DIY ASET & Ideal Scope

Download and print the Template. Make sure the printer settings are set to print double-sided, flipped on short end, and scaled to 100%. This is important so that everything lines up and is correctly proportioned. After printing, verify the scale by measuring the 1″ x 1″ square on the page.

This step will transfer the printed templates to the colored folders. Glue along the dotted line of the back (gray) side and stick it to the red folder. Make sure to avoid gluing in the "keep out area," which should be big enough to account for any offsets from printing. The folder I'm using has a red and pink side, so press the template to the red side. This should keep the printed paper from slipping with the folder while cutting with scissors. You can skip this step if you are careful but it helped me.

Try to be as precise as possible when cutting along the line. Depending on your printer, the shapes on both sides of the page should line up with enough buffer to clear of any glue and separate cleanly. You won't need the transfer template and remaining folder pieces after this step.

Form the cone so that the pink side of the cone is facing outward and the red side is facing inwards. Try to form the cone as precisely as possible, since it will also affect the shape of the green cone. It may help to use a pencil to lightly draw a line along the tab seam on the red side. Apply glue to the tab on the same side to avoid any residue from showing if the cone needs to be reshaped before it sets. This also ensures there is one straight seam on the inner (red) surface so it looks more "clean." You may need to hold the shape for a minute or two until the glue sets. Measure the height and two diameters with the ruler to ensure they match the dimensions on the template.

Use the green cone template to cut the shape out of the green folder in the same way you cut the red cone. Apply glue to the tab on the darker green side, as with the red cone, so the darker side is facing inwards. Since the green cone is meant to fit inside the red cone, it helps to use the red cone as a guide so it fits perfectly inside. Shaping it separately may cause them to be misaligned due to the thickness of the paper and any cutting imperfections.

Use the blue cone template to cut the shape out of the blue folder in the same way you cut the other cones. Glue on the gray dotted lines for both the cone shape and the caps. When cutting, be careful to avoid the blue cap section, which will be used in Step 7. Unlike the red and green cones, the darker blue side will face outwards instead of inwards. Since the blue cone is meant to fit around the loupe, it helps to use the loupe as a guide to ensure a good fit.

Three cap templates are provided because the loupe may vary slightly in size, but most will use the Medium Cap. To determine which one to use, match the smaller side of the blue cone to the body circle of each star shape. The shape should be slightly smaller than the cone so it fits inside once the ends are folded up. Once cut out, use the 1/4″ hole-punch for the center hole. Fold up the eight tabs and apply glue to the dark side of each. Glue into place so that it lines up with the bottom of the smaller circle in the blue cone.

Once the glue is set on all the cones, put the loupe into the blue cone. Then put the blue cone assembly and the green cone into the red cone. Use the small paperclip to hold the green cone in place. Alternatively, the green cone can be glued directly to the red cone, but I like to keep it removable so I have the option to use it as an Ideal Scope instead. Alternatively, you can just make a second red cone to be used for the same purpose.

Now that the DIY ASET & Ideal Scopes are made, a light source is needed. The official "Ideal Light" is used as a way to get light the gemstone from the bottom up. Rather than holding the gemstone up to a window or lamp with tweezers, which can vary in light intensity, this provides a consistent way to light the gemstone in different locations and conditions. Luckily many of us carry a light source in our pockets every day – a smartphone.

Pull up a white background and turn the screen to full brightness, which provides the consistent light source needed. The gem needs to be held upright, which can be done using a translucent white lid. Since it is translucent, it also diffuses the light evenly. Simply poke a hole in the center with something sharp. I used a 1/16″ drill bit. There should already be a notch where the piece was injection molded, so centering it should be easy. The size of the hole will depend on the size of the gem you're viewing. If your gemstone is already mounted on a ring, you will need to come up with a different holder.

• •Use the smartphone with a white background at full brightness.
• •Center the holder on top of the smartphone.
• •To avoid fingerprints, use tweezers to place the gem in the hole.
• •Make sure the gem is straight up to get the correct "face up" view.
• •Center the DIY Scope on the gemstone and look into the loupe.
• •A camera or second smartphone can be used to take the ASET or Ideal Scope images.
• •Look at some gems!