Grading

GIA to Demo New Microscope in Tucson

GradingJan 26, 2024

GIA to Demo New Microscope in Tucson

Discounts are available on pre-orders made through the end of AGTA GemFair.

GIA microscope
GIA will be doing demonstrations of its new microscope, The Gemolite NXT, at AGTA GemFair in Tucson and providing discounts to anyone who pre-orders the instrument during the show.
Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemolite NXT, a new microscope developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), is now available for purchase.

The instrument will be available for demonstrations at GIA’s main booth and the GIA Instruments booth during AGTA GemFair Tucson, Jan. 30-Feb. 4. The lab is offering discounts on all purchases made through the end of the show.  

GIA called the Gemolite NXT the microscope that “redefines industry standards.” 

“Developed in conjunction with GIA’s Global Research Team, this microscope is packed with cutting-edge features, designed for optimal performance and customization, catering to the needs of gemologists and scientists in various settings, whether grading diamonds or colored stones, in a laboratory or retail environment,” said Anthony Brown, GIA director of instruments operations.  

The GIA Gemolite NXT is one of the only professional-grade microscopes with adjustable LED lighting yet remains cool to the touch, the lab said.  

It contains various options for viewing different gemstone features, accommodating techniques such as darkfield, brightfield, diffused, reflected, and polarized lighting. 

 Related stories will be right here … 

The microscope includes a set of 10x oculars for increased total magnification up to 50x, soft eyecups, and a specially designed optics pod optimal for use with diamonds and colored gemstones.

The instrument also features an ergonomic, adjustable focus column with large focus knobs for ease of use. 

The rotating base with a stationary power cord enhances the user experience, GIA said.

In addition, the microscope features an LCD digital display, a modern digital screen on which the level of illumination for each light source is displayed.

“The research team set out to create a microscope that preserves the ergonomic advantages of its predecessor, incorporates modern LED lighting technology for extended illumination, and enhances functionality with added features like fiber optic light,” said Dr. Wuyi Wang, GIA vice president of research and development. 

The GIA Gemolite NXT Professional edition includes all of the same features as well as two interchangeable fiber optic lights, LED illuminated overhead lamp, 15x oculars for a total magnification of 75x, soft eyecups and adjustable armrests for enhanced ergonomics.

The GIA Gemolite NXT is $6,495 and the GIA Gemolite NXT Professional is $6,995, according to the GIA website.

Those interested in purchasing the microscope can add themselves to the interest list on GIA’s online store


Lauren McLemoreis the associate editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments.

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