Top 5 NTEP Legal For Trade Jeweler Scales
Posted by Greg J. on Jan 26th 2022
Whether you’re a certified gemologist or a jewelry store owner, the precision scales you choose to purchase are one of those investments that’s—pardon the pun—worth their weight in gold. That’s because even the slightest miscalibration or inaccuracy can cost you—or your customers—hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
And, because you run a legitimate, legal-for-trade business that seeks to pass all state inspections, you need an NTEP Class II certified machine to remain fully compliant. So, now that you know what you need, here are our choices for the top five jeweler scales you absolutely want.
1. OHAUS SJX1502N/E SCOUT PORTABLE BALANCE
Just because you own a jewelry store doesn’t mean you need to break the bank with your scale purchase. At under $250, the OHAUS SJX1502N/E is a great solution for the jewelry industry due to its Class II NTEP certified 0.1-gram readability. The SJX1502N/E’s slim, portable design makes it easy to store near any jewelry case for quick weighing and will always be ready to use thanks to its 80 hours of battery life.
Modes for this scale include regular weighing, parts counting, percent weighing, check weighing, totalization, and display hold with super-fast stabilization times and high-resolution weighing results. The SJX1502N/E comes with a stainless steel weighing pan, removable draft shield, and many options for communication with peripherals through RS-232, USB, ethernet, and Bluetooth connections.
2. ADAM EQUIPMENT HCB 103AM HIGHLAND PORTABLE PRECISION BALANCE
For precision diamond weighing at an affordable price, you really can’t do much better than the Adam Equipment HCB 103AM Highland. This balance meets all Class II NTEP requirements with certified readability of 0.01 grams, making it ideal for jewelry measurement of any kind. Its vivid, backlit display makes readings easily visible in any lighting conditions, from the back of your gemologist lab to the top of your storefront display case.
The Highland series is powered by an AC adapter or rechargeable battery for a feature-packed portable precision balance. To ensure consistently precise readings, it comes with a removable draft shield to help eliminate disturbances in drafty areas. This scale even includes a built-in security slot for a Kensington-type lock and cable to further secure your investment.
3. A&D WEIGHING FX-300IN PRECISION BALANCE
As the most tried-and-true scale on this list, the FX-300iN comes with A&D’s patented Compact SHS (super hybrid sensor) which allows the balance to be incredibly compact, fast, and accurate (NTEP Class II certified readability of 0.01 grams). It’s a great choice for jewelers and gemologists thanks to its wide range of functions and selectable units, from grams and carats to troy ounces and pennyweights.
The FX-300iN features a stainless steel pan, standard RS-232 interface, removable draft shield, and a large vacuum-fluorescent display. This scale comes with the option for battery-powered operation, underhook weighing, and auto power-off functionality so you can use it anytime, anywhere, and for nearly any jewelry-related application.
4. OHAUS AX223N/E ADVENTURER PRECISION BALANCE
The OHAUS AX223N/E Adventurer brings some much-needed excitement to your gem, diamond, and precious metal weighing applications. This precision balance offers reliable and accurate weighing (certified down to 0.01 grams), fast stabilization, and NTEP Class II legal-for-trade compliance. The Adventurer comes standard with RS-232 and USB connectivity for convenient communication with PCs, printers, and other external devices.
The Adventurer’s large color touchscreen operates similarly to a smartphone with an icon-driven menu. This makes operation and navigation feel familiar, allowing new users to operate the balance with little-to-no training. It can also be operated while wearing gloves and includes six mechanical keys for performing common tasks—such as tare, zero, calibration, and print—which will help save you and your store valuable time.
5. SARTORIUS SECURA313-1NUS PRECISION BALANCE
While the other scales on this list are all great options, the Sartorius Secura313-1NUS would be the equivalent of receiving a D in color and an FL in clarity. This incredible scale gives you peace of mind knowing that you can expect accurate and repeatable weighing results day in and day out. Operation is further simplified with onboard annunciators and alarms to promote good weighing practices across your entire team.
The NTEP Class II certified Secura313-1NUS comes with built-in automatic internal calibration (isoCAL) and is programmed to activate when changes are sensed, or a certain amount of time passes. This ensures the balance remains constantly calibrated with 0.01-gram certified readability. It’s even protected with a password lock to prevent any unwanted tampering.
SHOP THE BEST SELECTION OF JEWELRY SCALES AT SCALES PLUS
Whether you need to weigh a 0.25-carat diamond or a 12-kg gold ingot, we have the perfect scale for you—in stock and ready to ship. Shop our wide selection of NTEP legal for trade jeweler scales as well as our personal use jewelry scales. As always, if you’re unsure which scale is right for your business, please reach out to one of our jewelry scale experts and we’ll do our best to provide you with the help you need.
