My other scopes....

[Microworldofgems]

I recently posted about my blue custom Zeiss universal and thought why stop there.... here are my other scopes currently in the stable. They include a GIA gemolite with AO optics, an AO series 10 for epi-DIC, and AO series 20 with teaching head that rarely gets any use, a spare AO series 10 that was my first eBay compound type scope, and last but certainly not least is my Nikon SMZ10.

The SMZ10 was given to me by my good friend and mentor of all things gem and microscope related, John Koivula. In 1984 he won first place in the Nikon Small world competition and Nikon gave him this scope with every imaginable accessory made as his prize. He then used it for about 30 years and then gave it to me. Since then I modified it for digital camera use and added a fine focus rack for focus stacking. Definitely my favorite microscope with my blue Zeiss being a close second.

[Microworldofgems]

Here are a few example photomicrographs taken of inclusions in gem materials using the smz10.