Recently, the market for handheld refractometers has shown a thriving development trend. According to market research reports, the global market size of Brix refractometers (including handheld refractometers) will reach a certain level in 2023, with the Chinese market occupying an important share. It is expected that by 2029, the global market size will continue to grow at a considerable compound annual growth rate (2025-2030 refractometer industry market supply and demand analysis and investment evaluation planning analysis report).       From the perspective of segmented markets, handheld refractometers have been continuously applied in many fields such as food processing, gemology, school teaching, and drug testing due to their portability and ease of operation. In the food processing industry, it is used to monitor the sugar content of products such as fruit juice and syrup; In gemology, assist in identifying the type and quality of gemstones; In school teaching, it has become a commonly used equipment for basic optical experiments; During drug testing, it can assist in analyzing the concentration of drug solutions. This widespread application has driven a steady increase in market demand.     At the technical level, the handheld refractometer industry continues to make breakthroughs. Traditional handheld refractometers are gradually upgrading towards digitization and intelligence. The market share of digital handheld refractometers is gradually increasing. Compared with traditional styles, they have higher measurement accuracy and more convenient data reading and recording functions. Some new digital handheld refractometers use advanced optical sensors, with measurement accuracy up to two decimal places or even higher, greatly meeting the needs of industries with high-precision measurement. Some companies have also developed handheld refractometers with automatic temperature compensation function, which can eliminate the influence of temperature on measurement results and make measurement data more accurate and reliable. For example, Hebei Jingte Instrument Co., Ltd. has published a utility model patent for a handheld refractometer. The device is not only convenient to use and can avoid the leakage of the liquid to be measured, but also comes with a light source that is not affected by the intensity of light. It can also adjust the distance of the eyepiece, providing users with a better user experience.    The global handheld refractometer market is fiercely competitive, with numerous companies vying for it. Internationally renowned companies such as AKR ü SS Optronic, Anton paar, Atago, etc., have taken a leading position in the industry with advanced technology and extensive market layout. Domestic enterprises are also constantly striving to catch up, gradually increasing their market share through technological innovation and product optimization. In the process of competition, differentiated competition among enterprises has become increasingly evident. In addition to product performance and price competition, service quality, brand influence, and other aspects have also become the focus of competition. Top enterprises continue to increase their R&D investment, launch innovative products, lead the industry development trend, and also expand their market territory through mergers and acquisitions, cooperation, and other means to enhance their competitiveness.

    The 2025 China (Beijing) International Optical Instrument Exhibition will be held grandly at the Beijing National Convention Center from June 30th to July 2nd. Under the direct participation and organization of numerous domestic and foreign industry associations as well as government regulatory departments, this exhibition continues to exert strong influence in the field of optical instruments with its style of "clear theme, prominent features, emphasis on effectiveness, and continuous innovation". It has become the most authoritative, professional, and largest industry event in Asia, winning high praise from numerous exhibitors and visitors.    Scope of exhibits and technical highlights: Optical components and materials: This exhibition area gathers a rich and diverse range of exhibits. In terms of optical glass, various glass materials with special optical properties, such as low dispersion glass, high refractive index glass, etc., have been demonstrated, which can be widely used in high-end optical lens manufacturing. Sapphire materials, quartz materials, and plastic lenses have also attracted a lot of attention, and lenses made of different materials have demonstrated extremely high levels of dimensional accuracy, optical uniformity, and other aspects. At the same time, related products such as grinding materials and coating materials are also readily available, providing a complete material solution for the production and processing of optical components. Various optical components such as filters, spectrometers, spherical and non spherical lenses, prisms, cylindrical mirrors, reflectors, flat windows, focusing mirrors, half mirrors, and beam expanders are dazzling. Some companies showcase non spherical lenses with surface precision reaching the nanometer level, representing the top manufacturing level in the current industry. Optical processing equipment: Various cold processing and non spherical processing equipment showcase the advanced technology of current optical processing. Single sided and double-sided grinding and polishing machines can achieve high-precision processing of lens surfaces through intelligent control systems, ensuring that the flatness, roughness, and other indicators of the lenses meet strict requirements. The emergence of molding equipment for spherical and non spherical lenses and electroplating equipment has improved the production efficiency of optical components and reduced production costs. Diamond turning equipment, with its high-precision machining capability, can perform precise turning on various optical materials and produce complex optical surfaces. Glass cutting machines, cutting machines, external circular saws and other equipment play an important role in the cutting and processing of optical materials, and their cutting accuracy and efficiency have been significantly improved. The crystal growth equipment showcases the preparation process from basic materials to optical crystals. Some companies have demonstrated new crystal growth technologies that can grow larger and higher quality optical crystals, providing high-quality raw materials for the manufacturing of optical components.    This exhibition comprehensively showcased the latest development achievements and trends in the optical instrument industry, providing a platform for communication and cooperation between upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry, and promoting the coordinated development of the industry chain. At the same time, the exploration of industry development issues and the consensus reached during the exhibition will help guide industry enterprises to better respond to challenges, seize opportunities, and promote the development of the optical instrument industry towards higher levels and more innovative directions in the future. It will make positive contributions to the overall upgrading of China's optical industry and the enhancement of its international competitiveness.

A gem refractometer is an optical tool used to measure the refractive index of gemstones, a key property for identifying and verifying them. In this article, we explain what a refractometer is, its main applications,how to use one, and how to choose the right one for your needs. What is         The gemological refractometer, or simply gem refractometer, is an essential instrument for identifying and analyzing gemstones. It measures the refractive index (RI) of a gem, one of the most reliable properties for distinguishing different materials. Each gemstone bends light in a specific way, expressed as its RI value and related optical behaviors. With this device, users can determine whether a stone is singly or doubly refractive, uniaxial or biaxial, and can calculate its birefringence. By comparing these measurements with known reference data, users can accurately identify a gem and determine whether it is natural or synthetic. Reliable RI testing ensures correct valuation and builds trust in the gemstone trade.