[Zeke]

...and how many replacements did you buy in that time?

I found a loupe that I had for quite awhile yesterday in a box on a shelf with various types of wire in it. Saw the loupe there after probably 10 years. I have bought a photo contact sheet viewer and 2 boxes of the HF ones that come in various strengths to replace. None compare to a real loupe good enough to examine precious stones.

Surprisingly, it wasn't scratched nor that dirty.

That's my all time record. I've found many tools after months if not a year or so, but this takes the cake. I think the one other time was a pair of small side cutting pliers that I found maybe after 5 years in the dirt. They cleaned up just fine. You don't see mini side cutters every day.