Navigator’s Loupe, worth a hundred euros?

Kickstarter has chosen a low-tech project this time: the Navigator’s Loupe. Is this pricey magnifying glass really that special?

What is the Navigator’s Loupe?

The Navigator’s Loupe from Oceanus Brass is a magnifying glass. A lens, in this case of flint glass and a diameter of 4.5 cm, which is surrounded by a rubber ring in a solid brass annular fitting. This brass fitting has a bracket with which you can hang it from a cord. This differs from the standard shape of a magnifying glass, which is usually a lens in a fitting on a stem. The purpose of this magnifier is to hang it on a cord on your bag or neck, for example.

What is so special about the Navigator’s Loupe?

In fact, this is a rather boring product that you can only use as a magnifying glass. That is to say: to enlarge details, or as a burning glass, if you want to make a fire. There are much cheaper alternatives for this. The Navigator’s Loupe will especially appeal to fans of steampunk and late 19th-century maritime design. The main selling point is the appearance, which has indeed been carefully crafted. Is your entire interior in this style? Then this might be an attractive accessory.

To buy or not to buy?

With the pre-registration of this Kickstarter you can get this magnifier for around € 35. For this price you might consider it. The final selling price of the Navigator’s Loupe, around € 100, is in our opinion much more than the product is worth. Its usefulness is limited, although this is not the most overpriced product in the Oceanus Brass collection.

For that you need the brass dice, for which you pay € 100 per pair. To look at it from the optimistic side: as long as there are still people with enough money for this kind of nonsense, the economy will still be fine. You can find the Kickstarter project here.