Now is not the time to procrastinate and here is why:
While we hand figure all SVX objectives in house here at Stellarvue, the super-low-dispersion glass used in making our telescopes, field flatteners and reducer-flatteners is only made in the Far East. In addition, the rare-earth materials needed in them are only available from China. Super low dispersion optical glass is the most expensive component in a premier apochromatic refractor and in our new field flatteners and reducer/flatteners. Tariffs have a significant impact on the final product cost. We also purchase several products from China as does everyone in this industry. This incudes our finderscopes and eyepieces.
For those of you who have paid or placed a deposit on a wait listed telescope, optical corrector or mount, your quoted price is locked in. This does not apply to customers who have inquired but have not yet placed a deposit.
UPDATE 10/12/2025
It is not easy to keep up with daily changes. There has now been a softening in rhetoric, the meeting between the USA and China is back on and the actual tariff percentage increase may be less than 100%. Our recent price increases were made based on the current existing tariff. If additional tariffs are added on November 1st, our prices will go up accordingly.
SVX130T and SVX130T-R: We are nearly out of glass that is in the final figuring stage. We have more in production behind those. This glass was purchased at a higher tariff rate.
SVX140T and SVX140T-R: We are out of stock and we cannot reorder this glass at this time. It is thicker and more expensive than our 130 glass. We will re-examine this next year when we see how glass cost and tariffs impact price.
While we hand figure all SVX objectives in house here at Stellarvue, the super-low-dispersion glass used in making our telescopes, field flatteners and reducer-flatteners is only made in the Far East. In addition, the rare-earth materials needed in them are only available from China. Super low dispersion optical glass is the most expensive component in a premier apochromatic refractor and in our new field flatteners and reducer/flatteners. Tariffs have a significant impact on the final product cost. We also purchase several products from China as does everyone in this industry. This incudes our finderscopes and eyepieces. UPDATE 10/11/2025
Last year the percentage cost of tariffs and shipping for optical glass was 20%. It rose to a very high rate this year and then settled to about 60%. It has now been announced that an additional tariff of 100% will be added to the existing tariffs on November 1st! This will bring the total tariff and shipping cost (yes we pay tariffs on shipping also) to about 160%. We have had to raise some of our prices but we have absorbed some of this. For this reason you will probably see additional price increases in the weeks and months moving foward, not only here but everywhere else in the country. Buy any eggs lately?
We are analyzing each product and making the necessary, painful adjustments. It takes time to calculate all of this. We have to make intelligent decisions. Our stock is limited right now on our larger telescopes and new glass for these has now more than doubled.
Last year the percentage cost of tariffs and shipping for optical glass was 20%. It rose to a very high rate this year and then settled to about 60%. It has now been announced that an additional tariff of 100% will be added to the existing tariffs on November 1st! This will bring the total tariff and shipping cost (yes we pay tariffs on shipping also) to about 160%. We have had to raise some of our prices but we have absorbed some of this. For this reason you will probably see additional price increases in the weeks and months moving foward, not only here but everywhere else in the country. Buy any eggs lately?
We are analyzing each product and making the necessary, painful adjustments. It takes time to calculate all of this. We have to make intelligent decisions. Our stock is limited right now on our larger telescopes and new glass for these has now more than doubled.
For those of you who have paid or placed a deposit on a wait listed telescope, optical corrector or mount, your quoted price is locked in. This does not apply to customers who have inquired but have not yet placed a deposit.
UPDATE 10/12/2025
It is not easy to keep up with daily changes. There has now been a softening in rhetoric, the meeting between the USA and China is back on and the actual tariff percentage increase may be less than 100%. Our recent price increases were made based on the current existing tariff. If additional tariffs are added on November 1st, our prices will go up accordingly.
Here is the current status:
SVX102T and SVX102T-R: We have enough glass to last us into next year.
SVX127D: We have enough glass to last us through this year.
SVX102T and SVX102T-R: We have enough glass to last us into next year.
SVX127D: We have enough glass to last us through this year.
SVX130T and SVX130T-R: We are nearly out of glass that is in the final figuring stage. We have more in production behind those. This glass was purchased at a higher tariff rate.
SVX140T and SVX140T-R: We are out of stock and we cannot reorder this glass at this time. It is thicker and more expensive than our 130 glass. We will re-examine this next year when we see how glass cost and tariffs impact price.
SVX152T: We are out of stock but we have more objectives in production, purchased under a higher tariff rate.
SVX180T: We have available glass for only two more SVX180T objectives. We cannot order more glass for these during this trade war since each objective uses two very large, super-low dispersion elements. This is the most expensive glass we have ever purchased. So if you have been on the fence for the SVX180T, now is not the time to put off buying it.
Please call if you have any specific questions. (530) 823-7796.
