How do you photograph your jewellery?

Photographing a piece of jewellery is a real job for an expert. However, with these few tips, you'll be able to take photos that will show your jewellery to its best advantage and allow us to put it online and carry out an initial appraisal before putting it online.

1. Preparing the jewellery

Clean carefully the jewel to avoid fingerprints, dust or residue that could appear on the photo.

Cleaning tips :

1. Leave to soak the jewel for a few hours in lukewarm water with a very small amount of washing-up liquid, then gently scrub the jewel with a soft toothbrush, including on and under the stone. Rinse and leave to dry on a clean tissue.
2. Alternative If the jewellery is not very dirty, rub it with a chamois or soft cloth.

2. Preparing the environment

Use a neutral background (such as white or beige paper). For example, place it on a white table, or on a large white sheet of paper, or on a white tablecloth.

Make sure that theneutral or white backgroundIt is not very visible in the field.

Lighting : Prefer natural light and place the jewellery near a window. Avoid direct light, which can create reflections or shadows. If natural light is insufficient, use a white light lamp to provide even illumination.

3. Setting up and using your phone

1. Focus : Touch the screen where you want to focus (front of jewel, motif, signature, hallmark) then slide your finger up to increase exposure or down to reduce it.
2. Deactivate the flash to avoid unwanted reflections. Activate the grid in the camera settings (Settings > Camera > Activate grid) to centre the jewel.
3. Stabilisation Keep the iPhone steady or use a tripod to avoid blurring. If you don't have a tripod, try resting your elbows on a surface for greater stability.
4. Use portrait mode.

4. Positioning the jewel :

1. Face the jewel and in such a way that all its details are visible (e.g. a ring with the stone and setting visible). The camera should be positioned slightly above the jewellery so that both the face and the setting can be seen.
2. If it is a chain or bracelet, try to smooth the chain with your finger to create a harmonious shape.

5. Shooting

Shooting : Take several photos from different angles to capture details and reflections. Vary the angle slightly to find the best light and composition.
Marking : Locate the markings and points and photograph them, making sure they are in focus.
Packaging & Certificates : Photograph the open box with the jewellery inside, and the closed box, including any pouches or accessories, as well as the open and closed certificate.

4. Additional measurements and photos : If possible, you can also take a photo of the jewel on a kitchen scale to check its weight, as well as a photo along a metre or double decimetre, or send us as many dimensions as possible.

5. Photo range Please do not hesitate to send us a few worn photos of your jewel. We will use your photo to tell the customer the size of the jewel.

Download our illustrated guide to learn how to make the most of your jewellery.