loupes as used by jewellers again come in varying magnification. I have a 30x loupe which consists of two lenses, one being 20x and the other 10x which can be coupled together to give 30x magnification. The advantage of loupes over magnifying glasses is in their size (easily fits in a pocket), better quality of lens and a much better magnification. However, loupes are more expensive than magnifying glasses.

Microscope

Many people have seen the common stand alone microscope but, thanks to modern advances in technology, microscopes can now be connected to your pc. A picture of your insect can be taken through the microscope which can then be saved for future viewing. Pictured right is the microscope I have which is a cheap but good alternative to some of the more professional ones which can work out expensive. This was purchased on Ebay and has magnifications of 10x, 60x and 200x. It can be removed from its stand and used by hand. The main advantage in doing this is that if the surface of the amber is not flat, it may be difficult to see the inclusion. Microscopes are really only useful for viewing the polished amber rather than during the cleaning process.

The Magnifying Glass

Magnifying glasses come in various

sizes and magnification. They are cheap to buy and are very

useful for the cleaning operation. The standard magnifying

glass is pictured below. The main drawback of a standard

magnifying glass is that the object can be hard to see if the light

in your room is poor. For this reason, you may want to spend a

bit more and go for an illuminated version or buy a desk lamp to

shine over the amber.